Open Discussion Thread for "The Employment Offer Letter" by Justin Daniels
This an open discussion thread for the article published in developer.* Magazine called "The Employment Offer Letter: Your Firewall Against Viruses that Infect the Employment Relationship," by attorney Justin Daniels. If you haven't already, you can read it here, then add your comments below.
Do they have to hold true to what is in an offer letter?
In my offer letter almost 3 yrs ago it was written that I would get a $300 a month car allowance, no mileage documented. About a year later the Board decided that no one would get a flat rate but rather .40 a mile. In the time since my job descrption has changed drasitically and I no longer dirve much for work so my mileage check are an average of $80. My question is are they legally bound since it is writing to pay me the $300 still? That was a large amount of money and a reason I accepted the position and now I go without it. Do I have any claim to it?
Thank you
There's no such thing as something for nothing
See my blog entry with this title, Mr. Toshi.
Excellent Advice
In the developer job market tumult of the last two or three years, this is a sorely needed reminder. And the broader point of the article is, in my opinion, more true now than ever: never assume your potential employer has your interests in mind.
Without descending into corporation-bashing, it can be plainly stated that most companies no longer particularly worry about the needs of their employees, or about honoring the kind of employment relationship the previous generation's workforce took for granted. Today's workers (and this applies to Software pros in particular) need to be very careful to make sure the employment relationship legally binds the employer to their word -- because you can be absolutely certain that employer has rigged things to bind you to yours.