Company Paid Training? 46
screenbert asks: "My employer has just dropped a bombshell on me. He's offered $50,000 in training over the next year to each person in our group. Yes per person. Normally I wouldn't think twice about it, but he's having legal draw up contracts that will require us to pay for the training if we leave. I'm not really happy with my current employer due to changes company-wide.
I've worked for companies in the past that had programs like this, but never with that kind of money, usually 5-10K. Should I take the training and stick it out for the 3 years, or just put it off?" That's a lot of money to drop in training, but given that it's always wise to keep up your skill set, might this be worth it.
Re:Watch out (Score:3, Interesting)
I agree. What the company I work for does is urge you to take courses related to your job or where you want to be in the company and, depending on your grade at the outcome, reimburse you based on that. IIRC the scale is something like A-B - 100%, C - 70%, D - 50%.
Call a lawyer (Score:4, Interesting)
Find a competent labor lawyer and ask his advice, and absolutely don't assume a potential $50K liability without having a lawyer look at it. Don't let them fuck around with you on this.
This is serious money. You have a right to know your options from a competent source.
As far as I know, there is some precedence for this sort of arrangement. On the other hand $50K is a hell of a lot for one year's education and training for one person. If the training would be easily applied to another job, like a Harvard MBA (which is a hell of a lot cheaper, by the way), then you should be more willing to consider it. On the other hand, you have a right to not become an indentured servant.
This sounds kinda fishy.
Talk to a labor lawyer! Try calling your local bar association. They should be able to refer you to one. Or just look in the phone book. An initial consultation should be less than $100.