Education & Work Refused a job offer after signing contract

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by hash_investor, 13th Feb, 2019.

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  1. hash_investor

    hash_investor Well-Known Member

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    Hi guys, I have just refused a contract employment offer a week after signing the contract. The reason being I got a longer term contract for higher money and better position. Though it is something I have already done and company A has already moved on as well but I am still feeling that guilt of dumping them and not keeping my words. Would you feel that as well? Part of me says I took care of myself which I am supposed to do but then the other part says I should have stood my ground. What would you do in that situation?
     
  2. EN710

    EN710 Well-Known Member

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    Probably feels bad because you feel you are going against some of your values.
    I am sure it's not a decision you made lightly.

    It's done. I'd soothe myself. Most likely both parties most likely got what is best for them. You get a more suited role, and they probably get a more suited candidate. I'd make sure that I'm not in the situation like that again in the future. As you have experienced yourself, going agains what you think you should do feels really bad.

    Congratulations on your new role :)
     
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  3. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Change my name, leave the country or seek legal advice.

    Is it a small industry that this'll come back and bite you? Is your reputation important? Do you need to save face? Are you ever going to go back to this company?
     
  4. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    I'd be getting legal advice. Afaik an employment contract is a legally binding document with conditions on how it may be terminated. Presumably your would be employer has been inconvenienced, and possibly lost some money. I'd be guessing that the amount would be too small for legal action, but it's worth while checking, as @Scott No Mates suggests.
    How to Get out of an Employment Contract
     
  5. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Contracts are starting to mean less and less in this country unfortunately
     
  6. Propertunity

    Propertunity Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]
     
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  7. hash_investor

    hash_investor Well-Known Member

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    I probably burned the bridge with that company I realise but then according to my research an employment contract is only applicable after the start date. If you have not started the job yet the contract is void. But I am no legal.

    It it not something that I ever intend to do again and never did in the past. The industry is IT which I guess is not a small one.
     
  8. Marg4000

    Marg4000 Well-Known Member

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    So how would you feel if they had dumped you after signing a contract but before the contract started?
    Marg
     
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  9. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    We've had plenty of people who have bailed out before even starting for that very reason - pretty common, and a sign of a competitive job market. Put this way, you just gave some other person who was going to be an "also-ran" the job, so not all bad!

    The Y-man
     
  10. hash_investor

    hash_investor Well-Known Member

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    Pretty bad! Same as what I am feeling now hence the question. I have been told by the recruiter it happens all the time.
     
  11. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    BTW what was the notice period on the contract had you started work anyway? I think ours was 1 week for short term and probation anyway, so at worst you only did them in for 1 week, and better still they didn't have to pay you, and have to go look all over again!

    The Y-man
     
  12. luckyone

    luckyone Well-Known Member

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    I had to do it after already starting the job. I got a call two weeks in from another employer offering me a permanent job. Even though it paid less money than the contract I was on, I couldn't turn down a permanent job. I felt absolutely horrible the next day when I had to tell my manager. I only worked there for four weeks and I'm still in contact with the whole team except the manager, we all catch up for lunch every couple of weeks. Was the best job and team I ever had, but I really just had to look out for myself and I really needed stability in my work life as the rest of my life was in chaos at the time.
     
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  13. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Did the same recruiter find you the better job?

    The Y-man
     
  14. Brady

    Brady Well-Known Member

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    Did you ask if the existing could put your permanent?
     
  15. hash_investor

    hash_investor Well-Known Member

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    No. Its another one.
     
  16. hash_investor

    hash_investor Well-Known Member

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    Thats what I tell myself. I could have resigned on my first day which was all contractual and I had all the right in the world to do that. But would have been even more horrible.
     
  17. TheSackedWiggle

    TheSackedWiggle Well-Known Member

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    People often apply for multiple positions when they are looking, and its particularly common in IT to have multiple offers,
    and it goes both ways.
     
  18. luckyone

    luckyone Well-Known Member

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    I had actually spoken to them about it the week before as I had a meeting with my manager and I raised it as she said she was really impressed with my work. She said that there was a possibility the following year once the new budget came out, but they didn't have the funding until then. I didn't even know I was still in the running for the other job (I was on a merit list and I've been on lots and lots of those and never got anything), so the timing of that conversation was completely coincidental.
     
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  19. The Y-man

    The Y-man Moderator Staff Member

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    Personally I thought it was "always", not "often" :) Luckily it's not like putting in an offer on a house!

    The Y-man
     
  20. MRO

    MRO Well-Known Member

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    What was the termination clause within the contract?