Turning down a job offer you have already accepted

[BucksFizz]

Does an organisation have any legal recourse if you reject a job offer that you accepted only a couple of days prior?

I accepted a role with one organisation but another has got in touch with an offer that is more money and closer to home, other than the potential unsportsmanlike behaviour do I have anything to worry about by rejecting the first offer?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Other than bad reputation, not a lot. It happens all the time. Annoying to the employer, but presumably they had other possible candidate.s?

[Cloudbusta]

No. Tell them the truth of the situation and they'll either say byebye or up their offer depending on the organisation.

[pincher]

They’ll probably have a grumble but I’d imagine there is very little they can do about it - have you accepted verbally or signed a contract? Have you sent them the plethora of documentation they want these days (passport etc)?

If it was only a couple of days ago, I doubt the corporate wheels have turned much yet - I reckon a quick phone call to say you’ve reconsidered and would like to withdraw your acceptance, with a suitable apology will sort it.

Edit - how do you think they’d make you turn up to your first day?

[Countdown]

BucksFizz said:

Does an organisation have any legal recourse if you reject a job offer that you accepted only a couple of days prior?

I accepted a role with one organisation but another has got in touch with an offer that is more money and closer to home, other than the potential unsportsmanlike behaviour do I have anything to worry about by rejecting the first offer?

No recourse whatsoever. Plus it happens more often than you might think - when people are looking for a new job they will usually have 2 or 3 irons in the fire at any one time. Whilst the organisation might be a bit peeved they've still got time to contact the person who came second and ask them if they're still interested.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

It's clearly a case of "making your mind up"

[iwantagta]

My mate got offered a job. Accepted, went out on their all expenses paid night out - they were opening a new warehouse so were doing a meet your new workmates job - made the most of the opportunity for free booze.
Then he got offered a big promotion where he was already and had to ring up the other place and say he wasn't joining.
Bridges definitely burnt but the right decision for him!

[anonymous-user]

Countdown said:

No recourse whatsoever. ...

Strictly speaking, this is incorrect. Whist in practice an employer would rarely take action, in principle the employer could sue the employee for wasted recruitment costs. I have seen this happen maybe once or twice in thirty odd years, so in most cases nothing would happen.

[anonymous-user]

pincher said:

... have you accepted verbally or signed a contract?
...

Edit - how do you think they’d make you turn up to your first day?

It makes no difference whether the employee has agreed to take the job in writing otherwise. BTW, by "verbal", I assume that you mean "oral", as a spoken acceptance and a written acceptance are both verbal acceptances.

The employer could not compel the employee to work. If the employee's failure to work causes the employer loss, the employer might be able to claim damages. In practice, this rarely happens, as the game is not worth the candle..

[pincher]

Breadvan72 said:

It makes no difference whether the employee has agreed to take the job in writing otherwise. BTW, by "verbal", I assume that you mean "oral", as a spoken acceptance and a written acceptance are both verbal acceptances.

The employer could not compel the employee to work. If the employee's failure to work causes the employer loss, the employer might be able to claim damages. In practice, this rarely happens, as the game is not worth the candle..

I think that most dictionaries list verbal as being 'spoken rather than written' but let's not argue semantics as you'll no doubt win and I'll just end up looking foolish

If the OP hasn't submitted the required paperwork even if he has accepted (however he did so), would the company be likely to let him start?

[Countdown]

Breadvan72 said:

Countdown said:

No recourse whatsoever. ...

Strictly speaking, this is incorrect. Whist in practice an employer would rarely take action, in principle the employer could sue the employee for wasted recruitment costs. I have seen this happen maybe once or twice in thirty odd years, so in most cases nothing would happen.

Interesting. I would have assumed that the costs of litigation would have exceeded the costs of recruitment. Or alternatively the Employee could have turned up on day 1 in Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops, handed his notice in, and then spent his notice period surfing the Internet for prawn and drugs whilst getting paid for it.

But yes, OP - be warned! You might be one of the rare cases where your prospective Employer thinks it's worthwhile throwing good money after bad.

[anonymous-user]

The one case that I distinctly recall in which the employer sued was one in which the employer was irrational and emotional and wanted blood. I see that sort of thing more often in restrictive covenant cases, in which emotion sometimes prevails over calm business judgment.

[CAPP0]

I did it myself earlier this year. I had actually signed and returned the contract and then my existing employers cam up with an offer I couldn't refuse. The guy was very disappointed but actually asked me to connect with him on LinkedIn and said I was very welcome to contact him in the future if I was looking for a position again.

[Nickbrapp]

I've done this twice in 2 years now, the first time I wanted a pay rise but my company wouldn't give me one, so I got a new job, then my current company could suddenly afford the pay rise so I stayed as it was a better company.

I've just had to do it again, the other job was the same money but more responsibility which I wanted but then I came to my senses and pulled out.

The 1st time I just told them the truth and that was that, 2nd time I was really apologetic, told them the job sounds great but I couldn't take the pay cut ( I would have lost travel and overtime). He was disappointed but money talks trannies walk

[BucksFizz]

Slight plot twist.

I got a new job through a recruitment agency after two interviews and two online tests - I've been there a week and so far. I've since been approached by one of the directors of a sister company of where I was made redundant, they have made me an offer of a far more interesting role and more money.

I want to accept the role but I want to be tactful about how I handle resigning from my current job. I have a weeks notice which they probably won't want me to work but I feel awfully hard faced, all the effort of the recruiter, interviewees, general recruitment process etc.

Any advice or anything that I should be aware of, although than be very apologetic?

[anonymous-user]

look after yourself the same as a company will look after itself. just make sure you make the right decision, could use it to leverage more money out of current employer, you have nothing to lose just be honest explain circumstances, i mean being redundant is st so you look for jobs.

[NDA]

BucksFizz said:

I accepted a role with one organisation but another has got in touch with an offer that is more money and closer to home, other than the potential unsportsmanlike behaviour do I have anything to worry about by rejecting the first offer?

I'm not sure I understand the flow of events here - so you did resign from your initial job? Or you were made redundant? You left to join the new firm and the old firm are now trying to persuade you back with more money?

[BucksFizz]

NDA said:

BucksFizz said:

I accepted a role with one organisation but another has got in touch with an offer that is more money and closer to home, other than the potential unsportsmanlike behaviour do I have anything to worry about by rejecting the first offer?

I'm not sure I understand the flow of events here - so you did resign from your initial job? Or you were made redundant? You left to join the new firm and the old firm are now trying to persuade you back with more money?

Company 1: Made me redundant
Company 2: Now employed here for 1 week so far
Company 3: Offered me a job, owned by the same company that owns company 1.

[NDA]

BucksFizz said:

Company 1: Made me redundant
Company 2: Now employed here for 1 week so far
Company 3: Offered me a job, owned by the same company that owns company 1.

Well I don't know you, or how old you are (that does make a bit of a difference), or what you do - but I'd be tempted to stay where you are. They want you, they threw you a lifeline when you were made redundant....

Were you paid a redundancy package?

[BucksFizz]

NDA said:

BucksFizz said:

Company 1: Made me redundant
Company 2: Now employed here for 1 week so far
Company 3: Offered me a job, owned by the same company that owns company 1.

Well I don't know you, or how old you are (that does make a bit of a difference), or what you do - but I'd be tempted to stay where you are. They want you, they threw you a lifeline when you were made redundant....

Were you paid a redundancy package?

Yes, and I am very grateful to be were I am now but the role at company 3 is more money and more interesting (current role is more than my last also) - although both companies are owned by the same group they are totally separate.

Comapny 1 is selling a crap product to a suppressed market hence my redundancy, company 3 is growing so fast that sales are being asked not to sell because the PS department can't go fast enough hence the job offer.