Rejecting job offer after signing contract

andy444

I was recently offered a job which I accepted and signed the contract for that I have now sent off. The problem is that since them I am having feelings of regret about accepting the job and thinking that I will actually prefer to stay in the job I have now.

After having sent off a signed contract am I able to just say to the company that I've had a change of heart or are there legal consequences with me no longer wishing to turn up? They should only have received the contract at the end of last week and I'm not due to start until August so I'm thinking as long as I let them know as soon as possible and give them a chance to hire someone else that should be all right and they won't push me to oblige my commitment?

Any help gratefully received.

Moneysaving222

They can’t force you to work for them. Breach of contract I guess.

Telling a new company you are leaving is hard.

Comms69

Probably be fine. Yes legally they may require you to work the minimum amount, but it's not worth it to pursue

Masomnia

In theory worst case scenario is you need to give notice in line with the contract, and if that ends before August then you're golden.

jonnygee2

Happens all the time. Just do the decent thing and phone them up, tell them the truth and apologise.

TELLIT01

Call them as soon as possible and simply tell them that your situation has changed and you no longer wish to accept their job offer. It's better for all parties involved for you not to start with them, than for you to arrive and immediately hand in your notice.

DCFC79

If they are a decent employer to work for they will understand, you not the first to have done it and wont be the last.

jjhdee

Agree with this. An official and respectful conversation with their hiring/management division should settle it. I've done that twice and the employer wasn't thrilled about it, but they weren't mad either.