Up to $12,000 pay back if leaving the job after orientation?

strider1500 · Mar 3, 2008

Did you sign an agreement regarding this?

Otherwise I would feel that you can't be bound unless it's in writing.

I love my cat! · Mar 3, 2008

I did an orientation/program at a Hospital in Los Angeles. They also had the, "If you leave during the orientation or before completing 1 year working for the Hospital, you will have to pay back $12,000".

We signed some papers, but to be honest, they did not appear to be legal, binding contracts. It never said anywhere on the paper that we signed that it was indeed a legal document either. Just because something is in writing, it doesn't automatically make it a bound, legal document.

I know several people that just HATED the program and HATED the hospital. One quit during orientation, two quit within the one year after the orientation.

All stated they would rather fight the matter in court then remain working at this particular Hospital. They said the Hospital could initiate the steps to take them to court if they wanted the $12,000.

None of them were ever contacted by the Hospital after they quit. So, this leads me to believe that the "If you quit you have to pay back "x" amt. of $$" is more of a scare tactic than a legal, binding contract.

I'd check with someone that has a legal background or even someone in the Union before signing anything though.

seneyka · Mar 3, 2008

It was said during interview; I do not know if I get the job or not. But I think there are more processes for the paper works to do before starting the job, and maybe that will be in one of those papers.

I am just wondering about the fee charged...

widi96 · Mar 3, 2008

I wouldn't think that would be legal - if you work the time, you get paid for being there - they can't take that money back.

Now, if it were a sign on bonus or something similar to that, then yes, I could see them strictly inforcing it because it was an amount of money for you to stay for that year in addition to your pay.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 3, 2008

I would be a bit leery. Even if it is said that this may not be legally binding, the fact that a signature has been obtained states that the signer comprehends and is in agreement, at least in my opinion. Like others have said, I would speak to an attorney or union shopsteward beforehand. Somehow, though, this demonstrates to me that they have low retention, and had to go to desperate measures to keep employees. Not a situation I would like to be in.

Ms Kylee · Mar 3, 2008

If I leave before my year is up, I have to pay back the full amount, and it is not prorated. I'm just counting the days till May 29...

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2008

I think our critical care nurses have to pay back $1000 if they quit within a certain amount of time, to pay back the cost of the critical care course and time off given to take the course. I've never heard of $12,000 payback.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 3, 2008

Orientation into a speciality field is very expensive and time consuming on everyone's part. While I don't necessarily agree with it, I can see the hospital's rational. They just want a comittement on everyone's part if they are going to invest time and energy into a new grad into an area where they expect and need long term nurses.

I know for us, any classes we take, even if required to perform our job, come with a contract and if we leave w/in 1 year of taking the class, then we pay for it and it's not prorated. Most of our classes come with a $200-$400 price tag per class, so it can add up after awhile.

Again, I don't really see the point because I think it has the potential of scaring off reall good nurses to those areas, I do know that many facilities are starting to enact such practices for financial reasons.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2008

If you take a nursing job and leave after job orientation, anyone of you has to pay back to the facility up tp $12,000?
The job is a about one specialty (confidentiality issue, I dont think I would be able to name the specialty) job . The policy is 1 year commitment and if the person leaves after 8 weeks orientation, she/he has to pay back up to $12,000. Depending on how long the person stays after orientation, the amount of money ($12,000) would decrease. And after a year, the person does not have to pay that amount of money anymore if deciding to leave.
I wonder if this is suitable or appropriate for anyone who is/are nurse(s) out there! This's the first time I've ever heard of such things!
Thank you very much for inputs!

Did the hospital recruit you from the Phillipines?

If so, then $12,000. is a small amount to pay back. Some private agencies (OGP) who recruit nurses from the Phillipines to the US charge $40,000. if a nurse leaves her job before one year

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2008

That's a lot of money to be responsible for. This sounds like a pat response but really, I'd check with the expert blood sucking lawyers on this one. Something doesn't have to specifically spell out the word "contract" to actually be a contract. I'd be a might bit careful with that hot potato.

seneyka · Mar 4, 2008

I think our critical care nurses have to pay back $1000 if they quit within a certain amount of time, to pay back the cost of the critical care course and time off given to take the course. I've never heard of $12,000 payback.

The calculation is based on the training credits or such so. After each month of working for the organization, the amount decreases. But even so, $12,000 is a lot of money. Besides, 8 weeks training (1 week in class, 7 weeks training shadowing the receptors) would cost that much? I dont understand. Then is it possible that those 7 weeks those preceptors should be paid quite amount of money for training new employee or just working on their own then? Im sure they dont get paid that much!

$1000 probably does not scare me as much as $12,000! Thanks for sharing!

Orientation into a speciality field is very expensive and time consuming on everyone's part. While I don't necessarily agree with it, I can see the hospital's rational. They just want a comittement on everyone's part if they are going to invest time and energy into a new grad into an area where they expect and need long term nurses.
I know for us, any classes we take, even if required to perform our job, come with a contract and if we leave w/in 1 year of taking the class, then we pay for it and it's not prorated. Most of our classes come with a $200-$400 price tag per class, so it can add up after awhile.
Again, I don't really see the point because I think it has the potential of scaring off reall good nurses to those areas, I do know that many facilities are starting to enact such practices for financial reasons.

The training includes 1 week in-class and 7 weeks shadowing the preceptors. I thought I would love to learn sth new; however, I would not dare to think to work for this place after imaging how on earth would I possible earn that much. Maybe I would have been working for free. It would interfere with my future education in case I got accepted to nursing school again.

Did the hospital recruit you from the Phillipines?
If so, then $12,000. is a small amount to pay back. Some private agencies (OGP) who recruit nurses from the Phillipines to the US charge $40,000. if a nurse leaves her job before one year

No, I'm a US citizen.