Am i liable for anything.

from a verbal agreement?

[tonynoriega]

I stated to a client that i would give my 2 weeks here at my current job to work for them with a start date of Feb 2. I now have another opportunity that has sparked my interest.

I have nothing in writing, nothing signed, .....all i said is that i would give my 2 week notice, making my starting date Feb 2nd.

I will be independently contracting with them, not an actual employee.

Am i liable for anything if i back out?....besides putting a black mark on my name throughout the business.....(which does play a very important role with me, dont think that i dont care about that becuase i do...)

im just looking to see if i am liable for anything to that company?
i havent started any work at all...

thanks

[Automan Empire]

The best way to salvage it is to tell the first prospective employer RIGHT NOW! They are counting on that position being filled on the date you verbally stated.

If they discover hours after you were supposed to begin that you took another position weeks ago, BAD! They will be in a bind because of you, and this episode WILL be shared with their (and YOUR) colleagues in the industry!

If you tell them ASAP, they won't be pleased, BUT they will be able to continue the recruitment process. Possibly good. Your name will be mud at least until a replacement arrives, after which they'll get over it.

Perhaps you can also refer a well qualified person who IS available and interested in the job, so they don't have to lift a finger. BEST CASE! They will probably keep your card for consulting purposes, and wish they'd landed you after all!

The process of recruiting a GOOD employee tends to be long and frustrating, and eats up company resources. Throw the smallest possible monkeywrench in their works by telling them ASAP!

[cmarshall]

I now have another opportunity that has sparked my interest.

Doesn't sound that firm. Is it really worth completely trashing your rep?

If you are a contractor, then you know that reputation is EVERYTHING, not just important.

Keep that in mind as you go forth.

[idolw]

your mistake is you have not asked for better conditions at the start.

best to let them know ASAP. I hire people and I hate when someone agrees things with me and they cancel the whole thing close to d-day.

it is not about legal liability. it is about not being an a$$hole.

[Leosghost]

agree with idolw ..
a no show from someone who says they will be available for work ( even as an independant contractor )can really screw things up and cost a business big money and loads of lost time ..

if you only keep your word when it's written down on paper ..then you dont have a word worth taking ..wether written or not ..

it's about attitude and integrity ..not liability ..

[tonynoriega]

i agree with most of you...IDOLW..im not an a$$hole...

i just wanted to get the concensus on what i could be liable for.
yes, my reputation weighs more than some headhunters pitch to give me a better deal.

At the least, ill stick with them for the 1 year agreed work and planning and re-evaluate things from there.

thanks everyone....
im sticking to my original agreement.