Is it Legal to Not Respond to a Job Offer?

Under the 2026 Labor Code updates, companies are pushing for "Notice Period Parity" to curb sudden exits.

While failing to respond after signing is not a criminal offense, it carries severe professional consequences. Legally, an appointment letter is a civil contract.

While courts rarely force "specific performance", firms can theoretically sue for recruitment costs or liquidated damages if mentioned in the agreement. More practically, top firms now share "Negative Candidate Lists" via unified HR tech platforms.

While you won't face jail time, you risk being "digitally blacklisted," making you virtually unemployable within the same industry sector.