Employee leaves company after 14 years for better opportunity, only for his offer to be rescinded at the last minute: 'Now I’m left unemployed with no severance or healthcare for my family'

via Eric Prouzet

A sign hanging on a wall reads, "We are Hiring! Apply Today"
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Swidge, who shared his side of the story to members of this online community, recounted step by step how he went from thinking he was finally turning the page to brighter days ahead, only to be left unemployed and without healthcare and severance to support his family.
Offer rescinded right as I’m about to start, leaving me unemployed.
About a month ago, I signed an offer letter to work at a company I was super excited to work at. The offer was great, I had my background check, and did all the onboarding. Accepting this job meant resigning from a job I’ve held for around 14 years. My last day was over a week ago.
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A businessman holds a cardboard box of personal items.
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As has been mentioned, the interview process for this new position seemed standard yet rigorous. There were plenty of opportunities in the midst of these multiple rounds of interviews where HR could have mentioned that the position (and the state of the company as a whole) was on shaky ground. However, instead, the candidate only found out right before he was supposed to start.
Last week, I was notified that my offer had to be rescinded. Now I’m left unemployed with no severance or healthcare for my family.
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A close-up of a cardboard box of personal items carried by a man in a suit.
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Naturally, the candidate was looking for answers as to how this could have happened so suddenly, to no avail. Now, he can hardly get in touch with any of the people with whom he had been communicating constantly just days prior to the unfortunate news.
The company said they had to rescind because of changes to the hiring plan, not because of anything to do with me. I tried to follow up to get more information, and I'm being completely ghosted.
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A businessman holds a cardboard box of personal items as he walks outside of an office building.
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It's hard not to empathize with this man's predicament. Not only is there not much he can do, especially in terms of supporting his family in the short term, but also it's not like he can go back easily to his respectable yet slightly unfulfilling former job.
I’m not sure there’s much I can do other than [move] forward. It just feels awful. I make it through the gauntlet of interviews, accept the offer, say my tearful goodbyes to my old team, and just like nothing, get dropped. They knew when I was targeting to leave my company. I’m just left dealing with this giant wrench that was just thrown in my career and my life. Like, how was this not known while I was interviewing? Why couldn’t they have told me this before I left my previous job?
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A wider shot of a businessman holding a cardboard box of personal items as he walks outside of an office building.
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Below is some of the feedback that the author received from concerned folks who have found themselves in similar situations. Many suggested that the author should name names so that other job candidates can know to avoid this company, but the author has yet to reveal that information.
"Name and shame. That’s just so terrible." - LillyGilderRoxie
“Absolutely second this...if they had no qualms leaving you high and dry, you shouldn't have any either.” - Elegant-Spite-3277
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A businessman looks down at a box of personal items as he leaves an office building.
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Additionally, one member of the online forum suggested that the author sue the company.
" I think in some States you can actually sue over this." - N7Valor
Here is a response from the author with an update about his hopes to pursue legal action. We'll follow this developing story as we learn more.
"I’m actually speaking with an attorney friend of mine. The promissory estoppel seems like it could be a viable route." - swidge