To expect people not to back out once they've accepted a job offer and / or signed a contract

[brassick]

I have just found out for the THIRD time in 6 months that someone who had accepted a job offer from me, signed a contract, met the team and confirmed a start date has decided to pull out.

First time, the woman's husband left her, and she didn't want more upheaval.

Second time, "personal reasons" were cited, but I think another job offer was accepted.

Third time, the lady was offered another job for more money in a more convenient location.

None of the times have any of these people told me directly - they all left it to the recruitment agency to pass on the bad news.

To me, if you have accepted a job offer and signed a contract then you are committed.

We are really desperate for this role to be filled. We are a good (small but growing) company, offering market rates and a decent package.

I am starting to doubt my ability to judge people...

So when they pull out what do you do? Come back with a better offer if not, you can't bl;lame people for going for something better.
Also they are supposed to go through the agency that placed them and not deal with you direct

When they pull out we don't go back with another offer.

Firstly I don't want people in my team who are willing to behave like that (ok, I understand if a better offer has come along, but please have the common courtesy to explain yourself in person)

Secondly we offer a competitive salary, and the time for negotiating
Is before you accept the job, not afterwards.

Thirdly in two of these 3 particular cases, offering more money would not have been relevant.

Fourthly, I'm not going to beg anyone to work for me.

As long as they give appropriate notice? But if they're dropping you in it then it's totally unfair.

Oh, and we're actually in Chepstow, not Newport, which (allowing for the bridge) is v close to Bristol - in fact we have 2 people working for us who live in Bristol & find the commute to Chepstow much easier than previous journeys into the centre of Bristol.

It sounds like the second and third time ,more money was on offer elsewhere so maybe you need to up the salary on offer.

It sounds unlikely in these cases that it was as simple as a more money offer, as surely if you were interested in a better offer you would phone back to negotiate.

It's just so frustrating and time consuming.

And I promise we are offering a competitive salary. Some of these people are earning more than me & I am their boss...

We are now looking at different ways of recruiting: through networks and personal contacts.

With such a technical role, adverts in the local paper just don't work sadly.

We are looking to move someone internally who is interested in becoming a paraplanner, but we really need someone now who can do the job straight away.

Somethings wrong. obviously. I don;'t know what.
I had reed open anyway (am currently browsing for a part time, part qualified, assistant accountant type role, they are like gold-dust too !!) and looked. and they only have one job advertised as a paraplanner. was shocked at how low the salary was.
struggling to think of constructive comments to make. hope you get someone soon. I used to like the bristol to chepstow drive.

I feel your pain.

Can the agency shed light on the reasons?

actually brassick, I know it's been said jokingly on here, but having learned a bit about what paraplanners do, I don't really see why they needn't be home based?

YANBU to be annoyed by it but YABU to expect people to take the job. Alot of things can happen.

The other way would be worse: to force people to take the job they decided they didn't want would be slave labour. Would you really want someone working for you who didn't want to be there?

A1980, nowhere did OP say she wants to force the candidates to take the job. Quite the contrary.

You would think they'd have the decency to tell her directly. I would say the same to employers who don't get back to candidates after interviewing them.

In theory, the paraplanner role could be home based, but we need people who are able to sit in on client meetings in the office.

Also, my MD is just not into the idea at all & unfortunately he has the final say. Job share would be a possibility, but finding one person is hard enough, finding 2 will surely be harder!

I don't think the salary on offer (£25,000-£30,000 depending on experience & qualification) is shockIngly low. As I think unsaid earlier, that range exceeds what I am paid & I manage the whole office-3 pp's and 6 admin...

as I think I said earlier

Fair enough.

I think that's a good salary - it's equal to the most I've ever earned! surely not bad for the area either?

I think the agency needs a rocket, if you want to go through them. They need to be a lot more selective about their procedures.

Have you had local paper ads that didn't work? I always ended up recruiting using the local paper, full package with paper copy, including technical jobs - these days the ads get passed around to other locations anyway. Put the interview date in the advert and stress that you are looking for someone really qualified who can start pronto?

Try the local paper. If you advertised in the Bristol Evening Post you could probably get a deal to extend the advert into other local papers in the group. I'm in Somerset and would consider Chepstow for a job for the right wage, it's only an hours commute. Sadly I don't have the qualifications or experience you are looking for.

Something's wrong with the recruitment process, if it isn't the salary.

Working conditions ok? Any fierce local competitors?

The salary on offer seems suitable for a fairly--newly-qualified accountancy graduate. In fact, I reckon they should be queuing up!

Maybe advertise it as an entry-level/trainee Financial Planner appointment, and target recent graduates with appropriate qualifications?

Might make more sense than looking for experienced candidates?

Sorry if you are doing this already - just a suggestion!

TBH if your recruit through an agency I don't think you can expect the candidates to contact you directly. Then entire process is set up to encourage all communication to be carried out through the third party and you will probably find that the agency actively discourage direct contact (for fear of being cut out).

That is not to say that the behavior is not unprofessional. It is. But in the current climate people, whilst often in need of a job, are increasingly picky (where circumstances permit) as to the job they will accept. For example is it possible that the fact that you are a new company is off putting?

Also as already identified companies seem to be increasingly reluctant to offer annual payrises/bonuses but do seem prepared to get the cheque book out once a resignation letter is received. It doesn't help you but of someone is suddenly offered an extra e.g. 10% you really can't expect them not to accept that.

Reading back through the thread. Yes I agree with NancyDrew entirely.

The fact that you are small and a newish firm puts you way down the pecking order for new recruits. I am sure that you are just beng used as a stalking horse by people who are threatening to resign forom their current employer and then their employer makes them an offer of a pay rise to stop them leaving. Its obvious an employee would rather stay at their current firm with a pay rise than chance it with a new small employer in the current environment.

This is really very prevalent in the financial services and insurance industry. The logic is that an employee that isn't getting offers elsewhere is either not worth a payrise or is happy with the pay they are getting so no need to pay them extra.

I always say to people, the best way to get a rise is to find an alternative job and use that to threaten your current employer.