Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Accepted new job I really don’t want. Help

26 replies

Wilmae · 05/04/2023 12:20

I’ve signed the contract for a new job a week ago. It pays more than I have ever been paid (55K). And I was blinded by that I think. But the more I think about it the more I don’t want to do it. I love my current job, the hours are great, it’s family friendly and today I’ve been offered a promotion that will take me not far off 55K anyway. What would the implications be of pulling out? Would I have to pay I.e the recruitment and referencing costs the company will have spent already? The job was found through an agency.

OP posts:

GiltEdges · 05/04/2023 12:27

Likely, nothing at all. People renege on offers all the time. Recruiters and companies are used to it, just tell them ASAP.

RNBrie · 05/04/2023 12:28

I accepted a job and then pulled out. I felt so embarrassed but it was fine. They were really nice about it. Just rip the bandaid off and tell them asap. Congrats on your promotion!

Starlightstarbright1 · 05/04/2023 12:33

I did pull out a job i was made an offer with curreny employers . I was really nervous - got a lovely reply .

Do it sooner rather tgan later

Original poster

Wilmae · 05/04/2023 12:36

I have also pulled out before after accepting but never after signing a contract. It’s that bit I’m worried about

OP posts:

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 05/04/2023 12:43

It'll be fine, the agency might blacklist you but you're happy where you are anyway so that doesn't matter.

Original poster

Wilmae · 05/04/2023 12:45

I also think it’s the fact it states that there will be a 3 month notice period that worries me. It’s not 3 months until the agreed start date (1st June), so I will be breaching the terms.

OP posts:

thegrain · 05/04/2023 12:46

Have you handed in your notice at your current job?

blueshoes · 05/04/2023 12:47

Was the offer of the promotion at your current place before or after you resigned? If it is after, it would be considered a buy back and buy backs usually fail after a year.

If your current employer knows nothing about the new offer and that you have been looking, you are on much safer ground.

blueshoes · 05/04/2023 12:50

Wilmae · 05/04/2023 12:45

I also think it’s the fact it states that there will be a 3 month notice period that worries me. It’s not 3 months until the agreed start date (1st June), so I will be breaching the terms.

This is not a biggie if you really wanted to leave. Notice period can be negotiated down and if you leave anyway, there isn't much your current employer can do, except maybe deduct your final pay for the remainder of the notice period.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 05/04/2023 12:53

Unless it specifically states that the new job needs three month's notice from the date that you sign the contract, I think that you could reasonably argue that the requirement for three month's notice begins when you start working for them.

Dillydollydingdong · 05/04/2023 12:57

Stop worrying. Are they really going to drag you in to serve a 3 month notice period, with all the costs of induction and training? Of course not.

Skyeheather · 05/04/2023 12:57

I applied for a job through an agency a few years ago, I didn't get it but was told it was a close call and I was their second choice. The first choice changed their mind a week in and the agency called to see if I was still interested. I'd been unemployed for a while and desperate for a job and some money so said yes.

I'm sure the first thing the agency will do is ask the employer if they liked any of the other candidates. It's common for agencies not to let the other candidates know that they didn't get the job until the successful one has turned up on day 1 for this reason. Nothing will happen, this happens all the time.

Malariahilaria · 05/04/2023 12:57

It's just business, don't worry at all. Just tell new company that current company matched their offer. Job done. Companies are happy to lay off people in a heartbeat but we're sometimes fed the 'we are family' narrative to foster guilt. Do what is best for you.

Whataretheodds · 05/04/2023 13:03

Google 'how to turn down a job you've already accepted'. It wont be fun but if you word it clearly and succinctly you'll feel like less of a dick

Whataretheodds · 05/04/2023 13:04

(There are some good example wordings out there if you google)

MilkTart · 05/04/2023 13:06

The terms of your contract don't kick in until your start date so don't worry about that - either party can pull out up to that point without penalty (which is scary when you think about it!)

Hazelnuttella · 05/04/2023 13:09

Don’t worry, just tell them your circumstances have changed and you can no longer take the job.

I had the same thing and felt awful about it, but the reality is that these things happen and people understand that. Better to pull out as soon as possible so they can start recruiting someone else.

Original poster

Wilmae · 05/04/2023 13:12

Current job don’t know about new job yet. I have held off handing in notice because it didn’t feel right. Now I’ve been offered new role it just cements that.

OP posts:

pussycatinfluffyslippers · 05/04/2023 13:22

I think you need to tell them today if you can.
Change of personal circumstances would be fine as a reason.
Don't leave this lingering over the long weekend.

GoodChat · 05/04/2023 13:22

Definitely pull out and take the promotion, sooner rather than later!

Hazelnuttella · 05/04/2023 13:24

pussycatinfluffyslippers · 05/04/2023 13:22

I think you need to tell them today if you can.
Change of personal circumstances would be fine as a reason.
Don't leave this lingering over the long weekend.

Good advice, you’ll feel loads better once it’s done.
congratulations on your promotion.

FlyingCherries · 05/04/2023 13:25

This happens all the time. It’s very common for people to be offered something at their existing job to stay, after they’ve handed in their resignation. And most people don’t hand in their resignation until they’ve had the new contract through. Just explain to the agency.

LosingMyPancakes · 05/04/2023 13:28

Yeah this is commonplace and no there is nothing the agency/new company can or will do. As someone already said, contracts don't usually any apply until you actually start the job.

Wha · 05/04/2023 13:47

Don’t worry too much about what the contract says. Yes you are currently bound by it BUT the new company can agree to change anything in the contract. So you want them to agree to you both walking away. The good news is that unless they are insane they won’t want someone working for them for only 3 months, who doesn’t even want to be there.

So just call up the agency and your contact at the new company and say you are so sorry to mess them around but you have been offered something too good to turn down at your current employer and it has made yoh realise that yoh can’t bear to leave your current team so you have decided to stay. Then see where the conversation goes.

SquidwardBound · 05/04/2023 13:51

people literally just fail to start jobs with no notice to the company sometimes - even in pretty senior, well paid roles. It’s not uncommon. Nor is a candidate pulling out because they’ve received a better offer elsewhere or a counteroffer from their current employer. That happens all the time.

Just tell the agency. The recruiter will have seen this hundreds of times. A good recruiter should have some backup candidates to call upon in this kind of situation. But it’s not your problem if they don’t.

Flip

1 2