Relocation Contract, After Relocation, After Reimbursement. Do I Have to Sign?

[sambrown]

I recently relocated to South Carolina, it was my first relocation and I'm still pretty naive in the professional world so I didn't find it strange that I didn't sign a relocation contract.

A month goes by and I'm reimbursed for my out of pocket expenses, another month goes by and the lease ends at the apartment the company sets up for me. The next day I received and e-mail from HR asking me to sign a relocation contract holding me for the sum of moving and lodge if I terminate employment before two years tenure.

No contract was sign prior to this(I was operating on good faith and I now know how foolish that can be) and there was no existing understanding in the employee handbook or any communication that I would have to repay any relocation under any circumstance.

I'm not thrilled with the company in the first place, I would like to leave them soon.

So what I'm wondering is, if I refuse to sign this are there any circumstances where I could be held liable for a portion of the relocation amount? I've attached a censored copy of the contract.

Thanks for any help you can offer,

**************, is providing in its offer of employment(already been here three months) a moving and relocation payment of ******** for moving expenses. This amount was paid by submission of appropriate receipts.

Employee agrees to reimburse **************, if employee voluntarily terminates his/her employment prior to the completion of two (2) years' service from hire date(*********) such payment must be made within thirty (30) days of Employee's termination date.

I hereby certify my acceptance of the relocation payment under the foregoing terms and agree to reimburse *************** in the event of my voluntary termination prior to the completion of two years' service.

 

[adjusterjack]

So what I'm wondering is, if I refuse to sign this are there any circumstances where I could be held liable for a portion of the relocation amount? I've attached a censored copy of the contract.

Well, taking that literally and assuming that there is nothing in there about being terminated for cause then I'd have to say no, you would not be liable to repay any of the relocation fee if you didn't sign the agreement and left either voluntarily or involuntarily.

However, don't mistake that as meaning you wouldn't get sued. It would just give you a defense.

As long as you don't like the company and you are willing to roll the dice I suggest responding in writing to your boss saying something like no one ever told me I'd have to repay the relocation allowance. I would not have accepted the job with that condition, therefore I decline to sign the contract.

Then wait and see what happens.

Just make sure you take a copy of that contract home with you along with any correspondence from your employer that refers to it as well as your response.