What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
My company wanted me to go back to school and agreed verbally to pay the tuition. Their agreement with me was if I left the company voluntarily within two years I would owe them 50% of the tuition. Fair enough.
Well they paid me directly, as a bonus, for the full tuition amount: $XX. However, I had to pay taxes on this money as bonus. I started school. Shortly thereafter they wanted me to sign a contract based on our 'reimbursement' conversation but it read that I was to pay back 1/2 of the $XX if I left within two years. I never signed the agreement because I had to pay the taxes on the $XX amount. I questioned this and I requested a new contract drawn up reflecting this discrepancy. It never was and I never signed anything. Well, I left the company 1-1/2 years later. They are now demanding 1/2 of the full $XX amount. I would think it should be more like 1/2 the $XX minus the taxes I paid.
Do I owe them anything? Even if I legally don't owe them I don't want to stiff them. They tried to help me in good faith but I don't want to overpay them. Not to mention they did get most of their investment back; 1-1/2 years @ 70+ hours/week.
In anyone's opinion; what would be fair?
My company wanted me to go back to school and agreed verbally to pay the tuition. Their agreement with me was if I left the company voluntarily within two years I would owe them 50% of the tuition. Fair enough.
Well they paid me directly, as a bonus, for the full tuition amount: $XX. However, I had to pay taxes on this money as bonus. I started school. Shortly thereafter they wanted me to sign a contract based on our 'reimbursement' conversation but it read that I was to pay back 1/2 of the $XX if I left within two years. I never signed the agreement because I had to pay the taxes on the $XX amount. I questioned this and I requested a new contract drawn up reflecting this discrepancy. It never was and I never signed anything. Well, I left the company 1-1/2 years later. They are now demanding 1/2 of the full $XX amount. I would think it should be more like 1/2 the $XX minus the taxes I paid.
Do I owe them anything? Even if I legally don't owe them I don't want to stiff them. They tried to help me in good faith but I don't want to overpay them. Not to mention they did get most of their investment back; 1-1/2 years @ 70+ hours/week.
In anyone's opinion; what would be fair?