Help Re: Backing out of a job offer
Discussion
Hi all, I need some help from you all regarding a bit of a pickle I'm in,I'll try and keep it brief but happy to provide additional info if needed.
I live in Kent and have recently accepted an ok job offer for a position in London. The contract is signed and a start date arranged in the coming weeks. I have also just been offered a job down in Kent, not far from me at a place I've been trying to get a job at for ages. The money is more or less the same, but I will save £490 a month on train fares as it's just a quick blast down the M20.
How can I get out of the first job? I feel really bad for them, but I've not long had a daughter and I have to do what's right for me and mine, and this will mean more income, less time travelling and doing a job I would prefer.
Please help, as I'm feeling trapped and have been googling contract law etc, and my contract states I must stay with them for a minimum of 6 months. I haven't actually started yet, but have signed.
I live in Kent and have recently accepted an ok job offer for a position in London. The contract is signed and a start date arranged in the coming weeks. I have also just been offered a job down in Kent, not far from me at a place I've been trying to get a job at for ages. The money is more or less the same, but I will save £490 a month on train fares as it's just a quick blast down the M20.
How can I get out of the first job? I feel really bad for them, but I've not long had a daughter and I have to do what's right for me and mine, and this will mean more income, less time travelling and doing a job I would prefer.
Please help, as I'm feeling trapped and have been googling contract law etc, and my contract states I must stay with them for a minimum of 6 months. I haven't actually started yet, but have signed.
Read your whole contract carefully as most employment contracts allow for a probationary period where either side can terminate within the first 1 week or month or a few months for any reason. This can be a big risk when changing jobs.
If they can terminate then you have the same right regardless of what is written.
If there is no probationary period then just explain the situation to them as sensibly as you can and even if annoyed they won't want you to start if you don't want to be there.
Good luck.
If they can terminate then you have the same right regardless of what is written.
If there is no probationary period then just explain the situation to them as sensibly as you can and even if annoyed they won't want you to start if you don't want to be there.
Good luck.
Contact them ASAP and explain the situation, and confirm that you are declining their offer (assuming all the other pre-employment checks have been completed for the local job). You are under no obligation with them if you have not yet started employment with them, even if a start date is arranged, therefore employment protection/law does not come into it. Yes, there is a risk they will be upset but they'll get over it and find someone else.
I used to work in recruiting/HR for a large multi-national; trust me, this happens a lot more often than people think and it's not as big a deal as people make it sound. You have to look after #1.
I used to work in recruiting/HR for a large multi-national; trust me, this happens a lot more often than people think and it's not as big a deal as people make it sound. You have to look after #1.
Speed Badger said:
Hi all, I need some help from you all regarding a bit of a pickle I'm in,I'll try and keep it brief but happy to provide additional info if needed.
I live in Kent and have recently accepted an ok job offer for a position in London. The contract is signed and a start date arranged in the coming weeks. I have also just been offered a job down in Kent, not far from me at a place I've been trying to get a job at for ages. The money is more or less the same, but I will save £490 a month on train fares as it's just a quick blast down the M20.
How can I get out of the first job? I feel really bad for them, but I've not long had a daughter and I have to do what's right for me and mine, and this will mean more income, less time travelling and doing a job I would prefer.
Please help, as I'm feeling trapped and have been googling contract law etc, and my contract states I must stay with them for a minimum of 6 months. I haven't actually started yet, but have signed.
It's annoying for the Employer but it happens more often than you think, mainly because when people are applying for jobs they have several irons in the fire at the same time. Be apologetic, explain the situation, and a decent employer will understand. If they start getting ar5ey then they probably weren't going to be a great employer anyway.I live in Kent and have recently accepted an ok job offer for a position in London. The contract is signed and a start date arranged in the coming weeks. I have also just been offered a job down in Kent, not far from me at a place I've been trying to get a job at for ages. The money is more or less the same, but I will save £490 a month on train fares as it's just a quick blast down the M20.
How can I get out of the first job? I feel really bad for them, but I've not long had a daughter and I have to do what's right for me and mine, and this will mean more income, less time travelling and doing a job I would prefer.
Please help, as I'm feeling trapped and have been googling contract law etc, and my contract states I must stay with them for a minimum of 6 months. I haven't actually started yet, but have signed.
Thanks for all your replies, it's made me feel much better and far less trapped!
I read through my contract and it says this:
2.4 You may end your employment with (redacted) at any time either during the probationary period, or at its end, should you wish to do so.
2.5 Where either (redacted) or you decide to end employment during the probationary period, then no notice is required from either party where service is less than a month; where more than one month’s service has been served, then the notice provisions in Clause 11 do not apply and one week’s notice shall be provided by either party, except where gross misconduct occurs, where (redacted) may terminate employment without notice.
2.6 If you or (redacted) end the probationary period before the prescribed end date, neither party will attract any liability for the balance of the probationary period not worked.
To answer the question above re: London vs Kent, the London job is a lower level role in a similar organisation, the Kent is a higher level role, so they even out roughly money-wise.
I read through my contract and it says this:
2.4 You may end your employment with (redacted) at any time either during the probationary period, or at its end, should you wish to do so.
2.5 Where either (redacted) or you decide to end employment during the probationary period, then no notice is required from either party where service is less than a month; where more than one month’s service has been served, then the notice provisions in Clause 11 do not apply and one week’s notice shall be provided by either party, except where gross misconduct occurs, where (redacted) may terminate employment without notice.
2.6 If you or (redacted) end the probationary period before the prescribed end date, neither party will attract any liability for the balance of the probationary period not worked.
To answer the question above re: London vs Kent, the London job is a lower level role in a similar organisation, the Kent is a higher level role, so they even out roughly money-wise.
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