I need your advice on the following issue. I have been flying for this company for over a year now. Prior to my employment, the subject of sending me to Simuflite/ FSI came up and at that time, my boss verbally told me that they would take care of the training cost as long as I stayed with the company for at least 1 year.
The training did not take effect until 10 months later when the insurance demanded that I be sent for this Lear training OR ELSE, I would not be allowed to fly their airplane. Thus, I was sent to Simuflite last August for the type which cost the company $13500 + expenses. But on my first day of class, I was forced to sign a letter stating that I stay one year from my class completion date, and that if I leave before the year is up, that I would be liable for 1/12th of the cost monthly until the remaining months of the year has been paid back.
Now, an opportunity to work for another company has come up. Everything seems to be in order except for this one issue. Question: Should I stay or should I go? If I leave, will I be liable according to the letter I signed? Is this enforceable under our labor laws or am I screwed until August 2003 that I should stay to avoid paying for the training? Or should I leave and just pay it? I would appreciate your advice, especially from any legal standpoint. Thank you.
The training did not take effect until 10 months later when the insurance demanded that I be sent for this Lear training OR ELSE, I would not be allowed to fly their airplane. Thus, I was sent to Simuflite last August for the type which cost the company $13500 + expenses. But on my first day of class, I was forced to sign a letter stating that I stay one year from my class completion date, and that if I leave before the year is up, that I would be liable for 1/12th of the cost monthly until the remaining months of the year has been paid back.
Now, an opportunity to work for another company has come up. Everything seems to be in order except for this one issue. Question: Should I stay or should I go? If I leave, will I be liable according to the letter I signed? Is this enforceable under our labor laws or am I screwed until August 2003 that I should stay to avoid paying for the training? Or should I leave and just pay it? I would appreciate your advice, especially from any legal standpoint. Thank you.