Rejecting job after signing contract?

needhelpguy

I'm in a situation where Ive been offered a new job on better money and they want me to sign and return the contract. I don't start for another two months. However I have a feeling my current place will offer to match the amount to keep me on. Tbh I would much rather stay here for a lot of reasons, money is the only thing that is bad here at the moment. If I sign now and I do get made an offer, am I allowed to back out? I know it would be bad form but one needs to look out for oneself.

davo10

needhelpguy wrote: »

I'm in a situation where Ive been offered a new job on better money and they want me to sign and return the contract. I don't start for another two months. However I have a feeling my current place will offer to match the amount to keep me on. Tbh I would much rather stay here for a lot of reasons, money is the only thing that is bad here at the moment. If I sign now and I do get made an offer, am I allowed to back out? I know it would be bad form but one needs to look out for oneself.

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, wouldn't it make sense to inform your current employers of your job offer and ask if they will confirm in writing that they will match the new offer, if they decline, sign the new contract and move on. If they agree, and you receive written confirmation, inform the new job that unfortunately you have decided to stay.

A word of warning, if you get this wrong, you could end up losing the new job and being stuck on the same pay in your current one. So you need to be quick and decisive.

dRNk SAnTA

Speak to your current employer now, before signing the contract.

If you have any value for your personal reputation, you won't let another company accept your signed contract -

they will assume the position is filled, give this news to any other candidates and then in one weeks time they'll find themselves screwed over when your current employer matches the money.

youcancallmeal

To answer your question if you signed a contract of employment then legally the company could take you to court for breaching it but this is extremely unlikely. What would really happen is you would explain why you are staying with current employer and thank them for their time and then contract would be terminated by mutual agreement. Obviously your bridges will have been burnt with that employer but as long as the industry you work in is not a very small/tightly knit one then you should be fine. If you got the job through a recruiter then it complicates it a bit but would still be same end result.

As others have said though you should give your notice for your current employer and stall signing the contract for a couple of days to see what happens? Don't mention unsigned contracts as it gives your current employer leverage in any negotiations

goz83

As an employer, I would say just be upfront here. Speed things up and let your current employer know your thoughts. It would indeed be really poor form to sign a contract and then effectively give the new employer the two fingered salute. You would also be messing around with the other candidates for the position, which is very selfish and looking after oneself does not justify the sabotage of other peoples chances.

livedadream

Speak to your manager and advise them that an offer has been made, that you would prefer to stay where you are but you feel that you have shown your value to the company and would appreciate a renewal of your terms.

If they dont great- leave and get paid more in the new company

if they do weigh up the pros and cons and see where that leaves you.

Irish_Elect_Eng

Speaking generally, when people put it up to their current company to "match the other guy or I'll leave", even if they current company match the offer, prospects have been damaged beyond repair and you will end up stuck on the new offer long term.

Eoin

I've seen it happen a bit - even a phone call on someone's (supposed) first day to say they won't be working with us after all.

But what happens a lot more frequently is someone who accepts a counter offer ends up leaving within a year. Some reckon that it's over 90% of the time.

It's rarely really just about the money. You get your pay bump, everything seems great. And then you get used to the extra cash, and all the reasons come bubbling up again.