What can an employer do if I don't turn up for work on my first day (or at all thereafter)?

AM-NM centaur

You probably want to tell them you have decided to take another position.

Geebo

nowt, or give you your p45 back if you handed it over

Paul M

Darn good question, but just cos you don't agree with their ethics you should agree with your own and have the manners to tell them you are not going.

Bunny

They can not do much but as others have said just because you don't agree with their ethics does not mean you should lose your manners or morals nad not tell them you are not starting.

Your issue is with the company - not with the individual team you would be working with. As a manager i put a lot of preparation in before a new worker starts and my team do as well as they plan time in their diary to spend with the new starter. So be fair to those individuals and ring the company to explain you will not be accepting the job after all.

BMW BFD

The ethical thing to do is tell them that you have decided to not accept the position. Unless the offer was also a contract (which is very unlikely) there isn't anything that they can do to you for not showing up. If it was a contract, then you need to read the contract to find your answer.

taxed till i die,

Terminate your contract.

Paul

If you've accepted the role your contract of employment will commence and you'll be in breach of contract if you don't turn up.

Technically, they could sue for compensation although it would not be practical to do so as the cost and effort of doing so would almost certainly outweigh any compensation they might be awarded.

You've cited ethics as being your reason for turning down the role - so do so in a way which is ethical and professional!

The polite and legally sound way would be to e-mail them again and decline the role. It's entirely up to you if you explain your reasons or simply thank them for the offer and respectfully decline it. It would be considered a written termination and, as you'll not be required to observe any notice period at this point, would release you of any contractual commitment.

loopy loo

just inform them that the position offered is no longer suitable, they cant do anything.

Sweet Cherry Pie

I think you should just tell them you won't be coming--even if only by email.

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You need to resign a.s.a.p. - don't just not show up. That's unprofessional and it will get around to other employers.

mageta8

They can't do anything to you but in the future if you try to apply, they won't hire you again. Out of courtesy, I would give a quick call and let them know you accepted another position. As long as you didn't sign some kind of contract with them, you're fine with not showing up. A written offer letter doesn't legally bind you to work for them. All it does is tell you how much you'll make, when your start date is...things like that.

pingu says

they could do the same thing to you as you could to them if they reneg or pay you off for no reason and that is absolutely nothing. just phone them and tell them your not taking them up on their offer and thats it. i turned up for work monday morning 2 months ago boss says " what'd you doing here" i says i work here, he says nobody tell ya? i says tell me what? he says you were paid off by the big boss. so i looked him straight in the eyes and told him dont dare tell me its because of my work, i do more work on this site than everybody else. he just stared at his feet shrugged his shoulders and said "its what the big boss wants" no sooner out the gate i was puking my guts up. so my advice is never feel obligated to a company because they will hurt you.

sno

Contact the employer and let them know that you've reconsidered their offer and would like to recind your acceptance to their offer. You really don't have to let them know why, but if asked, I'd be honest and tell them. There is the off chance that the information you have received may not be entirely factual.

More important, there is always the chance that a future employer may have some personal or professional connection with someone at this company. There is also the off chance that the person who offered you this position may someday be employed at another company you interview with. Not handling this situation in a mature manner could hurt you in the end.

My suggestion for you is to call HR (or the person who offered you this position) and explain to them that you have reconsidered. Thank them for their offer and leave them with a positive impression.

Fanshawe

Hi Gordon, it all depends whether your acceptance of the offer by email is legally binding. If it is, you would be in breach of contract and the company could claim compensation.

The process of recruitment can be very costly and the more senior the position, the higher the cost.

However, I am not a lawyer so I could be writing nonsense.

No employer wants an employee who doesn't want to work for the company but I would not be surprised if the employer seriously considers claiming compensation from you, especially if you have accepted a senior position.

mega-moma

you should probably make sure the negative ethics are true before turning down a job. seconddo you have a contract to work, if not there isntmuch they can do to you
just as curtousy, call and tellthem uhave decided not to take the job.

Taf

Are you Boris Johnson?

Smurfette!

Realistically they might be a bit p*****d off that you have let them down, but chances are they had a 'second' in mind when they offered you the job just in case you said no. I think most employers would just call the 'second' and offer it to them. It would be courteous just to give them a call and say that a better offer came up or that your present compnay made you an offer you couldn't refuse. It's best not to get too personal about any of it.

Good luck

xx

kapn

Sue you @hitless.........be prepared to do what you said you were going to do next time............they could have lost a good candidate when they offered and you accepted the job.

referee

Nothing.... they can't sack you if your not there!

jeanimus

They could sue you for breach of contract, technically (even though you havent signed one). But I doubt it. It would be polite to email them with your concerns and tell them that this is why you are now turning down the offer. Ive never heard of an employer doing anything if you dont turn up.

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