Legal Question in Employment Law in District of Columbia

loss of job opportunity

Basically, I want to know how binding a verbal agreement is. I was offered a job in April in MD, accepted it, filled out an application. Came back after school on June 25th to collect final forms, ie drug test, fingerprints, etc. I was told my boss was promoted to DC and wanted me to work with him there. My two supervisors discussed and agreed to have me work in DC instead. Agreed start date was July 16th. Date came and went. I was told we were just waiting for the offer letter. Waited days, weeks. Then I was told to come into work because they were desperate for me to work even though the offer letter is a little slow. I worked for a full week, was introduced as an employee, felt like an employee. I overheard conversations with my boss inquiring as to where the offer letter is with no answer. I was told August 9th that there is no job. The company has decided to freeze the hiring of certain employees( as in my position). Now I have lost two jobs that I was offer through no fault of my own. Aren't they bounded by their verbal agreements? They want to wash their hands of me. I don't want to sue, I just want my deserved pay and the job I was promised. What do you advise I do to keep my reputation?


Asked on 8/13/07, 1:42 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: loss of job opportunity

Bad news, DC as well as Virginia are both so-called employment-at-will jurisdictions where someone in your position(without a contract of employment) can be terminated at any time and for almost any reason which doesn't violate federal anti-discrimination laws, leaving the hapless employee without remedy or recourse. (And a so-called offer letter normally does not

constitute an enforceable contract.)

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Answered on 8/13/07, 3:21 pm


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