Job offers: your rights

Once someone has accepted an 鈥榰nconditional鈥� job offer, they鈥檙e in a legally binding contract of employment. However, a 鈥榗onditional鈥� job offer can be withdrawn if the person does not meet the employer鈥檚 conditions (for example, satisfactory references and health record).

A job offer, and acceptance of that offer, can be verbal or in writing.

Employees should wait until they get an unconditional offer before handing in their notice as a conditional offer could fall through.

If an employer withdraws their job offer

Once someone has accepted an offer they can only take action in certain situations.

Situation Action
皇冠体育app applicant has evidence that the employer discriminated against them when withdrawing the offer 皇冠体育app applicant can take the employer to an employment tribunal
皇冠体育app employer has confirmed that the job offer was unconditional, or the applicant has met all conditions 皇冠体育app applicant can sue the employer for 鈥榖reach of contract鈥�
皇冠体育app offer was conditional and the applicant did not meet the conditions 皇冠体育app applicant cannot take any action

If a new employee changes their mind

If someone accepts an unconditional offer and then changes their mind, the employer can:

  • make them work out any contractual element of their notice
  • sue them for breach of contract