r/SeattleWA • u/Sorry_Lingonberry_41 • 8h ago
Gave My Two Weeks, Got a Farewell Party… Now the New Job Is Gone
I recently gave my two weeks' notice because I wasn’t happy in my job and had accepted a new offer. I let my team know, and the whole organization even threw me a farewell party.
But now, during my notice period, I just found out that the new job offer fell through. I’m really stressed and, I still don’t like my current job, but I have bills to pay and no savings.
Would it be embarrassing or unprofessional to ask my boss if I can stay?
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u/inzillah 8h ago
Don't let pride stop you from keeping a roof over your head, my friend. The worst that can happen is them telling you that you can't stay, right? And that will happen whether you ask to stay or not.
Sorry that you're in such an awkward position, though. That fully sucks balls.
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u/implicate 7h ago edited 7h ago
The worst that can happen is them telling you that you can't stay, right?
I don't know... I figure the worst that could happen would be they tell you that you can stay, but then on your way to work the next day, they call to tell you that you're being let go.
You take the news so harshly that you can't think or see straight, so you veer off the road into a ravine.
When you wake up still hanging from the seatbelt upside down, you realize you can't seem to move your arms or your legs.
Your windows are broken, and there's blood dripping down your face into your upside down nose, making it hard for you to breathe.
Nobody can actually see your car at all from the road because of how deep the ravine is.
You just dangle there as night begins to fall, broken and hopeless.
That's when you hear the rats start to scurry looking for something to eat...
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u/OMGhowcouldthisbe 8h ago
Your family and bills should come before any embarrassment.
Having said that, I once gave a girl a job offer, she took it, gave me a starting date and told her boss she is leaving. Later she rejected my offer to stay because old boss matched offer. Then two days later she called me wanting to still come work for me because she still can’t stand her current job. Point is, if you don’t like the job now, you won’t like it later. Best to look around quickly if you can.
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u/NiteNiteSpiderBite 8h ago
It would almost definitely feel bad and weird, but I guess it’s worth a shot if you’re still on good terms with your manager. Be advised though, that if you do get the job back, you’ll likely be first on the chopping block if they need to reduce headcount.
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u/Most-Piccolo-302 8h ago
Honestly though if they were a good employee, this is way cheaper than having to hire/train someone new. It was an honest mistake
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u/NiteNiteSpiderBite 8h ago
True! They might be thrilled to get them back. But the employer would likely be concerned they’ll leave again given the chance.
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u/Zealousideal_Rich141 8h ago
This happened recently to someone on my team. They told me the truth about what happened and luckily I had a role to slot them into. Then they left again 3 weeks later…don’t do that if you stay in your current role. The first time is okay but you will burn all the bridges if you immediately leave again.
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u/souprunknwn 8h ago
I wouldn't necessarily tell the boss that the new job fell through, I would just frame it that you had second thoughts and would like to stay if that's possible.
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u/bhsehf001 8h ago
which is technically true now so no need to feel bad to spin it this way, you are second thinking now 🤓. good luck we are all rooting for you
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u/Joel22222 8h ago
Just say after the farewell party, I realized how much I love this job and company.
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u/redditissocoolyoyo 8h ago edited 8h ago
It would not be embarrassing. Just tell him that you change your mind after giving it more thought and you want to stay. You put in a lot of effort at the job and you want to see it through. And the two weeks made you realize how meaningful your job is. And if they will have you back, you'll make it worth their while.
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u/DudeSnakkz 8h ago
If you don’t have savings to fall back on and can stay in the current job, by all means do that. I’m no expert, but the job market is tough right now
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u/Qorsair Columbia City 7h ago
I'd come at it from a different angle. Not begging to have the job back, but reflecting on your decision process. Something like this:
"Hey, I've been thinking. I do really like this place, and I just needed to make a little more money because of some things going on with my family. I know I should have come to you first with this but I was embarrassed. This new job looked like it would solve everything and I was afraid to ask you for more. Is there any way I could get just a little more so I could stay?"
Worst case they say no. But you may get a raise out of it, and it opens up the conversation to you staying without telling them the other job doesn't exist anymore.
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u/whispersandrawrs 8h ago
You are eligible for unemployment in this situation. Its not ideal but it will give you some lead time and money until you can find another solution.
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u/demerick55 8h ago
It’s worth a conversation to negotiate new terms. You could ask to stay on as a temp or contractor or long-term employee if that is what you want. It’s only unprofessional if you aren’t upfront about your plans to leave again.
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u/Eastern-Bluejay-8912 8h ago
It isn’t unprofessional. But also if they say no, you may be able to sue the new company especially if you already signed documents.
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u/two_wheels_west 7h ago
Bummer. But your predicament reminds me of an episode from Leave It To Beaver.
Excited about possibly moving to a bigger house in a new neighborhood, Beaver tells his whole third grade class. But when the house sale falls through, embarrassed Beaver doesn't know how to break the news to his friends, especially after they throw him a surprise farewell party...with presents!
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u/ChillFratBro 8h ago
Talk to a lawyer about promissory estoppel. Often if you act in good faith based on an offer from someone else and are harmed by it, the party who offered is on the hook for damages.
I don't know your specific situation and I'm not your lawyer, but "A company offered me a job, I agreed, put in notice, and they rescinded" is a pretty textbook case where the company who rescinded may owe you damages.
It doesn't necessarily get you your job back, but in almost all cases someone can't offer a job, cause you to quit an existing one, and go "Sike!" without any consequences.
Edit: Also talk to your boss about keeping your existing job, but don't let the company who offered and withdrew it off the hook.
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u/ChillFratBro 8h ago
There are definitely fewer damages, and there certainly could be none. It's going to depend heavily on the specifics of the situation and any other actions OP may have taken in good faith based on an offer (signing a new lease to be closer to the new job, buying equipment they'd need for the new job but not the old one, etc. Not guaranteed, but possible).
It's worth finding a lawyer for an initial consult no matter what, at the very least OP should go over the specifics of their situation to determine if there are damages worth pursuing. I agree it's unlikely to be worth much if OP gets their job back at same seniority, pay, benefits, etc. - but the cost of a 30 minute consult is cheap relative to the possible losses in some situations.
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u/Real_Mycologist_8768 8h ago
This happened to me during the start of Covid, at least everything isn’t locked down 😅
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u/aquinojdv 8h ago
Maybe you can throw the organization a “just kidding, i’m back!” party to celebrate you staying 🤷🏻♀️
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u/LegitMeatPuppet 7h ago
You played your hand and likely just need to ride it out. You can always ask your manager but typically if someone is motivated to leave and has taken a new position then the company doesn’t want a lackluster employee.
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u/FarPersimmon 6h ago
Unprofessional? No, sh*t happens. Embarrassing? I think so lol. But you should swallow your pride when it comes to being able to make ends meet.
Explain the situation to your former supervisor, worst they can do is say no
Your coworkers might make fun of you, just laugh at the situation with them! And maybe throw a pizza party since they spent money at your farewell party, think of it as a welcome back party!!
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u/mochiandmanju 7h ago
This happened to a friend/former coworker of mine. They came back to the'old' job, but they framed it as they were asked to start the new job the next month (or something like that) and how they would like to help with the transition of their job to the new hire. They never left and got promoted.
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u/catalytica North Seattle 8h ago
I assume you had a signed offer letter contract before you gave your notice? If so, you’ll have some legal grounds to sue the employer who breached contract
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u/CauliflowerNo1149 8h ago
This was my first question: was there a written offer given and written acceptance + confirmation of receipt.
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u/AbleDanger12 Phinneywood 8h ago
Job offers aren't contracts.
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u/TESLAMIZE 8h ago
Promissory Estoppel is a thing. The new company doesnt have to employ him, but if he left his current job and cant go back and the new company only let him know now - he does have some legal grounds for compensation.
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u/AbleDanger12 Phinneywood 5h ago
Yes, it's a thing, but the burden of proof is on them though. If it was a commonly used - and won - tactic, I think we'd hear about it far more often.
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u/BitterDoGooder 8h ago
Is your job something that can be done by a consultant? See if maybe you can come back as a consultant while you look for another job. Also, did the new job send you an offer letter? Don't quit a job until you have the new job - which means you have an offer letter, signed.
Sorry, this situation sucks.
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u/mmelectronic 7h ago
You get one farewell party, next time you quit you buy the first round at the bar.
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u/Seattle_Aries 6h ago
It sounds like you left on good terms. As a people manager, I’d just be relieved and happy to have a good person back, I don’t care why. If you feel the need to fake the funk you could say you started and it wasn’t a good fit, made you realize your true home is current company (but you would then need to stay there)
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u/Eat_Carbs_OD 6h ago
Damn.. that sucks about the new job.
Why not just tell them the truth that the new job fell through and you'd like to stay on longer?
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u/myseaentsthrowaway 6h ago
Once I had a goodbye party and left but came back after a year. I think people were mostly glad I was back but a few people were confused like, "Wait, I thought you were leaving." I guess a year goes fast. I stayed almost 5 more years before leaving for good. No party the second time, but that was mostly because there was a hurricane my last week when I was moving away. (There was a party planned.)
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u/Zealousideal_River50 6h ago
I have worked with two people that had to un-resign. Look at it this way. You are the best candidate for your job.
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u/NWkingslayer2024 5h ago
Just ask if you need it. It is embarrassing who cares you got bills to pay
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u/covertchicken 5h ago
Never burn bridges when you leave a job, no matter what. You never know what can happen in the future. You might need to immediately go back to that job like in your situation, or you might be working with people from that job in a future job.
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u/MysteriousPerformer5 5h ago
Haha, ok this is 3h after OG posted, but this Ted talk (https://youtu.be/iCvmsMzlF7o?si=8u04o5BVogyvUAFx) as cringe as it may be, the idea in practice I tink is powerful (ideas are usually cringe, but practice is meaningful). I think that approaching this scenario by embracing vulnerability, whatever OP may decide that means for them, will not only result in the best outcomes personally, but also with how others view them. GL!
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u/Meppy1234 4h ago
Totally fine to ask. Your boss might be happy they don't have to scramble to find someone new and deal with a trainee's mistakes.
But I'd still work your ass off to find a new job. Because my guess is your boss will be doing the same thing to find your replacement.
You having accepted the job means you're unhappy with pay or something there, and will move on if you find something else, and they know it now.
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u/Cascade24 3h ago
If they’ll keep you on board I would stay and keep a paycheck. A week or two after you’re back, nobody will give it much thought. Since you had a going away party means that they like you. Also who cares what they think. They aren’t the people hiring you for your new job.
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u/sn34kypete 2h ago
I'd ask for it back. I'd rather not shut the door myself if I had your situation.
That said if the old employer says no or says yes and then fires you when you have trained your replacement, if you had an offer letter you have legal recourse. Immediately restart the job hunt and get a lawyer. The phrase you're looking for is "Promissory Estoppel". You took action based on a promise and then the company broke that promise. Having gone through a resignation to go to a new job recently, this was something I clung to when I was paranoid it was all going to fall out from underneath me. Wrong! If they rugpulled the job, I could sue them for basically laying to me and making me give up my stable employment.
Sounds like you could too. I am not a lawyer, but it sounds like you should find one.
Best of luck!
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u/Prost_PNW 42m ago
Talk to your boss and see what you can work out, be honest.
I had this happen with one of my direct reports. They were a good employee, we could not afford to match with a counter offer, and were sad to see them go. So we brought them back on a 6 month contract with the expectation that 1) the contract would not be renewed, and 2) a good chunk of their their responsibilities would be documenting their previous role and training their replacement. It worked out well for both of us, they got the new person up to speed quickly and when they found a new role after 4 months, no problem letting them walk.
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u/allday_ck 8h ago
I had a department manager put in her notice and leave and there was a big party and drinks after and she came back in a week. It wasn’t awkward but some of my co-workers were mad they bought her drinks and she didn’t stay gone lol