I work in DFW, for a fortune 500 company, which was recently (1st quarter 2019) acquired by a larger global organization. During the acquisition, it was explained that multiple divisions would be restructured.
I updated my resume, updated my status on the various professional social media sites, and prepared myself for new opportunities.
On Monday, August 5th, 11:30 a.m. I had the fortune of interviewing with an organization, with a DFW division of employees that totaled 5 team members, and I was unexpectedly offered the position, while I was in the interview....... "You are the perfect match for what we need."!
That night, at 12:42 a.m. my wife received a (always hated) late call from my "bed bound" 77 y/o mother-in-law, stating that my father-in-law (who had been my MiL's caregiver) had fallen in their bathroom, and died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
At 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning, I received an offer letter from the company I interviewed with on Monday morning. The offer was a 20% financial increase in pay, offered a departmental bonus incentive, but had a 60%-70% world-wide travel requirement. It stated that the offer letter was only valid for 24hrs, and if I wanted the position, I needed to reply with a digital signature within that timeline.
I attempted to talk through these options with my grieving wife, but it was virtually impossible to separate her grief and our immediate challenges with my MiL, from the details surrounding me accepting the position.
On Tuesday morning, I called the hiring manager, and explained the situation and asked for an extension on the job offer. He contacted "Rebecca" in HR, who called and expressed her sympathy, but stated that "rules are rules" and if I wanted the position I had until 9:00a.m. on Wednesday morning to accept the position.
I was excited about the opportunity, and the chance to grow my technical skill. I talked about the decision as we waded through other immediate family decisions, and my beautiful wife said "Honey, we can do anything together, so GO FOR IT, and we will figure out what to do with mom!"
I wasn't willing to leave my current role in a state of disarray, and felt obligated to complete the outstanding projects that were still on my "plate".
I accepted the position, but asked for a September 9th start date, and received a congratulatory email stating that my start date was accepted.
I spent the remaining week completing the funeral/family arrangements, and working on my outstanding projects.
I checked in with the hiring manager on Friday morning, the day of the burial, and completed the benefits enrollment package that evening, and was told that they had to complete their background screening, and that I would receive a notification code to take a drug test (I had "24 hrs to complete the drug screening.....so be watching closely for this email "), and was asked to submit my resignation letter and prepared to start my first day on 9/9/2019.
I excitedly waited to receive the Drug test notification....but it never came.
On Monday (August 12th) I called my current company divisional director, my boss, and explained that I had received an unexpected offer with another organization, and we outlined my exit plan. He understood my decision and congratulated me on the new opportunity.
I was literally in the process of writing my official resignation email, when I received an email alert, and this is what I found:
Dear Lenny:
It is with deep regret that *** Corporate rescinds it offer of employment that was extended to
you on August 7, 2019 for the position of Project Manager.
This decision was based on an audit regarding the current structure of ***’s digital department.
Therefore, due to the findings, we must go in a different direction and this position is being
eliminated. We know we are losing out on a great candidate and just know that this decision
was not an easy one.
Please feel free to reach out to our Human Resources Department if you have any questions or
concerns. Once again, we extend our sincerest apologies
During the interview, I explained that my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer on June 1st, and had an emergency double mastectomy performed on
July 2nd, 2019 and was scheduled for another major surgery on November 4th. This was noted, and it was explained that I would need to be with her during her first week of recovery (2 days in ICU - 3 additional days in the hospital). This was negotiated with the hiring manager, and explained to the HR team before I accepted the position.
I'm painfully disappointed, but realize that I have no legal recourse, as we are a "right to work" state (which i fully support).
Has anyone ever experienced anything similar, and would you accept this behavior as "normal"? In my career, we would ALWAYS know that a position is available or eliminated....before we offered someone a new position within our company.
Also, do you guys think the cancer diagnosis that my family published on the Book of Faces, impacted their decision to rescind the offer?
As of this morning, I do not yet know that I will have a job as of September 9th, and I'm scared as Hell.
BTW....I am a 52 y/o professional - IT/Audio Visual (Sr. AV Technician) - if your organization is hiring
!! I live in Forney TX, but have commuted for 25+ years into the Metro-Mess!
Thank you for listening to my rant....I'll take the prayers that are sent, because it's been a really really hard year for my family.
I updated my resume, updated my status on the various professional social media sites, and prepared myself for new opportunities.
On Monday, August 5th, 11:30 a.m. I had the fortune of interviewing with an organization, with a DFW division of employees that totaled 5 team members, and I was unexpectedly offered the position, while I was in the interview....... "You are the perfect match for what we need."!
That night, at 12:42 a.m. my wife received a (always hated) late call from my "bed bound" 77 y/o mother-in-law, stating that my father-in-law (who had been my MiL's caregiver) had fallen in their bathroom, and died unexpectedly of a heart attack.
At 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning, I received an offer letter from the company I interviewed with on Monday morning. The offer was a 20% financial increase in pay, offered a departmental bonus incentive, but had a 60%-70% world-wide travel requirement. It stated that the offer letter was only valid for 24hrs, and if I wanted the position, I needed to reply with a digital signature within that timeline.
I attempted to talk through these options with my grieving wife, but it was virtually impossible to separate her grief and our immediate challenges with my MiL, from the details surrounding me accepting the position.
On Tuesday morning, I called the hiring manager, and explained the situation and asked for an extension on the job offer. He contacted "Rebecca" in HR, who called and expressed her sympathy, but stated that "rules are rules" and if I wanted the position I had until 9:00a.m. on Wednesday morning to accept the position.
I was excited about the opportunity, and the chance to grow my technical skill. I talked about the decision as we waded through other immediate family decisions, and my beautiful wife said "Honey, we can do anything together, so GO FOR IT, and we will figure out what to do with mom!"
I wasn't willing to leave my current role in a state of disarray, and felt obligated to complete the outstanding projects that were still on my "plate".
I accepted the position, but asked for a September 9th start date, and received a congratulatory email stating that my start date was accepted.
I spent the remaining week completing the funeral/family arrangements, and working on my outstanding projects.
I checked in with the hiring manager on Friday morning, the day of the burial, and completed the benefits enrollment package that evening, and was told that they had to complete their background screening, and that I would receive a notification code to take a drug test (I had "24 hrs to complete the drug screening.....so be watching closely for this email "), and was asked to submit my resignation letter and prepared to start my first day on 9/9/2019.
I excitedly waited to receive the Drug test notification....but it never came.
On Monday (August 12th) I called my current company divisional director, my boss, and explained that I had received an unexpected offer with another organization, and we outlined my exit plan. He understood my decision and congratulated me on the new opportunity.
I was literally in the process of writing my official resignation email, when I received an email alert, and this is what I found:
Dear Lenny:
It is with deep regret that *** Corporate rescinds it offer of employment that was extended to
you on August 7, 2019 for the position of Project Manager.
This decision was based on an audit regarding the current structure of ***’s digital department.
Therefore, due to the findings, we must go in a different direction and this position is being
eliminated. We know we are losing out on a great candidate and just know that this decision
was not an easy one.
Please feel free to reach out to our Human Resources Department if you have any questions or
concerns. Once again, we extend our sincerest apologies
During the interview, I explained that my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer on June 1st, and had an emergency double mastectomy performed on
July 2nd, 2019 and was scheduled for another major surgery on November 4th. This was noted, and it was explained that I would need to be with her during her first week of recovery (2 days in ICU - 3 additional days in the hospital). This was negotiated with the hiring manager, and explained to the HR team before I accepted the position.
I'm painfully disappointed, but realize that I have no legal recourse, as we are a "right to work" state (which i fully support).
Has anyone ever experienced anything similar, and would you accept this behavior as "normal"? In my career, we would ALWAYS know that a position is available or eliminated....before we offered someone a new position within our company.
Also, do you guys think the cancer diagnosis that my family published on the Book of Faces, impacted their decision to rescind the offer?
As of this morning, I do not yet know that I will have a job as of September 9th, and I'm scared as Hell.
BTW....I am a 52 y/o professional - IT/Audio Visual (Sr. AV Technician) - if your organization is hiring
!! I live in Forney TX, but have commuted for 25+ years into the Metro-Mess! Thank you for listening to my rant....I'll take the prayers that are sent, because it's been a really really hard year for my family.
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