people_eater
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Minnesota
Thank you for reading this.
In January I started working for a company that offered me a $2000 "new hire bonus", which gave me $1000 after 90 days with the company, and the other $1000 after 180 days with the company.
The bonus was contingent on me staying with the company, and it stated that if I left the company prior to being with the company for a year, I would have to pay back tiered portions of the bonus.
Well I got my first bonus in April (it ended up being about $650 after taxes) and a couple weeks later (end of April/Beginning of May) I was told that my location is closing and I would be laid off.
One of my first concerns was this bonus, I was worried I would have to pay it back. I called HR and spoke with someone about it, and they told me that because I would be leaving due to position elimination, I would not have to pay it back.
When we were told we would be losing our jobs, we were given information about how if we need time off to interview elsewhere, that they would be accommodating, that type of thing.
Anyway, I find a new job, put in my notice, on my "resignation" form that they made me fill out, I put my reason for leaving as "position elimination".
Now I am a week and a half into my new job, and I get a letter in the mail requesting $750 for not holding up my end of the sign on bonus.
I have spoken with HR at the company and told them about how I was told I would not be responsible for this money, and how I would not have left the position if it meant having to pay it back. They told me that since I did not stay at the company until the actual date that the place was set to close, that it was not "position elimination".
I am pretty bummed about the whole situation, I moved across the state to take this job, and a big reason why I took this job was the sign on bonus. I probably wouldn't have been able to wait until the very last day of the place being open because then I would not have a job the following day. I have bills to pay, I didn't want to have to rely on the possibility of getting unemployment income.
I am wondering, do I have any claim on this money?
If I refuse to pay the $750, would they most likely take me to conciliation court or civil district court?
Any help would be great, thank you!
Thank you for reading this.
In January I started working for a company that offered me a $2000 "new hire bonus", which gave me $1000 after 90 days with the company, and the other $1000 after 180 days with the company.
The bonus was contingent on me staying with the company, and it stated that if I left the company prior to being with the company for a year, I would have to pay back tiered portions of the bonus.
Well I got my first bonus in April (it ended up being about $650 after taxes) and a couple weeks later (end of April/Beginning of May) I was told that my location is closing and I would be laid off.
One of my first concerns was this bonus, I was worried I would have to pay it back. I called HR and spoke with someone about it, and they told me that because I would be leaving due to position elimination, I would not have to pay it back.
When we were told we would be losing our jobs, we were given information about how if we need time off to interview elsewhere, that they would be accommodating, that type of thing.
Anyway, I find a new job, put in my notice, on my "resignation" form that they made me fill out, I put my reason for leaving as "position elimination".
Now I am a week and a half into my new job, and I get a letter in the mail requesting $750 for not holding up my end of the sign on bonus.
I have spoken with HR at the company and told them about how I was told I would not be responsible for this money, and how I would not have left the position if it meant having to pay it back. They told me that since I did not stay at the company until the actual date that the place was set to close, that it was not "position elimination".
I am pretty bummed about the whole situation, I moved across the state to take this job, and a big reason why I took this job was the sign on bonus. I probably wouldn't have been able to wait until the very last day of the place being open because then I would not have a job the following day. I have bills to pay, I didn't want to have to rely on the possibility of getting unemployment income.
I am wondering, do I have any claim on this money?
If I refuse to pay the $750, would they most likely take me to conciliation court or civil district court?
Any help would be great, thank you!