I was hired for a job almost a year ago that advertised a signing bonus and relocation expenses. During my first interview I was told if I accepted the money I would have to work with the company for at least a year. After being offered the position, I was sent a paper to sign agreeing to the year requirement. I noticed the relocation reimbursement paper stated it would reimburse up to 2000, but I had been told up to 5000. I contacted my boss via email and she stated it was incorrect on the paper and I should just sign it. It would be changed later at the office (I was in training out of town at the time). I know it was stupid, but I signed. It is my first "real" job so I had not dealt with situations like this before. I hired a moving company and paid on credit, as well as put a deposit on a new apartment. I submitted all my paperwork showing the expenses up to about 4000. I was asked again to sign a form that had the 1 year agreement for 2000 on it once I started at the office.

A couple weeks later my boss called me in to have me sign the paper with the correct amount. She said she was told by corporate that since the relocation had been upped from 2000 to 5000, then the contract had been upped from 1 year to 2 years. I talked to her about it and said I wasn't sure about signing for 2 years since it was not what I was told. I also explained I was looking into continuing my education. She talked to corporate and they tried to offer me opportunities in the company to encourage me to stay for two years, but overall did not change their conditions. I had to have the money because I had paid on credit and couldn't afford to not pay it back. It had already been spent by that point. So I had to sign.

Now I have been accepted into an amazing graduate school program and will be leaving this job. I will work the full year and a few months which I had originally agreed to, but it will be under two years. I'm concerned about having to pay 4000 back. Due to the confusion, misleading information, and multiple incorrect documents, is it possible they will waive the money? Would they sue for 4000? Could I negotiate since I still have copies of the original documents which stipulated 1 year, although it was only for 2000?

0 answers  |  asked Apr 15, 2018 12:57 PM [EST]  |  applies to Tennessee