Employees leaving/training costs

[benedmonds]

We recently took on an apprentice. He had had a disagreement with his last employer and left at short notice.

 

There is debate regarding if he was sacked or quit. From what I understand it was a heated discusion..

 

His former employer is now chasing him for training costs. Anyone any actual experience of this.. I know most contracts (including mine) say you have to pay back a percentage etc... but I have been told this does not stand up if the training is a requirement for the work.

 

Personally I can't see the point in chasing a 17 year old who is unlikely to be able to repay, but the former employer seems determined to peruse the matter.

 

[TIMON]

We’ve had similar happen. Trained people up, only to have them leave straight away, You can’t hold people captive but you would hope (maybe naively) that people would have some kind of honour. Our set up is different as we’re a charity but we ask guys to stick around at least long enough to get someone else through their training. Most of them do thankfully.
I think anyone trying to pursue such a case would struggle to get it to stick in court.

[Mick Dempsey]

You would have thought trying to get a 17 year old to understand and honour a contract is a mugs game.

 

edit, and a bit immoral if I’m honest.

Edited August 2, 2018 by Mick Dempsey

[forestboy1978]

Tough one. I scratch peoples backs. They scratch mine. Most of the time it pans out.

 

I give employees some extra cash at xmas and all tips go to them including my tip when I'm on site working with them which is nearly always.

 

Also, nearly, as much as I look for ways to make me more money, I look for ways they can earn extra cash too, be it on the side or what not. There's lots of way you can earn respect. Biggest one I find is never ask anyone to do something you're not willing to do or have not done many times before. And when shit is at it's lowest, admin or not you get in the thick of it. 

 

I'm talking as a small biz owner though. Obviously if you're big and you've downed tools long ago the rules change but I don't really have that ambition or desire frankly. 

 

 

[Rough Hewn]

I've been offered a contract which states i have to pay for training if I leave.
It's over 24 months in decreasing monthly periods.
I haven't signed it.
[emoji57]

[Mick Dempsey]

Don’t blame you.

 

[Mesterh]

1 hour ago, benedmonds said:

We recently took on an apprentice. He had had a disagreement with his last employer and left at short notice.

 

There is debate regarding if he was sacked or quit. From what I understand it was a heated discusion..

 

His former employer is now chasing him for training costs. Anyone any actual experience of this.. I know most contracts (including mine) say you have to pay back a percentage etc... but I have been told this does not stand up if the training is a requirement for the work.

 

Personally I can't see the point in chasing a 17 year old who is unlikely to be able to repay, but the former employer seems determined to peruse the matter.

 

Probably more out of spite than actually wanting the money and who can blame him, doesn't mean it's right though.

 

The lad needs to speak to the citizens advice Bureau or better still a solicitor who specialises in employment law.

 

Only experience I have is when I did speak to a solicitor about employment contracts. He said loads of people make up these bs contracts, get the employee to sign them and think they can stand up in court, most of the time there is no chance.

[benedmonds]

14 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

I've been offered a contract which states i have to pay for training if I leave.
It's over 24 months in decreasing monthly periods.
I haven't signed it.

I think that is fairly standard and as a business owner fair... Just not sure if it would actually hold up..

[forestboy1978]

51 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

I've been offered a contract which states i have to pay for training if I leave.
It's over 24 months in decreasing monthly periods.
I haven't signed it.

I don't blame you for not signing it but I don't think it's particularly unfair of your employer. It's not my style but I see the logic in it. 

 

I wouldn't expect much training though lol....

[Andymacp]

Surely the cost of chasing the lad through the courts would be more than what they actually spent on training, therefore pointless