New hire stunned after company requests $12,000 for resigning, sparking heated debate online

The first job often plays a crucial role in shaping a strong foundation for an individual’s career. Many, in their excitement over a new opportunity, overlook the fine print of their contract. This was the case for a young graduate who decided to resign before their probation period ended. The UK-based employee, who goes by u/ResponsibleMove5319 on Reddit, shared how they met with harsh treatment from their employer instead of receiving a happy farewell. In their post, they revealed how their workplace policy required them to bear the cost of their training upon resignation.

It all began with the employee’s decision to part ways with their company. Despite nearly six months of hard work and dedication, they had not completed their probationary period. “I have worked for my employer for just under six months. My probationary period is six months. Yesterday, I handed in my one-week notice (to the business),” they wrote, describing the call they received from their employer the following morning. They explained, “This morning, they have called me to say that if I leave, the company will charge me £10,000 ($12,000) in fees incurred because of training,” they explained. The employee, currently serving their notice period, revealed they worked for an accounting software firm.

The employee completed extensive training to obtain their certificate in operating the firmware. However, their resignation came just before finishing the mandatory training phase. The company, attempting to delay the resignation, even offered a pay raise. “They told me if I didn’t leave, I would receive a £5,000 ($6,000) pay rise,” they explained further. The employee felt trapped in a difficult situation, convinced they were not at fault. Turning to the r/LegalAdviceUK online community, they sought advice on the matter while sharing details of their contract. “I just wanted to check the legality of this,” they wrote. “It seems crazy that they can charge me £10,000 ($12,000), which is 1/3 of my salary, to complete a training course.” The employee also requested clarification from their employer about how the amount was calculated.

“I have asked my employer for a breakdown of the costs,” the employee shared. “Is there any way of getting out of this?” they asked, attaching details of their contract. A clause in the agreement read:“If your employment terminates after we have incurred liability for the costs of the training, you will be liable to all of the fees up to £10,000.00 ($12,000) associated with the training course” (Clause 10.2). Other clauses in the contract added to their concerns, prompting reactions from self-acclaimed experts on the platform. Among them, u/MissingBothCufflinks pointed out, “You may be able to challenge the amount, but it's legal to require external training costs be reimbursed in such circumstances, provided the cost is reasonable and set out in your contract.” “Ask your new employer to cover the costs; otherwise, you can’t move jobs,” u/LordDooter advised.