Can My New Employer Reject Me or Cut My Salary for a Late Start Due to My Last Job?

My previous company delayed my relieving process by 10 days. Despite successfully serving the notice period of one month, my previous company's HR and managers forcibly asked me to serve for 10 more days and didn't hand over my relieving and experience letter. Because of this delay, I was late in joining my new company by 10 days. Although I have kept my new company informed about the entire situation, can my new company reject my joining because of this issue? Or does my new company have the authority to negotiate further on my salary just because I couldn't join their company on the date we agreed upon when they extended their offer letter to me?

A few queries:

1. Is this your fear, or has it happened (new employer rejecting the joining)?
2. Even though the new employer has been updated on the delay to join, do you have any written documents such as emails from them agreeing to the delay?
3. What level of employment are you referring to—junior, middle, or senior-level position?
4. Which sector/domain is this—IT?

Regards, TS

As per your query, I think that you have extended your date of joining by 10 days. If you have kept your new employer informed in writing, then I don't see any issue with your new employer extending your date of joining and allowing you to start 10 days later than originally planned. Typically, new employers are flexible for a person to join up to 10 days later, as they understand the time required for completing exit formalities.

If you have not communicated with your new employer in writing regarding your delayed joining, then your new employer has the right to reject your offer in case of a delay, as stated in the offer letter.

In addition to Mr. Tajsateesh's query extended to you, I'd like to add a few points which caught my attention while reading this sentence: "Or does my new company have the authority to further negotiate with me on my salary just because I couldn't join their company on the date we agreed upon when they extended their offer letter to me." What does this mean? Were you given an offer letter that had no salary specified? If yes, then what was the negotiation of salary all about?

I would appreciate it if you could elaborate on the above in detail to help resolve your query in the most conventional way possible.

Regards.

Consideration for Joining Date Extension

It would have been appropriate to obtain an extension in the date of joining earlier. If you have not done so, then the employer has every right to cancel the offer. You may request the employer now for a reconsideration, explaining the circumstances.

Ethical Considerations in Delayed Joining

Morally and ethically, it is not a good practice to reject a new incumbent on the grounds of a 10-day delay in joining if the employer was kept in the loop properly. However, if during the process of keeping the employer informed, they express that they will not accede to the request for delayed joining, then one cannot do anything.

Besides, we have to think from the employer's perspective as well. There are numerous cases where the new incumbent promises to join on a particular date but, for obvious reasons, does not join. The entire work plan of the employer goes haywire. So, strictly speaking, the employer has every right to reject the new incumbent from joining the duty if they do not join on time.