Can Companies Rescind A Job Offer?

Posted by Cliff on Saturday December 30, 2000 @11:59AM from the now-THAT-sucks dept.

Alfonso Espitia asks: "Just had a question for the general audience out there. I recently got recruited by a company, went to their job fair and the whole nine yards. After the fair I was sent a job offer, I then accepted filled out all the paper work and sent it back. I was given a start date and everything. About a week and a half or two I got a message on my answering machine saying 'About the offer that was extended to you...it is now rescinded.' Can they do this? All the paper work was filled out. I think I was more in shock that they would leave a message like this a few days before Christmas. Instead of just saying "It's urgent that we get in contact with you, can you call back?" Has anyone else had an experience like this? It's a -really- big company, so I didn't mention their name. Also, what can I do about this? Anything? I haven't tried to contact them yet, my recruiter is on vacation 'til the 2nd." I always thought an offer letter was a clear intent to hire, and that companies can't do this without penalties. Has this happened to anyone else? Is there anything Alfonso can do in this situation?

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Bummer by kevin42 · 2000-12-30 07:54 · Score: 4

In most places in the US work is considered "at will", so unless you can show real financial harm (ie. you relocated at your own expense with the promise they would reimburse you) you probably are out of luck.
"At will" employment means they can let you go whenever they want with no advance notice or reason anyway...on the other hand you can quit with no notice also. In other countries you have to give 30-90 days notice if you want to quit or fire someone.
But this is the good old USA, so even though IANAL I don't think you have any recourse.