To raise this to my manager?

[SausageSpaghetti]

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts and please feel free to tell me if I'm being unreasonable/dramatic.

I work in house recruitment for a large company (around 70 sites across the country). I recently filled a role and the candidate was due to start next week. Contract etc already signed. It transpired that the general manager wasn't aware that we'd recruited someone as the team hadn't communicated this to him and he wasn't on the approval chain on our online system. I can only assume this was because he's new and hadn't been set up on the system yet, however the job offer was approved by his manager a couple of weeks ago. This was just a standard replacement, not an additional hire so completely within the budget.

An email was sent to everyone by the GM yesterday requesting that the position be put on hold whilst he looked into things, but when I pointed out that the candidate had already signed his contract, he responded and agreed that he could start but said that we needed to push his start date back to the following week. No reason given as to why he couldn't start on the original date. I knew this would be an issue as the candidate had already handed his notice in at his current job and arranged his end date to work around us. I emailed the manager (a different manager from the same site) who interviewed and offered him the job asking him to call the candidate and discuss this with him, but he refused and said that he hadn't been involved in the decision making process and was absolutely baffled by the entire situation. The chicken shit just didn't want to make the call!!!

I rang him as nobody else was going to and profusely apologised for the mix up. He seemed ok, although disappointed and maybe a bit worried but agreed to the change (didn't really have a choice and I imagine he didn't want to kick up a fuss with it being a new job), but I think it has caused him problems as he's leaving his current job this week and was coming straight to us. Obviously he won't be paid for next week now. I don't know what his circumstances are but I imagine losing a weeks pay will be terrible for him, as it would for most people, myself included. AIBU to be annoyed and upset, on the candidates behalf? I won't lie, I logged off this evening and burst into tears. I don't know why it's upset me so much and perhaps I'm being dramatic, but I honestly think their out of line for what they've done, the GM in particular. He's not spared a thought for the candidate at all or the impact it could have him on financially. I know it's only a week, but it's still a lot of money and there was no reason as to why he couldn't start next week as planned. He's not even the one training him etc. I honestly just think he was being awkward for the sake of it.

Legally, I have no idea if we were even allowed to do that given contracts had already been signed but hr were ccd into all the emails and didn't say anything. Obviously it's done now but I am still really annoyed about it and a part of me thinks I should say something to my manager just so it doesn't happen again. I'm worried though as I'm currently on a ftc contract (possibly being made permanent but decision hasn't been made yet) and I'm worried if I raise it, they might think I'm a trouble maker and not keep me on. My manager is lovely btw and very supportive but I'm not sure about hr and the GM's of these sites do seem to get away with absolute murder. From a recruitment point of view, it's absolutely pathetic as we really struggle to recruit and when we do, things like this happen.

AIBU?

You have too much empathy, I’m exactly the same and really feel for others in situations where others don’t care. It’s not a bad trait as you’re obviously really caring but I know from personal experience it can be really upsetting too - trying to find the best way to cope myself with it.

You were probably the best person to deliver the news to the new staff member as I’m sure you would’ve done it in a really understanding way.

Im not sure on the actual legalities of this but I know where I work start dates get moved all the time - although that’s mostly due to the candidate not the company.

It sounds like you acted quite quickly, have you had dealings with HR before? Do you know how long they typically take to respond?

I ask because it would be very unusual for HR in my organisation to respond same working day, you may find your emails are in someone's to do pile.

Why wouldn't you take it to hr before calling him then?

They were cc'd but you should have had them sign off on it first.

If you are entry level, why would you think you could put off this guys start date?

I dont understand how you would take that upon yourself to do.

Unfortunately, I think a bollocking will be coming your way op, so prepare yourself.

I didn't "think" anything @AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside I just thought I was helping by giving him the heads up and letting him know as soon as possible as nobody else was going to call him. I didn't even want his start date to change! I felt sorry for him and still do. I thought since hr had been copied in and not responded over the last couple of days that they were ok with it. Yes I realise I will probably be in hot water now. All I was trying to do was help. Clearly my mistake.

to many managers not on same page

That GM sounds like an arsehole. If this new guy is salaried and contracted to start Monday and you're not paying him from that date you'll be in breach of contract, unless you confirmed and he accepted the new date in writing I.e. email. Or issued a new contract.

I'd raise this to HR asap (perhaps via/with the support of?) nice boss. try not to blame yourself - this sounds like it was political and a decision that was above your pay grade, it should have been raised to the candidate and sorted by the dick swingers, not by you.

The date had already been agreed.

It sounds like the manger that wasn't informed kicked off, said to put the date back as a flex and op followed his word, with no other authorisaton to do so.

For all she knows HR could have been having meetings/discussions about it before responding. They could have been drawing up a new contract ready to put to the new hire. Or, they could have just been preparing to tell the manager to wind his neck in.

The bottom line is, OP shouldn't have taken one arse's word to do this. In future op, always double check with someone above you and get an email confirming what you are to do so you've covered your own arse.