3 year Contract

[Thephoenixrises]

I am a new grad and have been working for about 6 months. When i was hired, i was put through a new grad program for about 4 of the 6 months I have been working. I signed a document saying that I would stay there for 3 years. I had to move away from home to work in another city and so far, I have been really homesick. I feel like 3 years is a long time and was wondering whether what people thought of breaking a 3 year contract. They have threatened that we have to pay back the training but there is no numbers listed in our contract. There is a line saying that we might have to pay back for training. In your advice, is it likely that they will ask you to pay back money if you break the contract? How legal is this?

[llg, PhD, RN]

If it very likely they will try to enforce the contract. You knew what you were signing when you agreed to work for them for 3 years. They fulfilled their end of the deal by providing you with the orientation/education and they will expect you to fulfill your end of the deal. If you don't live up to your end of the agreement, you can expect some sort of significant penalty.

As far as being homesick ... give it more time. I moved away from my family after graduation many years ago and have moved (by myself) many times since. Sometimes, it takes a year of so to feel comfortable in a new place. It's normal for new grads to feel a bit overwhelmed by their first staff nurse job and that stress usually eases during the 6-12 month period. Add that to being alone in a strange place and it is understandable that you are feeling homesick. Don't run away yet. Be strong and stick it out for a while longer before you run away and risk a financial mess that could ruin your financial situation for many years.

Perhaps you can get them to pro-rate the penalty. For example, if you work for 1.5 years, you would only have to pay back half.