Did you have to sign an education agreement?

[Guest]

Hello everyone...

I'm new here, so maybe this question has been asked in the past.

Has anyone here ever had to sign an education agreement with their
company? It is required where I now work.

It works like this: Company wants you to go to a training school for
a week to learn about the latest, greatest super-duper copier.
Company requires you to sign an agreement, stating that if you leave
the company within 1 year after completing the class, you must pay
the company $2000. This applies whether you quit or are fired.

Also, if you go to more than one school, the subsequent agreements
don't start until the first one is completed. Example: the company
sends you to 3 training classes in one year. You have to sign 3
agreements. The first one runs for one year, then the 2nd agreement
kicks in for the next year, then the 3rd agreement kicks in for the 3rd
year. So the tech is indebted to the company for 3 years!

Now I've been in this field for 10 years, and I've worked for a few other
copier companies. I have NEVER heard of anything like this. My boss
says this is "an industry standard", that everyone does this.

Has anyone else encountered such a thing? I'd like to hear from as many
folks as possible. Also, whether you answer yes or no, could you also
mention what state you're in and if you work for a major company or
a small dealer?

Thanks for your help....

[JohnDoe321]

oops..

Sorry about the crummy formatting of that message...
It looked fine when I typed it, but the word wrap when
it posted looked awful!

[unisys12]

Not just no but HELL NO! And I wouldn't have signed it. If you did, I would take a copy of it to a lawyer and ask him to look it over. You might be able to get out of it, but that would mean that you would have to sue the company you work for and I think we all agree that wouldn't work out to well for anyone.

Mississippi, where I live and work, is a "right to work" state. Loosely translated, it means that you can be fired from your job without cause at anytime during your employment. So I know for a fact that this agreement your boss handed you would not hold up. Just think if they needed a few grand to get them through a rough patch. "Easy! Let that guy go, he's been to three schools so far!" For this reason, being a "right to work state", unions have no authority here in MS. Check your state laws, which you should be able to do with a few Google searches.

I work for a small independent Savin dealership. Our classes are through Ricoh University and are free for all machine based training as well as most of the sales training courses. Our dealership pays for our gas, food, allows us to use our company trucks for travel and pays for our rooms, which are discounted through Ricoh. There are several CBT courses that we can take, which run for a small fee each, or we can subscribe to an online training system for a yearly fee.

Bottom line - Training employees is an investment in your company. It is not and should not be used as a means of holding a tech or anyone else hostage. If your boss feels like you should owe him something, when you leave or even if he has to let you go, then I would suggest you find another dealer to work for. Seriously! There is something really wrong with the way this guy thinks!!

[wagon]

I would tell them to shove their job and their agreement where the sun doesn't shine! What a bunch of a@#$holes! There are other places to work. They are holding you to ransom. And it is NOT an industry standard (mind you, most would get upset if you trained up and then jumped ship very soon after, and fair enough). I feel it is a way they can get away with treating you like crap knowing that if you leave you will be made to pay, literally.

[Cipher]

That's not a industry standard, no that would be your boss trying to pull a fast one and cover his arse on training costs (which isn't your problem).

Tell him to bugger off and if he mentions it again you will slash his tyres and put a brick through his windscreen LOL.

[kyoceradude]

W T F!!!!! In the Chicago area that is not a standard. In fact I never heard of that for any Reputable Dealership. Get away, far, fast, now... The only time there would be such an agreement, between employer and employee... is if the employee askes the dealership to help pay for schooling ie: Microsoft Certification training. Even that is to the benifit of the dealership. Sound like a raw deal for YOU....

[knightfall]

It's a scheme to keep you in servitude to company for ever, if you go to any type of training it is to service machines your company sells, it makes the company money. I would take a copy of the contract to the EEOC (equal employment opportunity commission) 1-800-USA-EEOC if this violates your rights as an employee, but do not sign the contract. It is not an industry standard in any industry. It is legal if your company has continuing education program where they are willing to pay for college for you.

[just a tech]

i agree with all of the guys ands then some...it's hard to say " i'm quitting.. screw this shit".. let's face it..we all need a job.. BUT DAMN !! what ya boss is doing is basically extortion..here in georgia we're a "right to work " state too, just as unisys12 mentioned..i work for a small company but i can tell ya it is not an "industry standard" and if i were you i would be seeing a lawyer,checking out your rights through different employment groups or bureaus,and definitely be searching for another job..i'm not even involved and this pisses me off !! just can't imagine how a dealer can justify doing that to it's employees..you getting schooling and training benefits the company as well as it does you..hope all works out for you..good luck.

[FRIDGEMAGNET]

7 years ago I worked for Danka here in the UK and I was told by a manager that they could claw back the cost of training if I left.
I was at the end of a 2yr night school course doing an HNC in computing and had got them to pay for the 2nd year, this was to benefit them with the digital equipment that had come in.
After resigning I heard nothing and was told by other engineers that this would not be legal anyways.
I took the chance and decided the most I could loose was a months wages and they would have no chance of any more.
As engineers in the copier business we are vastly underrated compared to other industries in terms of conditions and pay. This type of story only adds to the discontent engineers feel for the trade.
I hope this employer ends up with no engineers and his business goes under!
Tell them to stick it and I wish you all the best luck for the future!

[blackcat4866]

So what's new...

This was a standard at one of my previous employers. It worked a little differently, though.

If you left the company within 6 months of a training session, you were required to pay back the cost of the training. At the time training cost ~$700.00 per week. This amount was usually less than the 2 week withheld check, so they had no difficulty collecting.

It was just a paragraph in the paperwork to sign up for the training. And the employer did collect from some individuals. This is not unusual in my experience.

[JohnDoe321]

Thanks guys...

Thanks to all you guys who left a response to my question about
education agreements... I'd love to hear what others think too.

And to BlackCat4866... I see you are in Michigan also. Could you
mention in what city was the company located where you
encountered an education agreement? It would be a real hoot
if we are talking about the same company!!!

[blackcat4866]

I'd rather not say, but we probably worked for the same company.