After being hired, told offer letter was wrong?

Question

This is long, and complicated. Please read, as I am looking for the best advice possible.

At the end of April, I received the official offer letter from a company, and I accepted it at beginning of June. I graduated from college, and officially started September 4th.

The biggest factor when making the decision was the location--the company is in a smaller town about 50 miles out of the city. I could've chosen to live in the suburbs a little closer to the town, however, the company's offer letter included a company car--which meant if I was willing to drive 45 minutes each way and pay for the gas (total 100 miles everyday), I would be able to live in the city and commute without adding miles to my personal car.

Another factor was either having a roommate or not. My best friend was looking for a roommate to save costs of living, and after weighing the option of either living in the suburbs and living alone or living in the city with a roommate, it turned to be that living in the city would be cheaper despite the longer commute and gas prices.

But soon after I started, I realized that no one had a company car who was in my position, so I brought it up to the HR's manager only to be told that the offer was a mistake. The big deal for me is that I am LOSING money by commuting now, and although the company offered to pay for me to break the lease and move closer, I cannot take this as an option because I would also be screwing my roommate over.

Help, if this was anything other than a car I would have just shrugged it off, but I am losing money! Would this be a breach of contract? The company has offered to do something to compensate for this--but I don't know what would be the best solution.

Answer 1

the company made you an offer but did not keep their word.
leave this place and get a job closer to where you live.

Answer 2

I don't think it would be a breech of contract, especially if you did not sign a contract. What it is , is misrepresentation which you might want to call and ask an attorny about, but only if you have printed documentation of the job offer with the company car etc. really, unless you are in a high profile job and a big asset to the company, usually they will not provide things like that for you, because then everyone would want similar treatment. I'm not minimising your education or caree, but you are a fresh graduate and you are just getting your feet wet, and as said before, unless it is a high profile job at a big corporate company, then most companies don't offer company cars. I drive every day to work, lots of us do. We all loose $ in that aspect. That isn't your employers problem. They will find someone who is willing to drive it, if you are not. I'm not being cold, I'm beeing realistic. Unfortunitly it has put you in a living bind, but being new in the carrer world, you need to always ask a job what you think you are worth, and that includes you going over your milage and calculating it in. I refuse to take jobs that are to far for me to drive. Even if it was a good job, that offered me 2.oo more an hr, then say one that is a closer commute, why, because the 2.00 extra, will be gas and time on the road, so it makes more sence for me to get one closer at 2.oo less.
Good luck, and remember, it is all going to depend on how much you want this particular job. Maybe ask them that since they misrepresented the offer, that you would like 1.00 more an hr. you don't want to get to outragious with your request. Make sure during any interviews in the future you ask in detail these things, and you get it in writing. chalk it up to living and learning

Answer 3

It doesn't matter what YOU signed or didn't sign. If the company car was in writing in your offer letter, then you can most likely hold them to it even if they say it was a mistake. See an attorney.

A word of warning though. If you push this, they could just lay you off, or not give you a raise for a long time.

Another thing to think about - if they HAD given you the company car, then commuting miles you put on it would be taxable income to you - at 100 miles a day, that would really add up!

Answer 4

Offer + acceptance = contract.
There was a written offer that included specific terms. You accepted it and had every reason to rely on those terms. And in fact, you did so rely by beginning work there.
Your employer did not abide by the terms. Thereby you suffered damages.

Take the letter to a lawyer. It may not do wonders for your career there (you really should look elsewhere while you're still employed because if you pursue this your days there are probably numbered) but it sounds like breach of contract to me. Good luck.

Answer 5

Sounds like a shyster outfit. I worked for a co. that advertised a "relocation package". Once employed they sprang it on people to sign a promissory note to pay back the expenses for the moving co. No one would sign.

An offer letter is not a contract. Best thing you can do is look for another job. This won't be the first or last time that co. will sc**w over the employees. There is no legal recourse on this one.

Answer 6

Did you ever sign a contract? Was the contract that you signed something very general, or did it offer specifics of the job, such as benefits, etc? Was this just word of mouth from the hiring rep? Another reason why this country's labor laws suck! I am 99$% that in the end, even if you go to court with full documentation, they will favor the employer!

Answer 7

I can only say, be happy you did not start working. If someone can say you have a job and then rescind it sounds very suspicious. It sounds as though they have found someone else more suited to the job than you and are just making excuses. Contact the company you wish to work for personally, even go around there and talk to the personal chief, I am sure they will appeciate you having the guts to do so! If you can get some proof then you could sue..but it would not garantie you getting a job even if you won, so what is the point?

Answer 8

My best advise to you is to consider whether or not it is best for you to stay with the company or look for another job immediately. Of course, you could say it was a breech of contract but, was that EVER in anything you signed? I would go over the initial hiring info you signed and see whether it was in there or not. If it ever was, you could take it to HR and force them to do what it said or take it to court. Now, if it was just a false promise, you have to decide if you want to leave your roommate or the job...
If the job seems promising, try and find another suitable roommate for your friend. If the job is a crock o' crap, leave immediately...(find another job 1st before leaving) but just don't take any personals to work (picutures for your desk, a radio...etc).

Answer 9

ask them for money equal to the car benefit to offset wear and tear on your car - should b $200-300 per month

Answer 10

IT is just two points
IF what I think has happened you need a lawyer NOT Yahoo
answers.
good luck