Location: Georgia
I recently left a job I truly enjoyed and had been dedicated to for 6.5 years. While I loved the work and the people, I began to worry about the long-term stability of the company and, given my age, wanted to find a role where I could settle in and grow for the next 10 to 12 years.
After applying to a company closer to home that offered a higher wage, I interviewed with the owner, who seemed eager to hire me. During the interview, he offered me $28/hour, told me how much he wanted me on board, and asked for my decision by 5 p.m. that same day. I requested that the offer be confirmed in writing, which he provided.
It was not an easy decision—I cared deeply about my former role—but I ultimately accepted, hoping this new opportunity would bring growth, stability, and a better commute. I gave my two weeks’ notice, which was accepted with regret, and I started my new job on July 14th.
When I arrived, I learned they had also hired another person for the same department, whom I would be training and working alongside. Fortunately, we got along well and, despite being overwhelmed at first, were already discussing how to collaborate and streamline operations once we got the hang of things.
Then, just five days in, on Saturday, July 19th, the owner called me and told me he had changed his mind about my pay. He said $28/hour was “too much” and that he needed to lower it to $21/hour, matching what he was paying the other new hire. I was shocked.
I reminded him that he made the original offer and that I would never have accepted the position at $21/hour, especially not after leaving a stable job I loved. He apologized but said those were the new terms and that I could stay and “earn my way back up.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I declined the new terms on principle—this wasn’t a performance issue or a misunderstanding. It was a complete reversal of the offer I was given, solely because he chose to bring someone else in at a lower rate.
I immediately reached out to my previous employer. While my former boss would gladly take me back, they’ve already hired someone to replace me and can’t simply let her go. He’s trying to find a way to bring me back in some capacity, but it’s not guaranteed.
I feel completely blindsided. I acted in good faith, made a life-altering decision based on a clear offer, and was then told—after starting—that the terms had changed. Now I’m out of a job because I refused to accept a deal that was never on the table to begin with.
Yes, I could have stayed for $21/hour—but why would I work for someone who thinks it’s acceptable to change an agreed-upon wage after the fact? If this had happened after 90 days due to performance concerns, that would be different—but this was not about performance. It was about him regretting the offer he gave me, and trying to backtrack.
Is there anything I can do about this?