What can I do about this lay off?

Well I'll start by saying I was at my last job for over a year and a half.
I put in an application with a new company and got a call back for an interview, when I went he asked how soon could I leave me other job and start cause he could use me ASAP. So I talked to my other job and they said go ahead and finish out the weekend, which I did.
I abruptly left my other job for this new opportunity only for him to not contact me leaving me unemployed for a week. Finally I get a hold of him and he sends me into work, not officially on the payroll yet cause we haven't filled out papers. At the end of the week he sends me a TEXT saying he will write me out a check as hired help and that I'm not going to work out there!
I'm not sure what I can do about this, I'm now out of two weeks pay and behind on my bills. This company really skrewed me over...

Additional Details
I did give my last job a notice, they gave me the date I could leave ASAP. So I didn't screw them over.
This new company used me for a weeks work and let me go. I pretty much got used and abused. This is a major company "Bluncks Studios" So I'm not sure if there is some action I could take against them.

Boomer

First, you may qualify for unemployment. You left one job to go to another. The new employer apparently let you go within 90 days and according to DOL laws you could file unemployment with the newer employer. He will be notified and on the form he will receive will select the box that states, "Let go within 90 day probation period". This will automatically qualify you, however the SUTA (state unemployment tax authority) will charge your previous employer and they will have no say in the matter because you accepted employment elsewhere and your charge is not against them, although their unemployment taxes will be charged.

Meanwhile, you could (if you haven't) contact your former employer and admit that you made a mistake in leaving and ask for your job back, promising that if you ever seek employment again, that you will inform them and give appropriate notice. Tell them you were offered a position and salary that you simply could not say no to and that you decided that your job with your previous employer was really a better job that you enjoyed and that you really want to come back.

Employers like employees that do their jobs. It is expensive to replace them. Maybe your former employer will accept your apology, knowing if they don't they will have to train someone else, not to mention the advertisment fees to replace you. It costs about $3500 to find and train a typical employee, although I don't know what state you are in, the laws there or the type of work you did.

If I were you previous employer, I would ask these questions. Was he a good employee? What was the reason he gave for leaving and was it justified if I were in his position? How much would I save if I hired him back vs. how much it would cost to replace him (if I already hadn't).

If you haven't, I would write a really good apology letter to your previous employer and call them. Explain yourself and how you had made a bad judgement call (even though you didn't). You did what you thought was in your best interest, which is acceptable, but don't tell them that. Just say, "You know, I really liked my job and the people I worked with and I shouldn't have considered the offer I received, even though it was attractive. May I please have my job back?"

As far as recourse, you could explore false termination and damages because they apparently hired you and then gave you the pink slip. A starting out lawyer may take your case pro bono (free). It doesn't appear to me that you were on the job long enough to cause any infractions and it appears that you diligently applied for a job, was accepted, gave notice to your current employer and then was given the axe for no reason at all.

Baring the dismissal of the current employer, you did nothing to make that happen. Move forward with unemployment in the meantime and file for unemployment and then address the legal issues. Call DOL (Department of Labor in your state) and explain the situation to them and go with their advice. They are an employee advocate government agency and will not lie to you because they have nothing to gain or lose. They will give you options.

Cherry

I would go back to my old job to see if you could get your job back but if not just file for unemployment and explain to them what happened because of the unemployment right now being so high you just might get it ~ I did
Just put your resume out and start hunting

Oh and try to get reference letters from both of your supervisor's

Judy

You're right, you've been treated badly by this new company. But you didn't get laid off from your old job, you quit. Unfortunately, about the only thing you can do is look for another job.

You don't have any action you can take against the other company either.

Good luck.

CrazySage

Hey! I have employee call in sick for weeks, and later find she is really test drive other job. She then leave me high and dry, when she find she like the new job better. Be smart like her, no one can't help you when you are not smart.

Red

What can you do? Go find another job to get some quick cash, I recommend McDonalds.

Don't cha?

You did not fill out any paperwork stating that you were hired at this new job. You worked there one week. I don't think there is anything you can do about this but to chalk it up as a lesson learned. Don't ever just QUIT one job when you haven't gone thru the entire hiring process in the new place. And from now on, save some of your paycheck to cover the hard times. You are out 2 weeks pay because of YOU. You think they screwed you over, but they didn't. You screwed over the place you were working at and you screwed over yourself by living from paycheck to paycheck.

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