Employment Contract Question

In My Humble Opinion
1

I understand that you are not my lawyer, etc. etc.

I started a new job not too long ago and received rather extensive and highly marketable training. On accepting the offer I was required to sign a contract saying that I would repay the company Y dollars if I quit and went to work for another company before X years. There was an initial probationary period after which we were supposed to get health and other benefits. That period is over, and now they are saying that we won’t actually get them until the 1st of next month.

The wording (exact phrases in quotes) in the contract is that I “will be entitled to apply” for benefits after the period defined in my offer letter. The offer letter says that after the probationary period the benefit program “will be available for you to participate in”.

In your non-legal opinions how strong of an out is the fact that we are not getting these benefits?

2

If you are trying to quit without paying for the training, you’re going to have to pay for a good lawyer and still maybe pay for the training.

There’s enough wiggle room in the wording that they will be covered. It’s not unusual for an opt-in period for certain benefits such as health care to start at the beginning of a month, quarter, semi-annual, or even annually.

Yep you can apply. Also the benefit plan will be available AFTER the probationary period. Not just the day after the probationary period.