Provisional job offer

[Ginge87]

Hi, excuse me if I'm in the wrong place but this my first post and I'm looking for some advice...

I recently applied online for a new position which had the advertised working pattern as 'Full-time, Part-time, Job share and Flexi hours'.

In my interview I mentioned that I would be interested in part-time hours as I have caring resposibilities, I was told this wouldn't be an issue.

When one of the women walked me out she told me to stand my ground when it comes to the part time hours, I asked what she meant and she just said it can be a bot difficult to get the hours you want sometimes.

I have since received a provisional offer of employment with I accepted and sent of my details ready for my reference and DBS checks etc.
A lady called shortly afterwards to discuss things like dress code, what location I'd been given, annual leave etc and I asked when I would get confirmation of what hours I would get. She took a note of my ideal and said she would confirm with the office I'd be assigned to and would then come back to me.
She called the following day and said they no longer had part-time hours available so I had 2 options - I could go onto a reserve list for 3 months in case another position comes up even though nothing would change in terms of the hours they needed or I could go online and withdraw my application.

I'm absolutely gutted, I've waited a long time for this particular position to come up and now it's been taken away from me.
I've not withdrawn my application but I also don't want to put my current role at risk by having reference checks come through before I've had a chance to pre-warn my boss.

I have sent an email of complaint as if the job was advertised as full-time I wouldn't have applied in the first place, let alone spent hours writing up competencies, doing online tests and preparing for an interview!

Do I have a leg to stand on with regards to appealing the decision or are they within their rights to do this?

My provisional offer states that it is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, no mention of hours etc.

Thank you

[ULA]

What did the provisional job offer state, if it did not give the basic information on the job they were offering you such as hours, salary, holiday?

[Ginge87]

Hi Ula,

the wording on my email is as follows:
'Congratulations, we are writing to offer you employment in the above position. This offer is provisional because it is subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. If the outcome of these checks is satisfactory, we will agree a start date with you. In the meantime, please do not hand in your notice until all pre-employment checks are completed satisfactorily. If the outcome of these checks is not satisfactory, your offer will be withdrawn.'

Thanks for your msg

[ULA]

So nothing detailing the broad details of the employment terms.

I presume that in your email you have made it clear that you responded to the advert based on the option of part-time hours and that you had also mentioned this at interview where it was not perceived to be a problem and with the lady who contacted you. It will be interesting to see what they respond with and whether such an email from you will prompt the option for part-time hours - maybe this is what was meant by "standing your ground."

Unfortunately if the complaint does not yield a positive response I do not think there is anything you can do unless possibly if you could prove you where discriminated against by not being offered a part-time position.

[Ginge87]

No further details regarding the post itself, just instructions on providing reference info.
When I spoke to the recruitment women who telephoned she was discussing dress code and location etc with me so I presume those details would have been provided in writing with a formal offer at a later stage.

Yes I did include that point in my email.
The fact that they've told me that I would have to withdraw my application rather than actually withdrawing their offer, and the fact the lady had already forewarned me kind of pushed me to make the complaint rather than just taking it and giving up.

The autoreply to my email states it will be up to 7 working days for a response from the relevant team.
Fingers crossed for something positive!

[ULA]

Do come back and let us know how it goes. Good luck

[Ginge87]

Will do. Thank you