A job interview shouldn’t be a shell game. You’re being upfront about your experience, education and other qualifications; your prospective employer should be transparent about the job duties, title, compensation and perquisites. But too often, employers offer inducements only to retract them come contract time. By then, you’ve given notice at your old job and may have passed on other opportunities. At Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C., we want you to know you have rights. If you relied on a job offer, and have been harmed, your potential employer may be liable for damages on the theory of promissory estoppel.
As a job seeker, you may have certain rights even before you sign a contract.
The promissory estoppels scenarios described are only a few examples. If someone makes promises to get you to enter into an agreement, you may have additional rights that you should consult an attorney about.
Traditionally, promissory estoppels forced promisors to deliver on their word. So, if you were hired as vice president of a department and were told your first day you’d instead be a team lead, promissory estoppels would compel the company to make you VP. However, obvious problems may arise when trying to use this law to remedy misrepresentation. What about the current vice president? And would compelling the company to change personnel be too disruptive to operations? Today, courts prefer to order monetary awards for things such as loss of income and damage to a career for being forced to take a demotion. If the employer’s behavior is particularly egregious, a judge may also award punitive damages. At Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C., we have successfully managed cases for employees who suffered losses as a result of relying on an employer’s promises. As one of New Jersey’s leading employment litigation law firms, we’re here to help you as well.
If you are a victim of recruitment bait-and-switch, contact the NJ employment lawyers of Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. Our firm has offices in Bergen County, New Jersey and Rockland County, New York. Call us today at 551-245-8894 or online. We offer a confidential phone consultation.