I lied about my previous salary to get a better deal with my new employer. Could there be repercussions if they find out?
There is a big difference between being vague about your pay package – many people talk about their total compensation and try to lump together salary, bonus, pension contribution and any other benefits that they get – and deliberately lying about your salary level. Bear in mind that when you join the firm you will have to bring your P45 tax document with you – which details your pay – so they will find out your real pay eventually.
If you have not yet joined, you risk having the job offer withdrawn, which could cause you a problem if you have already resigned from your current employer. In this scenario, you are unlikely to be re-hired by your old employer and so could be without work.
You could have difficulties getting another job because the reasons for losing your job offer may be discovered during the referencing process. So, because of a stupid act, you could have a long-term problem.
My advice if you have lied, and are about to join a new firm, is to confess before you get found out and try to regain your new employer’s trust. Although it seems like a minor indiscretion to you, it is the first impression that a new employer will have about your integrity.
If you have already started work at the new employer, it is highly likely that your contract could be terminated. You will probably have to go through a disciplinary process initially and, depending how badly you lied and how it was found out, you could be fired for gross misconduct. A lesser outcome could be a written warning which would stay on your file for 12 months.
During the disciplinary process, you will have an opportunity to make your case and explain what you did and why you did it. My advice is to be completely open. You should definitely apologise and ask for lenience. It will be up to the senior manager holding the disciplinary to decide the outcome.
