Saw this happen to a friend. What made it even worse was that it happened with two government agencies, with the end result was that my friend became financially ruined for a few years before she was able to recover by moving out of state. Employers can be vindictively cruel, especially in the public sector.

Back in my days, we brought the person into an office, set them down, told them they were being dismissed and the reason why. It was all face-to-face. This gave the employee the opportunity to ask whatever questions they had. By treating them respectfully, we never had anger issues.

@jawo8754

12 күн бұрын

Unfortunately, many employers, especially at large corporations began treating their employees as numbers, slaves and “tools” over the last 40 years.

Had this happen to me, relocated from London to Liverpool in order to take a role running a bar. Uprooted my whole life, new flat, put my stuff in storage etc. They changed their mind 2 days before I was due to start. Took me months to financially and mentally recover. Great video, definitely gonna remember it for the future, especially the last question!

@tosspot1305

3 ай бұрын

That might have had grounds for a civil lawsuit

there is one reason I could accept for such a U-Turn: the candidate lied on his resume or didn't disclose something important and they discovered that fact after giving their initial answer...

Long story short, wanted to stop working at a place because the job wasn't what they said it was. Explained this in detail to my current employer during the interview process....I'm in the same situation. This job is nothing like what they told me. I'm 50, I can't keep starting over. So I'm stuck in a job I don't like for a company I don't like. Yay me.

I had a contract role pulled out of 2 days before I was due to start. Oddly, it turned out that the person who had proceeded it running the entire recruitment process was not authorised to offer any roles. They had some how gone down 2 months of process without anyone else pointing this out to them. This was just before Christmas last year.

The only reason I think a company should legitimately do this is that while performing a background check they discover something unacceptable - IE: major criminal record, hired as a bank teller and background check discovered person did time in jail for embezzlement. Hired to work in a women's shelter and discover they were convicted of domestic abuse. Etc. or background check showed they lied on their resume. Even still, boss should have the courtesy of telling employee in person.

@dianarockwell6256

3 ай бұрын

We always do the background checks before we give them the job offer. The job offer is always given in writing. It didn’t used to be, but it is now. The only people at my current employer, who actually have contracts are the faculty. Staff do not have contracts, I have been in the workforce for over 40+ years and I’ve never ever had to sign a contract for a job.

@AnnekeOosterink

3 ай бұрын

@@dianarockwell6256 I've never not signed a contract, it would be illegal to not have a contract in the Netherlands. For my job delivering mail as a 16 year old, to the job as a teacher in a tutoring institute.

In the USA, this kind of verbal agreement *is* legally binding if there is clear action. This person should see a lawyer immediately if in the USA. They would likely win.

@Bobywan75

4 ай бұрын

You still have to prove the verbal agreement happened. If you have a paper trail, that's binding.

@wvman2374

3 ай бұрын

Theres also a potential claim for detrimental reliance

@AnnekeOosterink

3 ай бұрын

A verbal agreement legally counts in the Netherlands as well, but the issue is proving it. If it's a meeting between two parties with other people there as well you have witnesses (who may or may not be helpful, but still), but in an interview with 1-3 people from the company and one prospective employee you don't have any witnesses who can corroborate the interviewee's side.

@ApiolJoe

2 ай бұрын

@@Bobywan75 They sent a message telling that they don't want to have him aorund anymore, so they implied that there existed an offer of some soort at some point.

@Sd12sx23

Ай бұрын

​@@Bobywan75Being enrolled in the pension would be a pretty convincing.paper trail, I think.

In Germany a verbal contract is as binding as a written one. The only thing you'd have to do is prove that there has been an agreement. The letter enrolling them in their pension plan would be enough proof. in the first 6 months you can be fired with 2 weeks notice though so it doesn't help that much. at least 2 weeks of pay though. And you might have to pay compensation as well but that depends on the circumstance

@bolsa3136

4 ай бұрын

Anywhere in EU you have a 1 month trial. They can fire you without any reason.

@train71

4 ай бұрын

This is also true under UK law, a verbal contract is just as legal as a written one, it's just hard to prove.

@agamersinsanity

4 ай бұрын

@@train71 Same in Sweden but the catch is you need to prove it, if it's going to court.

@wvman2374

3 ай бұрын

@@train71 This is true in the US as well. But its really hard to bring a suit based on a verbal contract, and most lawyers won't touch it.

Really helpful video, I've never thought about asking these questions in an interview, will definitely use them in the future!

@Ben-Askins

6 ай бұрын

Great to hear!

I once did a trial shift at a company which I was assured would be paid. Left feeling good about it, but never heard back from HR despite trying to chase them up through emails. About a month later I got a letter saying that the company, my employer, had put me on a pension plan. The next day I got a P45 in the mail 😂 I also realised that they’d paid me the money for the trial shift that same day (less than they’d said they would). Obviously they’d had to put me on their system to pay me but hadn’t bothered telling me I hadn’t gotten the job.

@jonathanj8303

2 ай бұрын

That actually sounds honest by inept.

I will definitely ask those 3 questions in future interviews. Keep up the good work in these videos.

Legally a verbal contract is still enforceable, especially if you've made plans based on that verbal contract and the representations made therein. I'd certainly be speaking with a solicitor about it, especially if they've enrolled you in the pension fund - that is evidence that an offer and acceptance was made.

@joepiekl

3 ай бұрын

Indeed. There are also definitely cases where an email offer of a job has been considered binding in court even though the contracts haven't been signed yet. In the UK at least.

@jonathanj8303

2 ай бұрын

A verbal contract might be legally enforceable in theory, but proving it ever existed is a whole different issue. That's the real issue. Always make contracts in writing, and always write down everything you want them to mean. Edit : The pension fund thing is weird, but could probably be "explained away" as an HR mistake in court. "Why would you expect to join the pension when you didn't even have a written offer or contract yet? Of course any reasonable person would have waited to see if they actually got an offer."

This is a great video, feel so sorry for this guy, these interview questions will definitely help you avoid that situation!

@Ben-Askins

6 ай бұрын

Thank you mate!

"Internal candidate" has entered the room

1:25 I know I haven’t gotten into the meet of this video just yet, but I’ve been around over 40 years in the workforce, and I’ve seen a lot of hiring, and I’ve seen my share of firing and layoffs. I was the victim of being fired myself. What it sounds like happened to me is that their preferred candidate turned them down or withdrew. Then after they started on boarding, this person, that preferred candidate changed their mind. The preferred candidate may have been playing one against the other for better pay, better vacation, whatever whatever. So when they found out that the preferred candidate wanted the offer, they withdrew the guy. It’s a crappy I’m in agreement with you on that.

Great questions but I would say that, unless the hiring manager has P&L responsibility, the majority probably won’t be able to answer Q1 and Q2. Q3 is brilliant. In the past I have also asked: has the role been fully signed off (as a measure of financial commitment and business need); and whether they are interviewing anyone internally - I have been part of the process only to be told the role has been offered to an internal candidate. Most companies prefer organic hiring and will put external candidates through the process to try and show fairness. And NEVER hand in your notice until you have a contract in your grubby hands 😊

Great info

Very informative. But asking for the offer in writing is important. It might not change the outcome but I want the employment offer in writing.

I was thinking the job was offered to a family member instead.

There's no possible way the businesses I worked for would have answered those questions.

This actually happened to me. Luckily my HR dept was able to toss out the discharge paperwork. They wanted me to start in a week and rescinded the offer on Wednesday.

Hey ben. A long time ago. I was called in for jury service. Whilst i was looking for a job. Secured the new role. Arrived on day 1, took my jury servie letter in, was made to site in with the welcome meeting. Then 5 minutes in i was called out of the meeting and told i couldnt take anytime off during the first few months and was promptly told to sling my hook.

You don’t need to sign a bit of paperwork to be under contract in UK. Once you start it means both parties agree on the terms and are binding. As soon as you start one minute into working/training it’s the probationary period.

Or someone higher up decided that a relative or family friend is the person who will be hired.

That happened to my Brother In-Law.

1:50 I heard from an employment lawyer's channel that this is a textbook promissory estoppel case in the US. Does the UK not have that?

I'm probably a little bit paranoid, but I never accept a job without a contract. I've also held one employer to an unsigned contract (they never sent it - if actually signed by them at all) because the job was accepted on the basis of the contract. It was a firm of Solicitors. I've also rejected an offer based on what I considered to be illegal exclusion clause.

Unfortunately, even if there was a written and signed agreement they could still legally do this (in Australia anyway). Standard employment contracts contain a 3 or 6 month probationary period (time varies depending on salary). During this time either party can choose not to continue with no repercussions and do not need to give a reason (although I’ve never heard of anyone not giving a reason, when this has happened).

Contract can be verbal, definitely does not have to be in writing. There wpukd be a case for damages.here as letter enrolling for pension is strong evidence of job offer and acceptance.

What's with the '80s wave soundtrack? Not complaining, mind you, just asking.

I have had that happen to me. It wasn't a financial problem I found out later. Don't know what the real reason was .

I had something like this happen about 12 years ago. I was offered a job 15 miles away and signed all the paperwork. Turned up on day 1 and they sent an HR person to meet me in reception... "We longer need you as we have given your job to your interviewer from the US". Even the recruiter refused to act on this illegal act!

As a contractor I know that without an offer letter I don't have a job, but enrolling the person in their pension fund made them think they had the job, which is terrible. Don't trust any company until they've proven themselves.

Reliance on a contract you probably have a case.

If it is not a well-known company, it is extremely necessary to do the previous background work, because there have also been those situations where you work for months, but the salary is constantly delayed. I wonder if in this situation the employee also investigated the reasons why this was decided or simply accepted the situation?🤔

All contracts are binding if you can prove it.

Actually, people Even a verbal job offer could be legally binding. I would contact a lawyer and even sue the boss who pulled this shady tactic. Because the employee could have left another job for the current one.

@Kefka2010

4 ай бұрын

I assume England is the same as America where people can be fired and quit with no need of justification.

Would there be a possibility the "other candidate" was cheaper?

Just remember not every company is a for-profit company. I’ve worked for a pro profit company. And two not for profit organizations. One was a church and the other is a college. So the profit question would not be appropriate at a charity or a not for profit entity you may have to reframe the question to level of contributions compared to expenses, which, for a charity is not a profit Per se.

If you can prove the verbal contract it’s as good as on paper.

My wife got fired before starting a job years ago - because the recruiter put one of her grades half a grade higher than her actual grade. My wife gave the correct info, the recruiter made a small mistake and the job was pulled, like wtf? She found a better one right after but still

The first one could also be explained that their were serious red flags on the persons first day of work!

It just seems like the hiring company owes the person some compensation if they yank the offer last minute after someone has quit their job and changed location etc based on the job offer

Request a job offer in writing. If they won't run.

@barbarat5729

5 ай бұрын

If the won't run? If they won't, run.

Your music track is too loud and distracting it should be set to a much lower decibel

Started a job at a sign manufacturing company worked a week went in the next Monday and built the frame of a sign before my lunch (used phone to add some measurements) got a text during lunch to not come in because I have been terminated for “playing on my phone” 😐 the boss didn’t like me because he knew my family so he knew I knew he was a wife beater 😅

@colbycarr2444

2 ай бұрын

My boss was to much of a coward to even text me himself he had someone else do it so not only did he not do it in person he didn’t even text me himself the spineless freak

I'm not sure about that advice... 20% margin is pretty rare. Some of the largest agencies in the world operate happily on 15%... I worked for a listed company where GROSS margin was 7%.

I do no think that these questions are serious, what serious business would show new employees, that are not upper level management or accounting, this data?

You immediately blame the employer. How about the worker showed that he was not what he said he was. Most companies tell you that you can be released in the first 6 months for anything. This is what my past experience has shown. Your correct about the financial part but say nothing about the workers problem. I myself tell people work for yourself because today companies think nothing of workers. Companies have no allegiance to the workers in today's society and that's because politicians let them

@dianarockwell6256

3 ай бұрын

The man had not even started work yet. He did two hours of training.

What is with the Rick and Morty background music? It's very distracting. Or is my ASD / ADHD kicking in???

Your two alternative explanations seem insufficient. The explanation that came to me was that the news of the hiring filtered up the chain to someone who screamed "I never authorized that!", some micro-manager who expects to be the final arbiter of ever single thing. For a lot of positions the people you are talking to won't know the answers to those questions. In a small division of a really huge company those numbers may not be visible. All the boss may know about is their own budget, and even if they have been exposed to more complete numbers they can't see beyond that one number they are held to.

What a knobbish nebbish that boss is.

Repeats himself so often it is annoying.

Came here from TikTok as instructed 🫡

@Ben-Askins

6 ай бұрын

Haha and I am very much appreciate it. Going to do a lot more long form content like this so always welcome feedback

@i.ehrenfest349

2 ай бұрын

Instructed by whom? God?