Offered a job in writing (email) accepted but now HR is ghosting? (interviewed, company)

[NorthernSkysGuy]

Quick background--posting for a friend who has no interest in forums. He'd probably be angry if he knew I asked here but I believe other people over "the vagueness" of Google.

He got offered a job with a major company. They sent him the offer with salary and so on by email and he accepted. He was given a start date and a bunch of tasks to complete including addresses for a background check and urine test. He did the urine test Sunday morning.

He's been trying to reach HR for the next phase which includes some training at their corp center. So far no reply to 2 emails and 2 phone calls. Total dead silence.

My buddy is driving me nuts. He gave notice at the job he's at but now just getting nervous. The HR person he dealt with originally did her thing and now he is to deal with another HR person. He was interviewed by the manager so it's not just HR screwed up. This next phase HR person is the one not responding.

Can you give me some advice so he can find out why they are ghosting him now? Maybe he needs to call the manager (his future boss) and say I can't reach HR anymore. Can you help me out to find out the time frame or what's happening?

Any advice would be helpful. Maybe it just takes time for them to do the background and other test?
The issue is he gave notice (2 weeks) to his job and now things are not happening fast enough.

[CapsChick]

Did he have a firm start date in the written offer? If so, this doesn't really make sense. If he didn't have a firm start date, why did he give notice?

That testing probably does take time, but this should have factored into his start date.

[NorthernSkysGuy]

Yes his start date is mid-February. It was a solid offer from a major company.

He said he is going to send a quick email to the hiring manager and touch base with him. Maybe that will get some sort of feedback.

His last day at the old job is coming up so he's very nervous. He did the right thing and gave them 2 weeks notice.

Thanks for your reply.

[CapsChick]

I think contacting the hiring manager is the way to go. Hopefully it all works out.

[gus2]

Perhaps the training was to start on his first day? And/or they're waiting for the results of the drug test/background, etc. to confirm.

[NorthernSkysGuy]

Thanks, my buddy got the job.

Now we all have that stupid flu going around so I'm slow about posting here. Thanks for replying everyone.