Job Offers: Your Rights - GOV.UK

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Once someone has accepted an ‘unconditional’ job offer, they’re in a legally binding contract of employment. However, a ‘conditional’ job offer can be withdrawn if the person does not meet the employer’s conditions (for example, satisfactory references and health record).

A job offer, and acceptance of that offer, can be verbal or in writing.

Employees should wait until they get an unconditional offer before handing in their notice as a conditional offer could fall through.

If an employer withdraws their job offer

Once someone has accepted an offer they can only take action in certain situations.

Situation	Action
The applicant has evidence that the employer discriminated against them when withdrawing the offer	The applicant can take the employer to an employment tribunal
The employer has confirmed that the job offer was unconditional, or the applicant has met all conditions	The applicant can sue the employer for ‘breach of contract’
The offer was conditional and the applicant did not meet the conditions	The applicant cannot take any action

If a new employee changes their mind

If someone accepts an unconditional offer and then changes their mind, the employer can:

• make them work out any contractual element of their notice
• sue them for breach of contract

This page is Part of Start a new job: step by step

1. Step 1: Get your National Insurance number

   You'll usually need your National Insurance number when you start your new job.

   1. Find your National Insurance number
   1. Apply for a National Insurance number if you do not already have one

2. Step 2: Accept the job offer

   The offer might be ‘conditional’ or ‘provisional’, which means you may need to give further details to your new employer or pass pre-employment checks.

   1. You are currently viewing: Find out about your rights when accepting a job offer

3. Step 3: Share your details for any employer checks

   Give your new employer what they need to complete any pre-employment checks.

   1. Find out what checks your employer can make
   1. Find out how to prove your right to work
   1. Find out about criminal record checks

4. Step 4: Review your employment contract

   Your new employer should give you an employment contract. Check the terms before you agree to it.

   1. Find out about employment contracts

5. and If you're leaving a job, hand in your notice

   Tell your current employer that you’re going to leave and when your last day will be. This is known as handing in your notice.

   1. Find out how to hand in your notice

   When you hand in your notice, ask your employer when you’ll get your P45.

   1. Find out about the P45

6. Step 5: Prepare your personal information for your first day

   To get paid, you’ll need to give your new employer:

   • your National Insurance number
   • your bank details
   • proof of your identity
   • what student loan repayment plan you’re on, if you have one
   • details of what benefits you get, if any

7. Step 6: Give your P45 to your new employer

   Your new employer will use your P45 to work out how much tax to take from your pay.

   1. Find out about the P45

8. or If you do not have a P45, fill in the starter checklist

   Use the starter checklist to give your employer details they need to work out your pay and tax.

   1. Fill in the starter checklist

9. Step 7: Check your first payslip

   Your employer must give you a payslip on or before payday.

   1. Find out what should be on your payslip

   It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax.

   1. Check if the tax on your payslip is correct

   If you think the tax is wrong, your tax code may be incorrect.

   1. Find out what to do if you think your tax code is wrong

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