r/recruitinghell • u/kingcrusader192 • 1d ago

READ THE DAMN CONTRACT

For context, I’m sharing this to warn others. And I feel lucky enough in this shitty job market to be able to say no to a shitty contract and careful enough to read it before signing.

The same day I got the contract, I was being pushed to sign it by EOD. It was a six month contract with good pay. Sounded too good to be true, and as I read through it and used AI to analyze it, it was clear that this contract had major issues. There were red flags all over the place. Language that would allow them to claim work or products I created for my own businesses for up to a year AFTER the contract ended unless I proved otherwise. The ability to change my pay at their sole discretion. They even had the wrong name of the company they were hiring me for. There were missing exhibits that were referenced but never included. Language allowing them to inspect personal devices I used for work even after the contract ended. Ridiculous liability clauses that could make me responsible for their losses and legal fees. Restrictions involving clients and vendors I might never even work with.

It was so bad that I hired a lawyer to review it and tell me whether it was even salvageable. After I sent the lawyer’s feedback to the recruiting agency, they asked ME to rewrite their contract or pay my lawyer again to revise it for them. Uhm. No.

I walked away.

Read every page. Read every attachment. Ask questions. “It’s standard” does not mean it’s fair. And if a company pressures you to sign faster than they’re willing to answer your questions, that is your answer.

18 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

5

u/Cultural-Answer-321 1d ago

Good for you. This is the way.

2

u/Kindly_monkeyshines 1d ago

Out of sheer desperation I signed some sketchy NDE's, current one with a similar clause regarding work product. I'm my case they can sell it to Greenland for all I care; the trade off is a fully remote position where I just have a monthly set amount of hours. I can work anytime I want with minimal oversight. This'll jinx me, but I've never had an employer follow up on any part of the contract that really matters. Idk, just saying sometimes renting yourself to the devil pays.