Big Utility Company Promises Position, Never Delivers

My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: New York.


Hello all, this may be my first post but I do not intend to use it unwisely. Here is the jist of my story without being too specific about names and dates:

I have taken and passed a test for a position in a big utility company. There after, they gave me an application for the position and told me I would be given an interview. I then passed the interview and was then told by the company that they would like to extend an offer to me for the position. However, there was one catch: I had to finish my degree before I could start. They told me my application and job offer would last up to 2 years.

This was all back in summer '08.

Fast forward to Jan. '09, I got my degree, called up the company and they told me basically it was great to hear from me, the position still is being offered to me and I just have to wait for some paper work to be done.

Fast forward again, this time a few months later to April and May. I repeatedly called the company and asked them my status and they kept telling me the same thing:

"your application is still valid, you're still qualified for the job, the company still wants to extend the offer for you, however, because of the bad economy you have to wait longer... but you're top of the list"


Now this sounds all fine and dandy, because I'm a patient man. But there are a few problems.

First, the company kept making it seem like the job was right around the corner for me, so I turned down many job offers because they made it seem like I would get the job in the immediate future. I think I lost many opportunities because of this.

Secondly, the company requires a personal vehicle for the position, so I went out and bought a new car just so I could use it for the job, but I wasted my money because they shafted me in the end.


So that's my story. I do not know my legal rights and I do not know what I can do from here. I feel like the company screwed me over of my career, gave me so much mental and financial troubles and stress with their constant promises but no delivery.

What can I do, if anything? I have emails and voice messages on my phone that can back up what I am saying.

So you've had a few job offers over the past four months because you hoped to get a firm offer from the utility (even though you knew you did not yet have one), and now have learned that they are slowing down their hiring due to the state of the economy? I suggest looking into whether your other job offers are still open, or looking for other opportunities while you see if this one (ever) pans out.

Thanks the for the reply, unfortunately, nothing you said was helpful nor sounded like legal advice.

Thanks anyways.

they changed their mind. You had no contract so you have no claim. You bought a car prematurely. Not their fault.

they have never told you to get lost. The economy has changed and many employers are revisiting their hiring and even cutting general employment levels.

either forget about them and move on or wait as long as necessary for the economy to improve so they can hire you.

Agree with jk. A lot can change since you completed the original application. I don't think I would have bought a car until/unless I had a "firm" offer in writing & a start date.

You might want to consider looking for other employment. Good luck.