Question about breaking contracts.......

[valeriecathleen]

How binding are contracts?

Say a school nurse signs a contract with her district agreeing to work the next school year. And say that nurse is sucessful in finding a new job a month later. Can the contract be broken? The contract says nothing about any legal or financial penalties for breaking it.

The only time I have ever heard of one being broken was a paraprofessional who got another job and sent a letter to the principal in August stating she would not be coming back.

Any experiences out there?

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

i would check with the hr dept. to see for sure, but the way i see it is this: they can let you go at a moment's notice, so why can't you do the same. (although i would give a 2 week notice) .

let us know what you find out.

praiser :redbeathe

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I know in my district, and by state law teaching professionals can break their contract up to 45 days before instruction begins, which is usually the middle of July. After that they are bound. From what I understand, the law only applies to teaching professionals, but other professionals such as nurses are expected to follow it as well. I am not sure how strict they are about it.

You can talk to HR anonymously and find out the scoop at your district. My gut is that as long as you are not quitting right before the start of the new year (or in the middle of it), they will let you out of the contract without issue. No one wants an employee who does not want to be there.

[jagalu100305]

yeah i am not sure what the point of the contract is....i have seen nurses teachers and para's quit mid year,quit mid semester, quit at beginning of school year!! No penalty was ever mentioned!

[DistrictNurse19]

I sign a contract also, but am considered an at-will employee. I can be released at any time without warning or reason, and I can also leave without warning or reason (however, a 2-3 week notice is common courtesy).