Definite Period Job Contract Reneged

I have a question regarding breach of employment contract. I was an at will employee in IL, but when my job was eliminated, I was given 2 option in a meeting with the manager and HR.

Option 1 was to work on an assignment for them for 6 months (no less than 5, no more than 7) and at the end I would receive severance.

Option 2 was to take severance right away.

The day after this meeting, I got a confirmation email from HR stating my options and asking me to make a decision by the end of the following week.

At the end of the current week, they reneged on their offer and stated there was no 6 month assignment anymore and that I would have to take the severance right away.

Are they in breach of an oral / email 6 month job contract?

1 answer  |  asked Dec 10, 2004 7:08 PM [EST]  |  applies to Illinois

Answers (1)

Aaron Maduff
Definite Period Job Contract Reneged

Its hard to tell from the information you have given. But if they made the offer and you accepted it BEFORE they reneged, particularly if you took some action in furtherance of it (e.g. starting work on a project for that six month period) there may be a breach of contract claim. But a contract does not exist until you accept their offer and they can revoke that offer at any time before you accept it.
Aaron Maduff

posted by Aaron Maduff  |  Dec 13, 2004 08:09 AM [EST]

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