Breaking a Written Job Offer

January 7th, 2009
  • If I signed and sent a written job offer, but now changed my mind, can I break it without any legal consequences?


  • What is the reason you are now not accepting? You are better off verbally explaining your reasons and seeing what the reaction of the company/personnel office is, and if the reason is acceptable, they would much rather let you go than to have a disgruntled employee on staff. And you will eventually have to send a written declination of the job offer. 4KEITH (I'm NOT a GOOGLE Researcher) Accountant --------------------------------------


  • This depends on what state you live in. In NY, employment is at will. If you don't have an actual contract (most poeple don't), either the employer or employee can terminate employment at any time for any reason except reasons expressly prohibited by law (i.e. race, age etc). I think this is true of most states actually, but I don't know that for sure. However, if you live in NY, then its no problem.


  • Depends on the wording in the offer. Is it a "contract". Will there be damages? If you're the employer it could result in some consequences. With a definite job offer most prospective applicants would stop looking as well as turn down other offers. If your the employee the employer would most likely not pursue any compensation for damages, unless ,possibly, if its a critical position. The would just go to the next candidate. Just my two nickles worth.(inflation)


  • Hello jenebol17-ga, It is not clear from your question whether you represent the employer and you sent a job offer to a candidate or you are a candidate who changed their mind about starting a job that you accepted in writing. Which one are you? Employer or employee? Thanks. ~ czh ~


  • I'm a candidate, not an employer


  • Just don'e show up for work, they will get the message. They will feel so poorly of you for not showing up that they will drop you like a hot potato and won't come after you. Just do nothing. Don't answer any e-mails screen all your calls with an answering machine and don't callt hem back.


  • If you are the employer who wants to rescind an offer sent to a potential employee, you should be discussing this with your company's human resources department and the company attorneys.


  • Presumably you accepted a job offer. In this case, you are theoretically liable to give your prospective employers the period of notice specified in the job offer. However, you might be able to claim some extenuating circumstances that now prevent you from taking up the offer. Or maybe, if you drop a very nice letter to the prospective employers they may forego asking (or making) you cough up. Good Luck!







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