is a job offer letter a contract? by Alison Green on December 9, 2011 A reader submitted this question to me and I forwarded it over to employment lawyer Donna Ballman: I was employed at a large successful company. While there, I got a call from a man who is a CEO of a smaller company offering me a job and saying he could beat whatever I was currently making. Long story short, I ended up taking the position in July at the smaller company and leaving my current position. Two weeks ago, the same man who hired me, also hired a sales manager who has convinced my boss that myself and 1 other rep are making too much money and he is trying to significantly lower our salaries and commission structure. My question is: if this man lured me away from my position at with an offer letter of more money and is trying to renege less than 6 months later, what are my rights? Is there a law that states how long an offer letter is good/enforceable? Donna’s answer is up at her blog and you can read it here. Feel free to predict the answer ahead of time and see if you’re right! You may also like:my employer says we can't stop patrons from filming usmy employer gives extra perks to thin peoplehow do you find a lawyer for workplace issues? { 5 comments }
Kyle* December 9, 2011 at 11:42 am Bah, websense filtered… Too bad for the OP, looks like she picked a lemon of a company to move to.
Joanna Reichert* December 9, 2011 at 12:16 pm That IS surprising – my company’s filter threw a hissy fit over timeanddate.com and called it “porn.” Funny but embarrassing sorting THAT one out . . . . If this company is this obtuse and unethical to think that they can pull a stunt like this, then perhaps the extent of their legal might is a Lionel Hutz persona. Do you have an HR rep you can talk to? What’s the protocol for putting the muscle on THEM?
Ask a Manager* Post authorDecember 9, 2011 at 1:56 pm Just a quick note: Thanks to everyone who alerted me/Donna that there was a problem with her site. She found the problem (a link in one of the comments someone had left) and fixed it. Everything should be working now.
Anonymous* June 21, 2012 at 10:15 am My current employer is pushing me to sign a job offer letter and relocate if I sign it how long do I have before I can change my mind and walk away from the offer ?
Ask a Manager* Post authorJune 21, 2012 at 3:32 pm If it’s a contract, it’s binding once you sign. If it’s just an offer letter, it’s not binding.