Can an Onboarding be Cancelled before the Start Date?



Modified on: Wed, 7 Jan, 2026 at 2:58 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

If you need to cancel an employee’s onboarding before their official start date, the steps depend on the status of the Employment Agreement (EA) and the onboarding process. Below is a guide for handling different scenarios:


1. Employee Has Signed the EA, But Horizons Has Not Countersigned

Status:

  • The employee signed the EA, but Horizons has not countersigned.
  • The contract is not legally binding until both parties sign.

Action:

  • Inform Horizons immediately (ideally your assigned Onboarding Specialist).
  • Horizons will cancel the onboarding and invalidate the pending EA.
  • Horizons will manage the communication directly with the employee to confirm the offer has been canceled and employment will not proceed.


2. Employee Has Signed the EA, and Horizons Has Countersigned

Status:

  • Both parties have signed the EA, making it legally binding.

Action:

  • Inform Horizons immediately.
  • The Onboarding Specialist will assess if the EA can be canceled or if an offboarding process is required, based on local labor laws.
  • Horizons will advise on next steps, including any legal or financial obligations.


3. No Signed Offer or EA

Status:

  • Neither an offer letter nor EA has been signed.

Action:

  • Inform Horizons to cancel the onboarding process.
  • Horizons will notify the candidate that they are no longer being considered for the role.
  • If an offer letter was sent or signed, let Horizons know to confirm if any obligations apply.


Service Fees and Deposits

  • No Service Fee: If onboarding is canceled before the start date and no employment relationship exists, Horizons does not charge a fee.
  • Offboarding Fee: If the EA is signed and offboarding or compensation (e.g., severance, notice period) is required, Horizons charges a monthly service fee for the duration of the offboarding process (usually completed within one week).
  • Deposits: Any deposits paid will be refunded within 30 days after cancellation.


If at any stage of this process you want to continue looking for candidates, we encourage you to contact our Recruiting Team for assistance. 


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