You have received a new job offer and are about to start soon. On the very morning, you decide not to show up for any reason (no judgment will be passed here), but you don’t inform the employer in question. What are the negative consequences of a “No show”?
Ghosting (a more commonly used term) is the act of cutting off all contact with someone, without warnings or explanations, ignoring attempts at communication from that person.
Consequences for the employer
The primary consequence of a “No show” is, undoubtedly, the loss of trust. While you’ve chosen not to work for that employer, keep in mind that the world is small, and word can spread quite quickly. It’s wise to stack the odds in your favor. While not showing up is, to some extent, understandable, at the very least, notify the designated contact person. A “No show” might not have direct consequences for you, but it’s a frustrating situation for the employer. It’s a situation with financial and, more importantly, human implications. Certainly, ghosting is not inevitable, and certain actions can be taken to mitigate the risks.
Consequences for the IT Department
Looking at it from a different perspective, consider that your arrival requires a significant amount of preparation from the IT department. Setting up your workstation, creating personalized access, configuring your email address, and so on. The time taken to make all these arrangements can never be regained. It’s like saying you’ll go to bed earlier to catch up on sleep; those lost hours of sleep can never truly be recovered.
Keep in mind that preparing for your arrival typically takes about half a workday for IT technicians. As mentioned above, this includes managing your profile, creating your email address, and granting network permissions. If the employer uses specific software, the department also needs to set up your access and provide the necessary permissions for your designated department. Oh yes, and there’s also the activation of your access card β hard to get into work without a keycard, right? π So, all of this effort goes to waste if you decide not to show up on your first day. It’s another chunk of time lost, at a minimum of a full workday.
Financial Consequences
Finances are sometimes also a consideration. If the employer hired you for a temporary position, such as a maternity leave replacement, additional licensing costs might not be necessary. However, if you’re being hired for a permanent role, acquiring new licenses could be required. Therefore, if you decide not to show up for your presumed first day, the purchase of these licenses would have been in vain. While the employer, in search of a new employee, was already committed to these expenses, perhaps the purchase might have been delayed by a few months, who knows? The same applies to equipment. Your arrival might have necessitated the purchase of a new laptop, camera, or screens. Costs can quickly add up, so maybe if the employer had the opportunity to wait a few months, they would have taken it!
Ghosting someone might be easy, but take the effort to notify the appropriate individuals. There won’t be any negative consequences; you’ll simply be perceived as someone honest and will earn even more respect. π
