Contractual Agreement??????????

[SuperSel]

I have recently attended a course that I was placed on by my company. Having passed the course today, I have subsequently been handed a Contractual Agreement. It states that if I was to leave the company within 1to 6 months I would have to pay back 100%for the course fees (�2000). Within 6 to 9 months 75% and 9 to 11 months 50%.

I am under a bit of pressure to sign this document as soon as possible.

Is this the norm?
What are my options on this matter?

Thanks in advance.

[Ethel]

Really this should have addressed BEFORE you attended the course, then you would have had the opportunity to either refuse to attend, or refuse to sign.

It is very normal practice as the employer doesn't want to pay for your new skills for another employer's benefit. However, I am unhappy with the timing.

Are you in a union?

[SuperSel]

Ethel,
thank you for the very quick response.

Likewise I am not impressed by their timing, however, your comments that 'it is a very normal practice' have put me at ease somewhat.

I am not in a union as the company is only a small to medium enterprise.

Thanks again

[Ethel]

If you have no intention of leaving in the next year, sign it, but make sure there is the proviso that no monies are to be paid in the event of redundancy.

I think in the present climate that is extremely important.

[Oneeyedvic]

Definitely not unusual.

I have seen in the Armed services, mortgage sector and HGV licensing.

[bednobs]

As ever, ethel has given a correct and thorough answer. in the NHS (where i work) this is very usual practice but again, usually discussed before the course commences. i would say you dont have to sign it at all

[wowy]

this happened to me when i worked for little chef, the form was presented after id gone on the course and my superior quietly told me not to sign it!

[SuperSel]

Thanks everyone for all the info.

Oneeyedvic - I have only recently left the armed services myself (18 months or so), hence the naivety in this matter.

I'm now satisfied that this is not unusual and that my employers are not just stitching me up.

[Eve]

As said above very common practice to protect the firm from wasting money if the employee leaves and discouraging people from going on courses to further their own ends then leaving.

I've seen an employer get screwed over by not having this arrangement in place.

I've seen it done in the legal profession as solicitors have to have a practicing certificate and do at least 16 hours of courses every year to be able to practice.

I've known bosses claim monies back towards the cost, even in redundancy.

My flatmate is also tied in for 18 months until after he finishes a course which will most likely take a few years to complete.

[chazza]

I work for the civil service and it is written into our contracts that if we leave within a certain timeframe after training courses we have to pay the money back.

As with you it is a percentage of the full price depending on how soon afterwards we leave.

I've never heard of a specific document though, what would happen if you refused to sign it?

[buildersmate]

You wouldn't get sent on the course, Chazza.
This is really a very common requirement. The issue is that the employer should have dealt with it beforehand.

[bushbaby_de]

I had to sign one of these before being sent on a masters course by the council where i work, stating if i leave within 2 years I have to pay a percentage back. However I would not have been happy if i was only told about it after the course finished, as I would have had no choice whether to take the course or not. I say you are not required to sign it and should refuse - they can't un-send you on the course now can they??!!

[chazza]

Buildersmate, Supersel has already been on the course, which makes me wonder what would hapen if he or she now refused to sign it having completed the course