Am I getting jipped???

colleen10 · Oct 7, 2003

That just stinks all around.

I am not sure I would want to work for an employer that would do such a thing.

A similar situation happened to my SIL who works in the Brokerage/Invetment field. Her company offered to pay for her to go through a 3 month insurance certification class. About 1/2 way through the class they came to her with a document that said they would pay for the class but she had to promise to work there for 1 year upon completion of the class or pay back the cost of the course which was around $1,000.00

She, like you, was very angered and upset that they would do such a thing. She had planned on staying there for many years but it was really the prinicple of the matter. She thought about it for a while and decided not to sign it. Apparently, they were just playing "chicken" with her because they didn't fire her over it and she went on ahead and completed the class without paying for it or signing on for a year.

Everyone had different standards and expectations of their employers. Perhaps some people that are planning on being at that hospital for the next 18 months wouldn't be turned off by the whole scenario and would go ahead and sign it anyway. Other's, who also may be planning on staying at that hospital for a number years might not sign it just for the principle of the matter.

Think about which type of person you are and what you are willing to risk/loose to make a point to these people.

If it is one thing I have learned through my years of employment is that employers will try to pull just about anything.

Repat · Oct 7, 2003

We are required to take the course, too, but we are told when hired. Also, the costs of the class are pro-rated, so if you do leave before it is all "paid back", you only pay the balance. The CCRN certification requires that you have worked for at least two years - this sounds like a hospital-based course (which ours is, too).

Farkinott, RN · Oct 9, 2003

At the risk of sounding naive I would feel blessed to be able to do such a course when workining in a specialty. That a caveat of working in that unit for a certain period is made seems to me to be reasonable. Here in Australia extra education costs big bucks and it is mostly on a user pays basis. For example you may get some on the job training to work in a specialty like ICU, Renal Dialysis or CCU but if you want an accredited certificate through a university it will cost you a couple of thousand dollars (Aus). I can understand your disillusionment at the way you were (admittedly) coerced, but her in OZ we would be grabbing the chance to get a qualification for free (whilst being paid) so fast you wouldn't see the hands move.

I may be a glass is half full rather than half empty kind of guy but you need to grab what you can get ehen you can!

sanakruz, ADN · Oct 9, 2003

I am going to asume you are not represented by a union.

Sign NOTHING.

I will stick my neck out and say if there were union representation for the nursing staff, mamnagement wouldn't even attempt to be so weasally.