Company paid for a certification 3 years ago, now they want me to sign a payback agreement

Back in 2021 my employer paid $2,000 for me to get a project management certification. Now I'm looking at a job offer in Seattle that pays 30% more, and HR is saying I need to sign a paper promising to pay it back if I leave within 6 months. I never signed anything about this when they paid for it. Is this something they can actually enforce, or is it just a scare tactic? Has anyone else dealt with a company trying to retroactively add payback terms?

2 comments

2 Comments

lane.drew1mo ago

My gym pulled the same trick with annual memberships after you already paid.

wadea531mo ago

Yeah that whole "retroactive payback" thing sounds fishy to me. Actually reminds me of this time my buddy got a free Subway footlong coupon three years late and they tried to charge him for extra meat after he ate it. If you never signed anything upfront, they probably can't just spring that on you now especially with a six month window like that.

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