Rescinding an offer

[Tiredmum21]

My husband accepted a job offer two weeks ago and handed in his notice last week. His start date is in 4 weeks.

He has just had a call from his new employer suggesting he try to get his old job back as due to the current situation they are able to make good on the offer.

They've offered to investigate if he can be furloughed on the job retention scheme - but looking at the eligibility, this looks unlikely ( he wasn't on the pay role on 28 Feb).

Can anyone help give us some advice on where he stands in terms of the job offer - it's was letter and the new employer signed. Are they obliged to make good on the offer or they can rescind it in this way?

Has he signed a contract with the new company?

They’d have to pay him whatever notice period is due probationary period etc

If he isn’t due to start for several weeks then yes, in all likelihood they can do this. If they agreed a notice period then he might be entitled to be laid that if it runs for more than 4 weeks.

Any implied notice period would be unlikely to exceed a month and he isn’t due to start for several weeks so he wouldn’t be likely to be awarded anything if he brought a claim.

Sorry OP. Its really shit.

I saw a similar question asked jn Martin lewis show this evening and he said to contact the old employer who can reemploy you then furlough you so you get 80%, and you leave the day after furloughing ends, he was emphatic that this is allowed and the best plan.

Martin Lewis seems to think he is the authority on all things furlough - more than the chancellor it seems. I'd take what he has to say with a pinch of salt.

It may be possible theoretically for the former employer to do this but why would they? It's not usual for employers to do favours to people who've left (or about to) although I suppose not out of the question in this climate so worth a try.

It may not be usual, but definitely worth a try.

And I hear you re Martin lewis, but he’s not the only one saying it. I work in an industry which has ground to a halt, with a lot of fixed term contractors and a lot of people laid off and several companies have started rehiring people for this purpose. I referenced Martin lewis because everyone knows him and are less likely to know the unrelated lobby groups / reps / unions in my industry who have also had the same advice from hmrc.