To think this is unacceptable from an employer? What would you do?

[FairyAndLavender]

I had an interview around 8 weeks ago. They told me they had loads of people to see, then offered me the job before I even reached my home address! Great. They said at interview the days but these would be confirmed before I start.

HR took a LOT of time processing everything and they had my DBS from previous employer (that they have used) so nothing to do with that.

Two weeks on since HR confirming I can start with a start date given, and I was still UNABLE to get through to the department, despite numerous emails. Calls always straight to voicemail.

HR keep repeatedly telling me they can't do anything about it, they don't know what days I'm doing. No help whatsoever. I had to push and push for them to even get the checks finished!

I finally got an email back from the manager of the department on Friday, after a very desperate email. I was told to come in on my start date (the day of induction meeting etc), and then 'they would sit down and dicuss what days would suit the needs of the service, and if the hours would be over 5 days or 3!

I replied that I was told at interview they would definitely be over 3 days, and that over 5 wouldn't be possible. I even explicitly told her I need my days confirmed so I can tell my son's nursery.

I got a reply saying she was going on annual leave now and to contact such and such in the department, but they aren't answering their emails. Nobody has their direct line. The department line goes straight to VM

Honesty, what on earth do I do now? My DS has additional needs and this is beyond frustrating, especially trying to sort this all out constantly during office hours.

What would you do? AIBU to say this isn't acceptable?

[DawnMumsnet]

We're moving this thread over to our Employment Issues topic for the OP.

Really hope you're able to get things sorted soon, OP.

[Ohfrigginghellers]

Sounds shit tbh. Maybe look for something else and don't decline the job if you are in a position to do so that is.

[Tippexy]

Is this public sector by any chance?

[ChesterDrawsDoesntExist]

I'd look elsewhere. If it's this much of a shitshow to get you started, what the hell is it going to be like once you're working there? Terrible management and communication.

[Floralbean]

Is this public sector by any chance?

That was my first thought, hah.

Have you had a contract to sign yet? Sometimes bigger organizations seem to think that they can do what they like and people will just roll over and accept it. Do you have the 3 days agreed at interview written anywhere? Hopefully it's just incompetence and not really knowing what on earth is going on that has led them to say they'll discuss days, and when you can actually speak to someone they'll understand. If it was agreed at interview it should have also been recorded on the notes, which HR should have.

[Mycatismadeofstringcheese]

Have you handed your notice in at old job. If you haven’t then don’t until they can get this sorted!
I’d be seriously considering if I wanted to work somewhere do disorganised.

[wintertime6]

I had similar when I started my current job. I accepted a post for 3 days a week, but they work it as 6 half day sessions and couldn't give me any straight answers as to what site I'd be at or what days I'd be doing for ages. At one point they said it could be 6 half days spread over 5 days, but I'd just have to wait and see what I was allocated, and I said that just wasn't possible with 2 toddlers in nursery. It was really stressful and in the end I just confirmed 3 days with nursery and emailed work to say that I'd had to confirm childcare arrangements with nursery and told them which 3 days I was able to work and that I'd be happy to look at alternatives if necessary, but I couldn't guarantee that I'd be able to get childcare organised at this late stage for different days. Thankfully it all worked out ok, but I remember tearing my hair out at the time!

[Moondust001]

@Tippexy

Is this public sector by any chance?

Why? Because the private sector never screw anything up? The unions will be delighted to hear that. FWIIW, the public sector organisation that I work for confirm start dates in writing when an unconditional offer is made. Always. We also wouldn't ever accept a DBS from a previous employer, because that would be a very unwise thing to do.

OP, I don't know why they seem to be in such disarray, but without knowing more, there could, especially right now, be a number of good reasons. The choice for you is whether you think this is symptomatic of a deeper issue, in which case you may wish to reconsider the job; or whether you think that this may be an unfortunate blip. Whether it is acceptable or not is for you to decide - you are the one who will have to decide to accept it or walk away.

[Luxecalmeetvolupte]

I had a very similar situation except it dragged on for months with them not confirming my checks, repeatedly telling me not to hand in my (3m) notice until checks were confirmed, then suddenly confirming a start date within 4 weeks, refusing to speak to me on the phone, chopping and changing which days I'd be working etc. But miraculously expecting me to have relocated 400 miles and sorted childcare for mythical dates and days. Huge huge red flag and I stayed put, got another better job within 3m without moving. I'd run a mile OP, it won't get any better.

[FairyAndLavender]

Thanks all! It's NHS, surprise surprise. I had a similar situation happen at my first ever job, also NHS.

Called HR again today and no answer. So I finally hunted down a number for a specific person who said she would try and get someone else to track the department down today and find out for me, but 'I can't make any promises I'll have any joy'.

Honestly this is such a joke. Goodness knows how I'll sort childcare in time for Monday when I've been trying to confirm days for WEEKS!

[SpaceOP]

If they refuse to engage with you, I'd plan your childcare for next week yourself. If your induction day is Monday, then obviously that's one day. Then just randomly pick days - Tuesday and Thursday say. Then when you turn up and they say you're working wednesday this week you say, "I'm really sorry but I can't do that day. I've been trying to reach someone for the last [2] weeks to confirm my working days but without any success so I've had to commit to childcare for this week and that will be Tuesday and Thursday. If we can agree dates going forward then of course, I can arrange my childcare accordingly."

[Plussizejumpsuit]

I think they will just be thinking they are being flexible when actually anyone with any responsibilities outside of work would know you need to arrange childcare etc. How soon is your start date? At this point do you have anything to lose by just going in on the start date and saying when you can work? Chaos between hr and the department doesn't mean the department will be awful to work for so I'd personally wait and see if you can. But I agree not good. This doesn't surprise me being NHS though. My partner works on a different public sector area and manages a team. They have absolute nightmares with hr coordination.

[Alongcameacat]

The public sector by any chance?

Them a similar thing happened to me. I applied for an advertised part time role. Got the job to discover it was a week on and a week off which wasn’t specified.
Had huge difficulty getting in contact with them, in the middle of a chain of emails to HR, I received an email that the account I was trying to contact was disabled. Turned out the HR person had left and there wasn’t even an out of office. I walked away from it. It was far too messy and gave me the impression I’d have been treated badly there.

[LavenderWashes]

My start date is Monday, I know for sure that'll be one of the days (name change by the way)

[SpaceOP]

@LavenderWashes

My start date is Monday, I know for sure that'll be one of the days (name change by the way)

exactly. So book childcare for that day. The others you'll have to wing and if it's wrong - it's really not your problem.

As a side bar, in my experience, this level of incompetence can really sour the working relationship from the start. Hr told me a specific start date but on the day, it turned out that pretty much no one in my department was there as they had my start date down for two days later. It was awful.

[Bluesheep8]

Have you had anything confirmed yet?

[Floralbean]

NHS recruitment is ridiculous. My friend had an interview a few weeks back, for starters the invite to interview information had 'zoom or on site' but no zoom details, so she assumed it would be on site, but wanted to clarify. There was no way to get in touch, the given admin lines and email on the website for the trust the phone didn't connect and the email bounced back; and she did phone reception and ask for the department but was told no. So she looked for the contact email on the job advert, emailed and had an out of office saying they were away for 3 weeks. She was going to turn up in good time on the day (not ideal at the moment to a hospital, but she really wanted the job), but her daughter had a cough and she had to isolate until test results were back the day before the interview. More frantic trying to find any sort of contact, even messaged on messenger and no one could help put her in touch with the name on the interview invite, and see if she could zoom and the details; but nothing. She obviously missed the interview, and her application just went from decision pending to obviously unsuccessful . She literally couldn't have been any more pro active in finding out what was going on, and it wouldn't have been too hard to add the correct detail to the invite, and also a contact in case you cannot attend in person at the moment.