Can I Be Sued for Declining a Job Offer Before Joining? Seeking Advice on Legal Concerns

I had accepted the offer of a startup company through email. I did not send any signed copy of the offer letter. But after 20 days, I got some negative feedback about the firm, and I declined their offer, citing urgent family reasons. Now the owner is pressuring me to pay the CTC amount equivalent to the notice period. I did not even join the company; the joining date was more than a month away when I declined their offer. Can I be sued in this case? Should I seek legal advice?

Well Lucky, first, I want to say that there is nothing to worry about if you haven't joined the employer and have never signed any paper related to a job offer, i.e., Employment Letter. But I would like to know more about the reason for refusing this job offer and what negative feedback you are talking about. Have you ever tried to learn about the Employer/Company Profile, etc., before accepting the offer? If not, you must do that. One must go through the Employer/Company Profile before accepting any job offer because this is really important and a question of career, don't you think so? But it seems you haven't considered this before.

Finally, you don't need to worry about anything.

Your decision to decline the offer is right. A company that asks for a notice period from a candidate with whom the agreement is not fixed speaks about the quality of the company.

Pon

Hi Lukcyroul. You should read the offer letter carefully and look for a clause that mentions the time limit and the medium through which you can accept or decline the offer. Have you provided any materials that can be related to your acceptance of the offer letter, such as through email or a signed offer letter scanned and sent back? If you haven't responded to the offer letter by any means, then there is no need to worry.

If you have already signed the offer letter but later changed your mind before the joining date (unfortunately!! poor HRs ), you can withdraw your acceptance before the joining date by informing the authorized representative, usually HR, in writing. Always read any document carefully before signing, ensuring it is an offer letter or employment letter.

Let's hear from seniors and readers. Please correct me if I am wrong on any points.

I second the guidance offered by Anil, Pon, and Hussain. Please review your status. The joining amount is valid upon joining. You are still contemplating at the offer acceptance stage. As stated by Hussain, your offer/intent letter should include this. How did you inform the company that you are not accepting their offer? Did you mail them? If not, please draft an email, including the clause that allows you to consider the offer for a duration and respectfully decline it. Legally, they cannot make any such claim. Unless a candidate is on the rolls of a company, the joining status remains invalid.

Hope this resolves your situation. In case you had exchanged any document or any other communication, please share, so that we can suggest appropriately.

Regards

Thanks a bunch, Anil, Pon, Hussain, and (Cite Contribution). I had accepted the offer letter by email but did not sign any physical paper or other document. I declined their offer through mail as well, citing urgent personal reasons. I agree that I should have researched the company thoroughly before accepting the offer. Actually, I got in touch with a couple of existing employees who gave me very negative feedback. After this whole fiasco, I guess all that was true.

Hello luckyroul, while everyone has given you the right direction, I think Pon hit the bull's eye when he said: A company that asks for a notice period speaks about the quality of the company. Frankly, I just want to know which great company this is—whose management thinks they can twist the rules of the game as they please? It goes to show how people's true intentions/colors get revealed in the strangest of circumstances!!!

Regards,
TS