Legal Question in Employment Law in Illinois

Labor laws

What are the labor laws behind an employment offer? I received letter of offer of employment in October 2007. I signed and accepted immediately. Paperwork to get my info into the system began. Two weeks later (after I had already given my current employer 2 weeks notice), the new employer called and said the start date needed to be pushed back. They gave tentative start date...later on resent employment letter w/ new start date. again several weeks later, they delayed the start date again. It is a consulting firm so they have too many current employees not billable, therefore they do not want to bring on any more new people. However, as I had already handed in my two weeks notice, by now I am two months w/out employment. they have yet to give me a confirmed date. 7 other new employees are in the same position as I am? Is there anything I can do legally? Is there negligence on their part? I feel as though I already am an official employee of theirs as I have signed and accepted the offer letter. Can they continue to push back a start date? Am I entitled to compensation??Should i file for umemployment? I am confused about what to do.


Asked on 2/20/08, 11:52 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Re: Labor laws

You fail to state whether the "paperwork" you signed includes an agreement to tart a certain day, or that the contract is for a certain term of employment (such as one year). In most states, including Georgia, employment is "at will," meaning you can be terminated for any or no reason (except limited forms of discrimination), even if it before you start. Basically, that means an employee is not guaranteed a job for even 5 miutes unles there is a contract stating otherwise, and the person quits his previous job at his/her own risk. It is not clear what state your previous employer is in, but in Georgia unemployment comp. is not available for people who voluntarily quit. As for what you should do, it looks like waiting out he new job or looking for another one are the obvious options. Like most job changes, there are risks involved.

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Answered on 2/20/08, 3:10 pm


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