Wife received offer .. Worked 1 day then found out had someone else in last week ?

[pittguy578]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? pa

Likely there is nothing we can do but I wanted to double check . Guessing since the employer is a law firm they wouldn't do anything illegal or unethical

My wife was laid off from her old job in July. She was a paralegal and a partner left and the clients took their asbestos business elsewhere so her work dried up.

She applied for and got another job with a personal injury firm shortly after that.. She had offer in hand for over 2 weeks. She stopped looking for other employment. They agreed on start date of yesterday since we had a planned vacation that was paid for already had they were fine with that .

She went in yesterday and they called her today saying they had someone else in for a trial run last week and they were going with that person. She had no warning whatsoever and she had contact with someone at firm last week saying everything was a go when clearly the situation was iffy. The main thing that angers us is she stopped looking for another job and now she is unemployed again and because she was going back to work we paid for my son to start daycare again and now we will have to pay the early withdrawal fee a second time due to that. We can't afford to keep him in daycare if she is not working

 

[cbg]

Not good management.

Not the way I would have handled it.

Not illegal.

 

[Just Blue]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? pa

Likely there is nothing we can do but I wanted to double check . Guessing since the employer is a law firm they wouldn't do anything illegal or unethical

My wife was laid off from her old job in July. She was a paralegal and a partner left and the clients took their asbestos business elsewhere so her work dried up.

She applied for and got another job with a personal injury firm shortly after that.. She had offer in hand for over 2 weeks. She stopped looking for other employment. They agreed on start date of yesterday since we had a planned vacation that was paid for already had they were fine with that .

She went in yesterday and they called her today saying they had someone else in for a trial run last week and they were going with that person. She had no warning whatsoever and she had contact with someone at firm last week saying everything was a go when clearly the situation was iffy. The main thing that angers us is she stopped looking for another job and now she is unemployed again and because she was going back to work we paid for my son to start daycare again and now we will have to pay the early withdrawal fee a second time due to that. We can't afford to keep him in daycare if she is not working

Why are you posting rather than your wife? Does she know you are doing this??

 

[pittguy578]

Why are you posting rather than your wife? Does she know you are doing this??

Honestly because she is at home and in tears right now. We just found out this information 45 minutes ago.

 

[pittguy578]

Not good management.

Not the way I would have handled it.

Not illegal.

It is just really upsetting because she had opportunities for other interviews after she interviewed at this place and got the offer. She politely turned down those interviews since she didn't think it was ethical for her to interview after accepting their, even if the opportunities may have been slightly better.

 

[Just Blue]

Honestly because she is at home and in tears right now. We just found out this information 45 minutes ago.

When she stops sobbing have her sign up for herself. But as she is a person in the legal field I bet she knows the answer.

 

[pittguy578]

When she stops sobbing have her sign up for herself. But as she is a person in the legal field I bet she knows the answer.

I should clarify. I wasn't saying anything illegal and something to be turned into the department of labor or something to that effect.
I was wondering if any avenues in terms of detrimental reliance and excess costs incurred as a result of their unethical behavior.

 

[cbg]

What excessive costs did she incur, and what documentation does she have to prove them?

 

[pittguy578]

$600 in daycare expenses. It's 200 a week and we paid it this week and then we will have to pay $400 since we have to give two weeks notice and required to pay those fees

 

[Zigner]

$600 in daycare expenses. It's 200 a week and we paid it this week and then we will have to pay $400 since we have to give two weeks notice and required to pay those fees

Sure, but you can use the daycare during that period, so there is no real loss.

 

[pittguy578]

Sure, but you can use the daycare during that period, so there is no real loss.

But it is an unnessary expense at this point. We had him out of daycare for the time she was unemployed and only reason he went back was due to this offer.
No need to send him back otherwise.

 

[Zigner]

But it is an unnessary expense at this point. We had him out of daycare for the time she was unemployed and only reason he went back was due to this offer.
No need to send him back otherwise.

Now she's got more free time to look for work...

 

[pittguy578]

Now she's got more free time to look for work...

Theoretically yes if there were enough jobs to require her to send our resumes for 8 hours a day, but there aren't in terms of the market we are in Pittsburgh.
She was able to apply while my son was down for naps during the day and at night when I got home and she was applying for a lot of jobs with no issues.
Paralegal jobs, at least here, don't require crazy pre employment testing and screening like most other jobs. Just a resume with experience and an interview.
We also had no issues with finding someone to watch my son when she went for interviews. My dad is retired and begs to come visit his grandson twice a week anyways.

 

[Zigner]

I'm just trying to help you have a positive outlook on a situation that can't be changed.

 

[single317dad]

Grandpappy always said, "When you're looking for a job, get up early and stay out all day looking, because right now job hunting is your job."