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Original poster

Help! Job offer withdrawn - after I’d already resigned!!

247 replies

JuliTooley · 10/02/2021 10:42

Hello,

I’m absolutely devastated right now. I accepted an amazing job offer a little over two weeks ago via email, after a round of interviews and some writing tasks.

I handed in my notice at my current job expecting my final day to be a week today, with a start date the following Monday.

I was a bit concerned as the company suddenly stopped replying to a couple of questions I asked but I assumed there was an innocent explanation.

However, I’ve now been told my offer has been withdrawn with no explanation. Is this legal? I know my references were fine, admittedly one only gives factual references as company policy (big cooperate company) but the others were good personal ones from people I’d consider friends.

I’m kicking myself right now but I don’t have an actual contract, just email exchanges confirming things such as start date and salary.

Also, this isn’t a dodgy company that has withdrawn my offer, one of the people who interviewed me is a well known journalist who has a senior role at the company.

I’m financially screwed, not to mention this is an utterly humiliating situation to explain to friends, family and colleagues.

Any advice?

Ps sorry if this rant makes no sense, I am so upset.

OP posts:
RNBrie · 10/02/2021 15:46

I know two people this has happened to - both were given their old jobs back at their previous companies and resigned again for better roles in the following 12 months. It was absolutely awful for both of them at the time, and really embarrassing to have to go back and ask for their old jobs back. Wishing you all the best OP, good luck Flowers

Original poster
JuliTooley · 10/02/2021 15:46

@flossletsfloss

I'm so sorry for you, I think I would hound the company for an explanation. I work at a big media corporation and we once offered a job to someone and had to retract the offer due to certain members of staff saying they would leave if this person took the job. When we retracted it the person had already given their notice in at their previous job and we had to pay them off. I think you need to get in direct contact with their HR department ASAP!
I will definitely be pursuing them for an explanation and explaining how incredibly unprofessional it is.

I've been dealing with their head of HR. Friends have suggested hiring an employment lawyer for monetary compensation but I doubt that will get me very far.

OP posts:
Original poster
JuliTooley · 10/02/2021 15:49

@flossletsfloss @Theonlyoneiknow Thank you :)

@RNBrie Glad to know I am not the only one

OP posts:
IEat · 10/02/2021 15:54

Stuff the embarrassment call your HR , explain and see why they say
Next time wait until you have a signed contract

Original poster
JuliTooley · 10/02/2021 16:01

@IEat I work at a small company with no HR department to speak of but I get what you mean.

I will have to discuss with my line manager, who I am sure will be happy to keep me. My CEO, not so much. I made a mistake when I first joined, and she literally has never forgiven me.

They've started the process of hiring my replacement which is awkward.

OP posts:
Dasher789 · 10/02/2021 17:54

sorry to hear this OP.

This situation happened to me a few years ago. I took a job and had signed the contract and returned to them, given notice with current employer for new employer to call and say that they had decided to restructure and my position was no longer available.

I spoke with my boss at the time and said that i had made a huge mistake and had realised that i didnt want to leave. I was so worried about having no job at all that i burst into tears during my meeting saying how badly i wanted to stay!!! thankfully they allowed me to take back my notice letter. i felt a bit awkward for a week or so but then it was back to normal.

in a huge swing of good fortune, because i had signed the contract at the new place, i was entitled to 3 months notice pay so it actually worked out in my favour. not sure i would put myself through the weekend of anguish again though not knowing whether or not i even had a job!!!

suck up the embarrassment and speak to current employer. good luck

SheldonesqueIsUnwell · 10/02/2021 18:31

I’m sorry this has happened to you.

It is a shoddy way to behave towards potential employees.

Anyway, I hope your ex boss is delighted at the prospect of you returning and offers you your job back.

Best wishes Flowers

Aprilx · 11/02/2021 12:03

I would probably ask why the offer has been withdrawn too, but will it really make you feel any better even if they answer you?

Also don’t feel bad for not getting something written down. The piece of paper is only evidence of the contract, it is not a contract itself, the employment contract was made when you verbally accepted the offer. During the first two years they could have ended the contract for any reason (other than by discrimination) and a piece of paper wouldn’t prevent them from withdrawing the offer if that is what they had decided to do.

I would maybe try to put forward a case for notice pay, had any notice periods being discussed during the offer / acceptance process? Unfortunately as you hadn’t started there, there is no statutory entitlement to notice.

I also think asking the old employer for your job back is the best action to take, but truthfully, if I were the employer I wouldn’t let someone take back their resignation because I would assume they no longer want to be there.

endlesssnow · 11/02/2021 12:52

This happened to me once, it was absolutely mortifying at the time and the stress was awful.
I felt totally sick.

But longer term I actually found a better job and after a two minute chat no one in my old work was bothered.

I hope it sorts itself out OP.

Ch3rish · 11/02/2021 13:01

Possibly the withdrawal is nothing to do with you, the "new" employer might be in some kind of legal or financial situation that means they cant take on any new employees and can't tell you why or for some reason the previous holder of the job isn't leaving after all and there's nothing they can do about it.

Otherwise for a large organisation it seems an unusual thing to do

Good luck with taking your notice back

FelicityPike · 11/02/2021 13:06

Keeping my fingers crossed that they allow you to stay at your current position.

Theonlyoneiknow · 18/02/2021 23:49

How did you get on OP?

10KaDay · 19/02/2021 02:12

@Ch3rish

Possibly the withdrawal is nothing to do with you, the "new" employer might be in some kind of legal or financial situation that means they cant take on any new employees and can't tell you why or for some reason the previous holder of the job isn't leaving after all and there's nothing they can do about it.

Otherwise for a large organisation it seems an unusual thing to do

Good luck with taking your notice back

This. Years ago I was offered a job, contract being drawn up.... then suddenly ‘role went on hold’ (thank goodness I hadn’t resigned)

What actually happened is the person doing ‘my’ job who had resigned decided to take the company to a tribunal (for bullying or similar I think), so company did not want to fill the role. I eventually worked there, starting about six months later

Point of this tale: don’t burn bridges on either side. ‘Change of heart’ to get old job back, pleasantly ask new company why (esp re reference dates if that is an issue): they are unlikely to tell you anything but you might understand something from the tone

Sorry this has happened and hope you manage to get your old job back

grassisjeweled · 19/02/2021 02:28

Was it verbally or in an email that they offered you the job?

BAYouTFall · 19/02/2021 04:30

@JuliTooley how did you get on?

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/02/2021 05:04

If they offered the job to you in writing, I’d be surprised if there was no come back as the company has manipulated you into leaving your job without offering a contract with an offer of a contract after this happened. But I’m obviously no expert.

How did you get on?

PracticingPerson · 19/02/2021 05:13

Oh this thread is awful, I wonder how the op got on.

CayrolBaaaskin · 19/02/2021 05:30

Don’t beat yourself up re the contract- there was a conditional offer and acceptance, it’s rare these days to actually sign a contract of employment. Hope you get it sorted op.

wellthatsunusual · 19/02/2021 05:40

After 25 years in the world of work and many jobs along the way, I have never had a contract before the day I started the new job. I've never even heard of having a contract in advance. Just a written job offer and a start date.

OP, I hope your current employer is willing to keep you on. What a stressful situation.

Somuddled · 19/02/2021 05:56

OP I know it feels like it will be really embarrassing but it won't be that bad. I once worked somewhere where a colleague made quite a big show of leaving. Not in a bad way but she was really excited to be going. 2 days into her new job she called our manager and said she wanted to come back. She said she realised she had made a big mistake. I had a few suspicions around what might have happened but I spent about 10 minutes thinking about it, never discussed it with the rest of the team, never heard anyone speculate and we all did a small welcome back lunch when she returned to make sure she didn't feel like crap. My manager was just so pleased not to have to recruit anyone new!

AlmightyBob · 19/02/2021 06:00

@wellthatsunusual the same here. There's a contract in place once you accept an offer of employment. you don't need to sign a literal contract - in my experience that happens later.

WombOfOnesOwn · 19/02/2021 06:32

You accepted an offer and engaged in an act of detrimental reliance. In the US that'd be enough to prove they owe you damages. No idea about the UK.

YorkshireGirl35 · 19/02/2021 06:35

OP if it makes you feel any better this happened to me after I received a contract once.
I queried a term in the contract and next thing I knew they were going through a restructure and didn’t need the role anymore Hmm
I had to go to my manager with my tail between my legs and beg to rescind my notice, thankfully they agreed after making me sweat over a weekend!
All I can say is that it’s awful at the time but it really is a blessing that you didn’t end up working for such an awful company. It’s a massive indicator of how they would treat you.

2021mumma · 19/02/2021 07:04

I would never resign from a company without a contract in hand. I’m sorry but you’ve made a huge mistake here.

AnitaB888 · 19/02/2021 07:05

'Ask your current employer if you can retract your resignation.

Lesson learnt: always wait until you've signed and returned the new contract before handing your notice in.'

This ^

and this sounds rather dodgy

' I was a bit suspicious but the role was too good to turn down and they said they’d only send over a contract once I’d confirmed my final day with my current employer.'

Maybe you could speak to a solicitor who deals with employment law. Most solicitors will give you half an hours free advice.

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