Help! Signed contract and want to accept another job!

JamesP

Hi, I am due to start a new job on 1st October and have signed the contract. However, in the last couple of days I have also been offered another job which is 7k more than the previous job. What would be the consequences of me accepting this other job even though I have signed the contract to the previous job? Is it likely they will make me work my 1 month notice? Can they sue me?!? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

knowledgeman

JamesP wrote: »

Hi, I am due to start a new job on 1st October and have signed the contract. However, in the last couple of days I have also been offered another job which is 7k more than the previous job. What would be the consequences of me accepting this other job even though I have signed the contract to the previous job? Is it likely they will make me work my 1 month notice? Can they sue me?!? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

They could sue for breach of contract and sue for damages which they are unlikely to do as proving real damages would be difficult and legal costs would probably outweigh them

Id just write to them and call them stating the circumstances that the other opportunity is too good to turn down and as such you regret to advise you will not be commencing employment as previously planned

My bet is you wont hear from them again

The main issues would be if it was internal, or if you applied for the company in future and your actions came to light

Savvy_Sue

TBH, I wouldn't even mention the other opportunity IF you decide to do this. Just "I regret to inform you that I am unable to start work with you on 1 October and regret the inconvenience this will cause you" is enough. They might phone and ask, of course.

If you think you could get more out of this company, you could phone and speak to their HR dept. You could even find out in theoretical terms what would happen if you didn't take up the new job. "Something's turned up which MAY prevent me starting with you, and I wondered what the effect of that might be."

They could write to your current referees. Whether this would matter might depend what stage of your career you're at. I think it used to be considered seriously bad form when I was graduating, but that's a few years ago now. It's not something I would do except under extreme circumstances. And I'd want to be really clear that the 7K was going to be worth having - not double the travel time or expense, for example, and a more interesting job. Although I realise 7K is quite a big difference!

knowledgeman

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

TBH, I wouldn't even mention the other opportunity IF you decide to do this. Just "I regret to inform you that I am unable to start work with you on 1 October and regret the inconvenience this will cause you" is enough. They might phone and ask, of course.

If you think you could get more out of this company, you could phone and speak to their HR dept. You could even find out in theoretical terms what would happen if you didn't take up the new job. "Something's turned up which MAY prevent me starting with you, and I wondered what the effect of that might be."

They could write to your current referees. Whether this would matter might depend what stage of your career you're at. I think it used to be considered seriously bad form when I was graduating, but that's a few years ago now. It's not something I would do except under extreme circumstances. And I'd want to be really clear that the 7K was going to be worth having - not double the travel time or expense, for example, and a more interesting job. Although I realise 7K is quite a big difference!

I think it also depends on the field

For example if you accept a training contract with a professional body and then go elsewere it looks really bad

Someone I know did it and the new employers almost dismissed him due to the integrity expected in the field etc

skintlass

I know someone who quit a job within 5 days of starting there as he hated it and had a better offer elsewhere. They marched him from his desk and out of the building but apart from that - no consequences.