Secretly breaking contract

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Hello,

I would like this blog member's opinion. One of my classmates, like me, signed a 5 year contract to work at the hospital that is paying for our nursing education. Now my classmate is going to break her contract because she wants to work in a bigger hospital, However, she is not telling the administration at our hospital until she has the money to pay back the contract. I think this is dishonest. What does everyone else think?

On 5/7/2019 at 1:38 PM, lorias said:

Hello,

I would like this blog member's opinion. One of my classmates, like me, signed a 5 year contract to work at the hospital that is paying for our nursing education. Now my classmate is going to break her contract because she wants to work in a bigger hospital, However, she is not telling the administration at our hospital until she has the money to pay back the contract. I think this is dishonest. What does everyone else think?

If that is allowed in her contract that both parties have agreed to then I would say that is ok. So, she pays them back. Sounds like she used them for a loan is all, not exactly ethical but like I said, if it is in the contract.

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On 5/8/2019 at 10:03 AM, lorias said:

Well I guess I've been put in my place by others on this blog. Kind of surprising that no one can see this from another point of view. But on the other hand not surprising since honesty is in short supply these days.

Tattling and being honest are different. You will be put in a bad light if you run to management to let them know about something that has zero effect on you. If she was harming a patient, stealing medications, putting someone in danger--yes go ahead, report away. She isn't putting anyone in any form of danger because she's planning to break a contract and trying to not get fired in the interim so that she can actually pay back per terms of the contract. If someone walks up directly to you and says "is so-and-so planning on breaking her contract?" you can say "yes" or "you'll have to ask her." Telling management without them asking you is just gossiping.

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On 5/8/2019 at 11:03 AM, lorias said:

Well I guess I've been put in my place by others on this blog. Kind of surprising that no one can see this from another point of view. But on the other hand not surprising since honesty is in short supply these days.

From what I’ve seen of contracts, they are always for the benefit of the employer and never the employee. I have seen many people completely miserable come in to work because of what terminating the contract will do to the financially. Why anyone would agree to work for a facility for years after they graduate before they even learn how to be a nurse is not always a good choice and we can make decisions that we later regret and they can be costly due to said contract.

I’ve never worked with a binding contract, even as a new grad. Doing so the employer knows they can pretty much schedule you for whatever shift they want, in any unit they wish, with whatever working conditions they provide and the new hire (not very ‘new’ after five years...a bit long for payback) has to deal with it or break contract, risk never getting hired within that organization again, and financial issues. I have rarely seen a good “deal” in exchange for cost of nursing education/training.

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Specializes in NICU.
On 5/8/2019 at 8:52 AM, lorias said:

And because she is stringing the hospital along they can't hire someone to fill her spot. If it was all above board (ethical, I'm not talking legality) than she wouldn't have to be so sneaky about it.

There is an old saying MYOB.....mind your own business.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
On 5/8/2019 at 10:03 AM, lorias said:

Well I guess I've been put in my place by others on this blog. Kind of surprising that no one can see this from another point of view. But on the other hand not surprising since honesty is in short supply these days.

Snark is never attractive.

The fact that some might disagree with you does not mean they cannot see another point of view. But your crack about honesty being in short supply -- and applying it to those who disagree with you -- is both below the belt and unattractive.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 5/8/2019 at 5:52 AM, lorias said:

Except that my classmate has involved me because she has asked me to keep this all a secret. And because she is stringing the hospital along they can't hire someone to fill her spot. If it was all above board (ethical, I'm not talking legality) than she wouldn't have to be so sneaky about it.

She is keeping her options open. It's entirely possible she doesn't get the job she wants, or isn't able to buy out the contract and ends up with the first hospital anyway. She doesn't need to tip her hand just yet.

Her biggest mistake was confiding in you.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

Well I think you better go tell the master that a slave is secretly planning on running away.

Just kidding, she doesn't have to work for them if she doesn't want to work for them anymore and there's nothing dishonest about that.

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