[wapiscrap]

Need some help here...

I was recently offered a job in HK by company A. Subsequently, company B (competitors) pursued me and also offered me a job. The package was better. I turned down company A's job offer and accepted company B's offer. The paperwork has been signed by both parties...

Then a few days later, company B withdrew the offer... I am now left with nothing... my wife has resigned her position in readiness for the move and I have sold my car... I am so annoyed...

What do you think I should do?

Thanks

W

[KnowItAll]

Not much that you can do as the job offer most probably had a probation period. So even if you could get them to give you a job, they could fire you in 2 seconds after they gave you the job.

One option would be to email the labour department
http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/enquiry/enq_com.htm
and see if you may be owed compensation.

Or .. talk to a lawyer and see if anything can be claimed (will take a year or so in civil court)

[freeier]

for a large company (established MNC) u can probably get them to pay u the minimum notice period (1 mth or 2wks usually for under probation staff).

or u can threaten them that u are going to bring the issue public and give them bad publicity and maybe they will chicken out and pay you more...

but other than that, u can't force them to employ u. even if u do u will suffer working for them so get over it.

[wapiscrap]

Thanks for the reply guys.

It is for a major UK MNC and there was no probabtion period, but one months notice to be given on either side. To be honest, I have no desire to force them to give me the job, but I am annoyed that I'd given up so much to commit to them and then they back out...

W

[KnowItAll]

If you're in HK, talk to the labour department. If there is no probation period and the contract was signed by someone who had the appropriate authority and you had indicated that you accepted the contract, then you should be due the notice amount + other negotiable fees given that you did quit your job to accept this one.

[greentea]

Originally Posted by wapiscrap

Thanks for the reply guys.

It is for a major UK MNC and there was no probabtion period, but one months notice to be given on either side. To be honest, I have no desire to force them to give me the job, but I am annoyed that I'd given up so much to commit to them and then they back out...

W

Ulitmately, it is not worthwhile for you to work for a company with no credibility. Just treat it as a life experience... but though you are not in HK now, you can check with the labour department of the UK to see if they can help you anything out from that.

Good luck...

[KnowItAll]

If you're in the UK (just re-read your post), you probably have a fair few options.. talk to a lawyer.

While people say "write it of as a life experience" I also belive that when you're at the recving end of an experience ... you're entitled to give the other person / party an experience too. Absolutely no reason to bend over backwards and some more .. just to learn an experience.

You probably have far more rights under UK labour law than you have in HK.

[hullexile]

If they have signed the contract then they are in breach of it and you are at least entitled to the notice period unless they can prove gross misconduct for example you lied on the application - not saying you did. Speak to them first then contact a lawyer.

[wapiscrap]

Just to clarify, I am currently in the UK and the job was with a UK MNC in HK. The contract is with the HK subsidary of the UK MNC and states that it is governed by HK law...

Do I still have options under UK law or just under HK law?

I am still feeling very peeved with this whole thing though. Having been interviewed by 3 levels of senior management in Asia (inc the head of Asia) and then offered the job, which I subsequently signed, I was asked to have a chat with a UK based employee that I would be working with. This UK based employee is far more junior than the 3 senior managers but his opinion seemed to outweigh everyone else's as following our chat the offer was withdrawn...

I suspect that I've got caught up in London/Asia politics and the UK guy was annoyed that he was never consulted on the hiring process...

But ultimately, I want something to more out of this than an "experience" as I gave up another perfectly good job offer, my wife resigned her job and I sold my car for this "experience"...

[wapiscrap]

Oh just one more piece of information... I did not apply for the job, the company approached me directly... The head of Asia called me personally to ask me if I was interested...