Published Apr 4, 2014
abab
6 Posts
I got a new job that I'm supposed to start Monday but HR wants me to get employment verification letters from past employers or they will start me at a new grad rate which is at least $7000 less than my offer letter stated. I've told HR to use the work number to verify the dates but I was told they don't use the work number and given the end of today to get them. While I will love to start this job, I know my worth and don't think I'm desperate enough to take a job at a new grad rate when I have at least five years experience. Anyone have any suggestions?
Nurse SMS, MSN, RN
6,843 Posts
How strange. My suggestion is to get the fax number of your new employer, contact those past employers ASAP today, communicate the urgency of this and have them fax employment verification to your new employer before close of business today.
**Upon thinking, it would be better to have them email it to your new employer so that there is a more verifiable paper trail that this was accomplished in the timeframe outlined. Then I would go ahead and start this job on Monday but keep looking for another one. This is a pretty shady, ****** thing to do in an effort to try and save a few bucks, which should tell you all you need to know about them as an employer and how they will treat you as an employee.
HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD
9,051 Posts
I have never seen an employment process (in any organization) that requires an applicant to provide this information... it is always handled by the HR department. This is a huge red flag - sloppy and unprofessional. If you add in the 'bait and switch' on salary, it does not indicate that this organization would be a good place to work.
FWIW, a formal offer letter is essentially a 'contract' that can be legally enforced. Heck, I know of many instances in which employers were forced to uphold verbal offers, even if they were erroneous.
Thank you all for your input. I've been back and forth on the phone with HR regarding this issue and unfortunately, HR remained obstinate and maintained they wanted letters . This seemed to be a problem because, some of my past managers are no longer with the company hence couldn't write me a letter with the company logo. My call to their HR informed me to use the work number for verification which I told this lady and offered to pay for but she refused. When all was said and done I had to bow out gracefully. One of the requirements for the job was experience but you want to pay me new grad rate and take advantage of my years of experience. I'm sorry but I worked hard for the experience .
I think you made the right choice. Hopefully something better comes along.