Should I be worried about this start to a new job

[Daydreamer94]

I am meant to start a new job in the new year, it was confirmed in early November but I still don’t have a contract! I have chased it once, was told it needed signing internally but should be with me soon, that was nearly 2 weeks ago. With Xmas around the corner I know people will be going on AL soon, should I be worried. I’ve always just got the contract within a couple of days and now it’s been 5 weeks since the offer. Not sure how to navigate this and what is taking them so long?!

It’s still fairly early in December. , and after 2 weeks it would be fine to send a reminder

This happened to me a few years ago but eventually I was offered the job close to Christmas as many staff had started to peel away early. For those with saved up holidays they’ll be taking them now!

In my area of work it’s really common to start a job before the contract is issued, so this wouldn’t bother me at all. I appreciate that’s not the same everywhere! I definitely wouldn’t panic, though - are you worried that they’re going to retract the offer? Seems much more likely they’re just a bit disorganised and this is a low-priority task.

Never had this before and its my usual area. Yes worried they would retract the offer or change the terms somehow? Can they even do that? But also not giving me a great confidence in them if they can’t manage to sort this out in time

are they waiting for references?
is it with HR checking out things?

I’d be all over them for it, but when offered a new role, I always say that I won’t put in my resignation until I have signed the contract and they confirm in writing that they have it.

The waiting on signatures bit would concern me - Thats suggests the actually hiring may not yet be approved.

When I emailed HR they said that they were waiting for someone to sign internally as the final step and they had not. I had completed background checks but can’t think of anything that could have come up and why would they not have told me?!

I know. I am contemplating whether to chase again for it. I had got this job following a redundancy but my gut feeling is not sitting right.

I read something today where someone had worked in a job for 6 months without a contract and then were told they were being let go effective immediately.
That type of thing worries me as I wouldn’t have anything to fall back on if they fail to hand over the contract before I start.

As a minimum, I’d say Dont assume it’s going ahead and keep hunting.

You can also chase slightly more subtly by confirming whether any pre start paper work, starting arrangements, normal
office hours etc.