Ghosted after contract

[MrCheeze]

I signed a contract for a new job and handed in my notice last month at current job. I’m due to start new role on 1st April.

My new manager emailed on 2nd March asking to arrange a call in the “coming days”. I emailed him my availability and heard nothing all last week. On Friday I sent another email and I updated him with my availability for this week. I’ve still heard nothing.

When would you start to get anxious? It’s a wealth management firm so I know March can be busy. But up until now the company has been really responsive. My last day at current job is Friday and I can’t afford to not start this one on time.

i dont really understand why you need to see the manager at all? why would not seeing him be an issue when you have worked your notice and are leaving on friday? his loss. it shouldn’t affect your start date im your new job?

just prepare a handover note and update it before you go and email him again with your availability this week reminding him of your last day. on the last day just email the handover note if he’s not bothered to meet you.

sorry i misread it as the old manager lol. just ignore me 🤣

Is there a HR dept to get in touch with?

Starting on 1st April 😳. Is the new company well known?

It’s been 1 week and they said they’d be in contact. You haven’t been ghosted at all. Hopefully you will hear from them this week, but you no it’s a busy time for them and you’ve signed the contract. Nothing sounds wrong here.

Excuse me if I’m stating the obvious — can’t you just pick up the phone? Just wanted to check you received my email?

They don’t have direct dial in their email signatures. There is a head office number. I could call that and ask to speak to the relevant person in the right office but it seems an escalation. HR are copied into emails so they are aware I’ve not had a reply.

I think honesty is the best policy. I also think most people would feel the same.

Id call HR and ask them for reassurance you’re still on track for a 1st April start.

They could be off sick.

They could be but there are 3 people copied into the email. It seems unlikely they would all be off sick. I assume if they had changed their mind someone would have let me know?!

I also expected my chaser email to generate a response. When it didn’t it left me feeling unsettled. It would take 10 seconds at most to reply, even if it was to delay the call to next week or whatever.

I could call the recruiter and see if they have heard any news?

I almost feel like I should be looking for new jobs at this stage!

Id give the recruiter a bell - cant do much harm, though I would guess they can only say that the company told them you were getting hired. I did this once and the recruiter joked "well you bloody still better be as I want my bonus 😂".

When I moved in 24 I heard from my new role a few days before - just to outline where to go and who to speak to. Before that it was probably about 2 weeks before, then before that was when I signed the contract. But it was a smaller company.
Every role I've had, there hasn't been much contact at all really - though always the email/letter to be at X location at X time on X date. Who to mean, what to bring etc etc.

Chances are the manager expects HR to be dealing with it as they should do the new start paperwork etc. They might be off - but really should have an OOF reply if they are.

@Donury236 I have called the recruiter who’s lovely but just said she also is waiting on call backs from this particular hiring manager, she thinks he’s just incredibly busy.

It’s a remote role so I need IT stuff to be set up/ sent. I did originally ask HR about this but they just said the hiring manager would be in touch in the next day or so and he was just finalising my onboarding plan. That was 2 weeks ago now!

I have emailed HR and the hiring manager again but heard nothing. When do I write it off/ start to panic there’s no job?

I don’t want to be waiting for this if it’s not going to materialise. I can’t afford to be unemployed.

You would think a quick reply just letting me know it’s still going ahead would be quite a simple thing. I’ve never been ignored like this before

Yes but I wouldn't respond to someone else's hire.

You said you signed a contract?

I have signed a contract. But I still haven’t had a reply. I’m really very anxious at this point. I called Head Office and asked to speak to HR. They said she was in meetings and gave me her email address. She’s not replying to my emails! Neither is the Hiring Manger. Even if they do come back to me now I feel like it’s soured everything anyway.

I've got somebody starting on 23 March, I've got a call next week to plan the first couple of days and induction so likely won't speak to the new starter until a week before to let them know what to expect.

I think you need to give them a little bit more time to get in touch. They are probably busy / planning for your arrival. Although ignoring you isn't very acceptable, even a short email back to say hello, looking forward to your arrival, just making the arrangements and I'll give you a call on X with details would be better than silence! I hope you hear back soon.

Yes exactly! It’s the silence that’s making me twitchy.

What happened in the end?

Terrible treatment from a new employer. They should know how to priortise no matter how busy they are.

What is the latest?