starting new job without written offer.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi every one,

So I've got a job offer from a Rehab Hospital thru the phone and the HR director said she would email me the official offer before she went on vacation that same day. Yet, she did email with every thing such as health insurance, background check info, drug screening info, shift differentials and "welcome abroad". "I will send you the official offer when I get back from my vacation". While she was gone, the manager contacted me with the start day and schedule for next few weeks. She came back, I emailed her, she said "sorry it takes too long, I just came back from my vacation. It's on my list". I requested vacation from my current job so I can come to orientation for this new job because I don't want to miss this opportunity and I don't want say no to them before I really know them in person. Have you ever started a new job without receiving a written offer? Do they just give it to you on the first day of orientation? Or do they just combine it with the Employment Contract? I'm so confused. Please help. Thanks.

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There is a similar post floating around where the OP received a verbal offer from the manager but no offer from HR. Lesson learned: everything needs to Be in writing. I wouldn't put the rest of your life (I.e. current source of income) on hold until you receive a definitive offer.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

In school nursing, my hiring was contingent on the school board blanket approving all new hires (it's policy). So I couldn't give my two weeks until I had the approval, which essentially added a month to my old job. Tell the manager who sent you a schedule that you can't give the appropriate notice without a letter and let her take on HR.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
There is a similar post floating around where the OP received a verbal offer from the manager but no offer from HR. Lesson learned: everything needs to Be in writing. I wouldn't put the rest of your life (I.e. current source of income) on hold until you receive a definitive offer.

I agree, don't give up your current job without that official letter from HR at the new place. I have been given that other stuff (benefit info, how to do background checks, etc.) during interviews before there was an actual job offer. For one position, I was given that info, and I, ultimately, was not hired.

I don't know if I would go so far as to say the OP contains red flags, but HR is certainly flying yellow ones.

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Only ever received a written offer one time. Home health agencies will hire field nurses at the time the person walks into the office and have them working the very next day or the following week, without bothering with the formality of a written offer. Some barely even have much of an orientation.

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Thanks everyone. I haven't had time to check in last week. To follow up, I actually received the written offer on my first day of orientation! Still on pay roll with my previous job since I took vacation. So things work out well.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

The old saying, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" comes to mind here.

Unless you have a written offer, it's not bonafide. Glad your situation turned out well. But for anyone else going through this never assume you have the official job offer until it's in writing.

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