After I signed employment contract, my position has been put on hold.

35 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 20,2022 at 1:28PM UTC

   I am sorry this happened to you. Your rights in the employment contract could be impacted by the state in which you live. Before you take next steps, reach out to an employment lawyer or your state's workforce commission for advice.

   As a Texan in a right to work state, I am impressed they offered you anything. Your state may be likely more generous.

2. AnonymousOctober 20,2022 at 1:43PM UTC

   Is it an actual employment contract or a job offer? If you are in the U.S., you likely won't have much of a leg to stand on...and honestly, that they are going to comp you one month salary without you actually having working there is pretty darn good.

3. AnonymousOctober 20,2022 at 11:12PM UTC

   If what they will open next year is still a temp contract apply elsewhere. Otherwise you subject yourself to the same circumstance once the contract ends again.

4. Brenda CrawshawOctober 21,2022 at 12:24PM UTC

   You need to consult an employment attorney. There is something called Promissory Estoppel and it exists in all 50 states, with different requirements to satisfy losses.

   I have a colleague who went through this same scenario in Florida and was awarded her previous salary from the new company until such a time as she secured a new position or was hired as per her signed contract.

5. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 3:29PM UTC

   Thank you for adding information about a Promissory Estoppel, because this makes me really apprehensive about changing jobs especially since I am 60 years old.

   I looked up https://www.upcounsel.com/doctrine-of-consideration-and-promissory-estoppel

   I really enjoy reading the fairygodboss questions and feedback. I’ve learned so much!

6. AnonymousOctober 24,2022 at 2:53AM UTC

   If you read the article then you'd know "that the promissory estoppel can only be used as a legal defense and not to initiate a legal claim."

7. AnonymousOctober 24,2022 at 2:51AM UTC

   Promissory estoppel does not apply given the limited facts given. Please do not throw out legal issues if you're not an attorney and even then unless you know the full facts and have read the contract.

8. Bonnie DilberOctober 21,2022 at 12:28PM UTC

   Unfortunately this is happening quite frequently. I'm so sorry it happened to you! The one month is pretty much on par with what other companies in this situation are doing. Some are offering nothing.

   1. I'd suggest talking to your current employer. Explain the situation and also about staying on. It might be worth it for them as they likely haven't replaced you. You could also tell them you realized through this that it's not time for a change to alleviate their concerns but in that case, if you keep looking, do it quietly!

   2. Did you have any other companies that you withdrew from? Check in with them- they might be happy to reconsider you.

9. GirlBossanova934974October 21,2022 at 12:41PM UTC

   A quick check with an employment lawyer should be done here. Most give free consultations. I remember 2.5 years ago when my employment was terminated. I read through the termination paperwork. The language used and the reasons given seemed like they were against the law. Called an employment lawyer. 2 years later, we signed a lower six figure settlement. Bottom line: You do not know until you ask a competent employer lawyer. PS: This reneging of job offers is a primary reason why I refuse to speak to most recruiters these days. Too much flim flam going on these days. Employers somehow think that this is now acceptable behavior. I for one will not even talk to any company in the Tech Sector. Too darn risky.

10. maryOctober 21,2022 at 12:44PM UTC

    40 years I worked as a recruiter and this is the first I’ve heard this scenario after an offers been accepted.

    Although I always advised applicants not to give notice until the background check was completed just in case there was a glitch of some sort I never had a job put on hold after a formal offer and hire, because even though the job was approved to be posted the offer had to be approved before the offer could be made. I wish you the best and I would consult an employment attorney.

    having worked in HR as a recruiter for so many years companies are always well aware of what could happen if you extend an offer and then even withdraw it.

11. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 1:23PM UTC

    I'm not a recruiter, but I have seen this happen. It usually occurs when there is something internally going on in the company that is not public information due to SEC rules, like an acquisition or filing for bankruptcy. I worked for a company that was aggressive in acquiring other companies. As soon as a new acquisition became public, all hiring, including pending offers, was suspended until the acquisition was complete.

12. Felicia Harris RobichaudOctober 21,2022 at 12:45PM UTC

    I am not sure where you are located, because most positions in the US don't use, or require, an employment contract unless you are an executive (which maybe you are). Location is a big factor. It can also depend on where in the hiring process you were. Smart companies will tell you not to resign your current job until a start date has been set for you. If what you have is a contract, rather than an offer letter, more information may be contained in there. There is nowhere near enough information provided here for anyone to offer you advice other than that you should consult with an employment attorney. Plus, if they withdrew the offer, you may not automatically be the one they make a new offer to once the position opens up. If you really are still interested in working for them, it is worth considering whether pushing them for more money will help you getting hired in the long run.

13. RiaOctober 24,2022 at 2:49AM UTC

    Absolutely correct! Everyone screaming its a breach without knowing the full terms of the contract.

14. Crystal HowellOctober 21,2022 at 12:53PM UTC

    Please give us more details, contract position, 9-5 job, the industry, did you read the fine print, when they say reopen do you have to reapply? Check with employment attorney.

    Did you have good relationship with your manager? Next time wait after you get a start date and salary in writing, this is a first.

15. La'QuiaOctober 21,2022 at 8:54PM UTC

    How do you get a salary in writing?

16. JYJOctober 21,2022 at 10:39PM UTC

    You ensure that the salary is stated in the offer letter.

17. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 1:14PM UTC

    It is a contract. The company already breached their contract, so you can walk away. No one can force you to work anywhere or wait 3-6 months for your job to start.

    Red flag!! Horrible planning and foresight on their part. This is how they operate? Sorry. Find another job. Good luck.

18. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 3:08PM UTC

    I wouldn't put it on horrible planning or foresight. This impending recession is changing business plans by the day. The alternative would be to have all extended offers start and then do some sort of RIF in 1-2 months.

19. Rebecca A BrittOctober 21,2022 at 4:52PM UTC

    There is no impending recession. Companies are making record profits and CAUSING inflation.

    These faux-cession claims are an effort to further increase profits, decrease wages, and have leverage to pull workers back onsite.

20. La'QuiaOctober 21,2022 at 6:00PM UTC

    You may have a good point. I have never thought of it like that before til now.

21. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 7:19PM UTC

    Thanks for your perspective Rebecca. I do agree that this recession that's being talked is yet to come, since it's been talked about for over a year now.

    Either way, companies are still reacting and planning on if it's coming. That's the reality.

22. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 9:49PM UTC

    I would respond with: if there’s a recession coming, it’s been talked about for almost a year now. They should NOT have hired anyone.

    on the other hand, if they believe that there will NOT be a recession, then they should bring get onboard today!

23. RiaOctober 24,2022 at 2:47AM UTC

    You don't know if they breached. There may a revocation or termination provision which allows them to rescind the offer under certain circumstances. Without knowing the full terms of the contract you cannot do a proper analysis.

24. Christine DilksOctober 21,2022 at 1:31PM UTC

    Look into promissory estoppel

25. Changemaker431530October 21,2022 at 1:42PM UTC

    There is no job opening for you. You may want to ask an employment lawyer about this and any legal recourse you have.

26. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 2:07PM UTC

    That happened to me with an internship position.
    They had offered me both that and a paid position, but when the lockdown started in March 2020, the company put a hiring freeze in place and I wasn't made aware of that situation until I called to accept the offer. Once the hiring freeze was in place, it took about six months for them to decide to not hire for the duration of the pandemic lockdown.

27. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 2:57PM UTC

    My advice would be to try and mend things where you are, at least long enough to determine what happens when they start hiring again. There are no guarantees that the position will still be there, depending on what the reason for the hiring freeze is. In the meantime, if the former position is not ideal for you, keep looking.

28. AnonymousOctober 22,2022 at 9:23AM UTC

    It is bank.

29. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 3:07PM UTC

    Is this a large company?

30. AnonymousOctober 23,2022 at 5:17AM UTC

    Its bank

31. AnonymousOctober 21,2022 at 4:26PM UTC

    This is prevalent in the current market where companies are reassessing their end of year hiring, budgets and the overall economic situation. I would suggest 3 things. Think about why you left your last employer and if its not for toxic reasons or other negative ones let them know that you are back on the market and would consider to come back. 2- let the company whose offer you accepted know you are sad about the decision and that you would like to be considered in the future- again if this has not tainted your opinion of them. If they gave you reasons about budgets or financial consider it a bullet dodged. And 3rd- move on, take their one month and when you interview elsewhere tell the story of why you left and that your new employer is struggling so they pulled the offer back. Be sure you tell any new prospects that you won't be considering that company again so that they don't think you would be short term with them waiting for the other place to open the job up again...and breathe. You are not the only one this has happened to....

32. Sarah StadtherrOctober 21,2022 at 6:15PM UTC

    That happened to my husband and he took employer to small claims court. He got way more than he expected and they got their hand slapped. In that state I think small claims was topped out at $2,500.00 but you'd want to carefully check these things.

33. AnonymousOctober 23,2022 at 4:12PM UTC

    THAT IS HORRIBLE. I would contact an attorney or go to small claims court. Is a signed offer a valid contract?

34. RiaOctober 24,2022 at 2:43AM UTC

    Please advise if the contract included a termination or revoke provision. Its hard to do a proper analysis without knowing the full terms of the contract.

35. Sarah PageOctober 24,2022 at 3:32AM UTC

    I had that happen years ago and I know where I live, nothing could be done with or without the signed contract. Could you see if you can return to your prior company or was there any other company that you were interviewing with that you can move forward with?