A Job Offer with a Fee?
December 3, 2013 5:39 AM Subscribe
I just received a job offer yesterday at the place of business that I temp at. It requires that I stay there for at least one year, or else I must pay a fee. I like the thought of having full-time work with benefits and am very thankful, but I don't feel that I fit in the city I'm in currently and didn't see myself staying for another year. But I have to be careful about any risks I take with leaving my job because I don't have a family (as they were abusive) or anyone to rely on financially should things go south. Is this a good deal? Should I take this job?
Hi Mefites, I come once again to the Green in search of your wisdom and advice. I have been temping for 6 months and received a job offer yesterday at Company X. I am having mixed feelings and have to decide by 5 pm tomorrow what to do. Let me try to lay out as much info as I can.
To give some background:
-I was told by the temp agency that I needed to temp for 3 months and then would be given an offer. 3 months came and no offer. I called and the agency said I was close but needed a few more hours. A month passed and people were wondering why I wasn't hired yet, as they were positive to me working there. This went back and forth- me calling the agency and talking to HR/ my boss, wondering when an offer would be made. Finally 2 weeks ago, I hear from my boss that I now need 6 months instead of 3, which perplexed my boss as well. They (the temp agency/HR) retroactively changed that without discussing with me. And, apparently, no one else who was temp-to-hire had to wait that long. So 6 months came and they made me an offer.
So, about the offer:
-The offer itself includes a slight pay raise & benefits, including good insurance and 401k. According to my boss, I impressed the higher ups and they were fighting over who I report to. I remembered that and asked for a slightly higher rate, so I'll hear back soon what they decide since they know I have to accept/decline soon.
-My difficulty with the offer is that Company X requires that I stay for one year, or else pay a repayment fee to the Company for hiring me from the temp agency. I talked to HR yesterday and they said it is non-negotiable. They said they require that of everyone they hire from temp agencies. My repayment fee (again, if I leave before one year) is $3,000, or $250 per month for 12 months. The longer I stay, the less I would pay if I left. For example, if I left after 6 months, I would pay $1500. It decreases by $250 a month. Is this a good deal? I've never heard of this before. I don't want to pay anything in this fashion- it seems like it's just money they're taking from me if I leave. After a year the fee is paid and I could leave with no fee.
-My problem with staying for a year is that I've been having a hard time fitting in Seattle. Since I came, I didn't think it was the best fit for me personally. I miss Chicago and New York a lot- the faster pace, good transit, more people and diversity. I have met some wonderful people here (including Mefites!) who seem to be true progressives, which has made my time here that much richer and made me feel more welcome after some racism here. But ultimately I'm not sure it's the right city for me. I saw myself leaving in Spring to go to New York.
-But my other difficulty is that I need to be careful about any big financial decisions I make. I don't have a family to fall back on if I should run out of money, as they were abusive and I cut off ties with them. But I do have good savings.
-If I do take the job and stay for a year and then move to New York, I would be almost 28. Is 28 too old to start over in New York? I guess I feel like I have less of my 20s left to find my way and wonder how socially acceptable that would be as I approach my 30s.
-I wonder if it would reflect poorly on me to future employers in New York if I were to leave a full-time job after a year, compared to leaving a temp job. Would that actually look worse?
-If I were to decline the offer, I don't doubt that Company X would bring in someone else (perhaps the next day) and have me train them. HR said this to me when I asked what would happen if I hypothetically turned it down. That would probably last a week at most to stay on and train the next person and then I would have to get another job. I don't have another job lined up, so I would have to find something else really quickly if I wanted to go that route of quitting there and finding another job that doesn't have that time requirement so I can leave when I'm ready without paying a fee.
So, I think that lays out all sides of it. My heart sinks at the thought of putting off New York for another year. But it feels secure to have a job so I can save and prepare more for my move. And maybe if I gave Seattle more time I could find more people here who I get along well with. But I worry about putting off my hopes. I am very conflicted about what to do. Do you have any thoughts about the offer, kind Mefites? Any help is much appreciated.
Hi Mefites, I come once again to the Green in search of your wisdom and advice. I have been temping for 6 months and received a job offer yesterday at Company X. I am having mixed feelings and have to decide by 5 pm tomorrow what to do. Let me try to lay out as much info as I can.
To give some background:
-I was told by the temp agency that I needed to temp for 3 months and then would be given an offer. 3 months came and no offer. I called and the agency said I was close but needed a few more hours. A month passed and people were wondering why I wasn't hired yet, as they were positive to me working there. This went back and forth- me calling the agency and talking to HR/ my boss, wondering when an offer would be made. Finally 2 weeks ago, I hear from my boss that I now need 6 months instead of 3, which perplexed my boss as well. They (the temp agency/HR) retroactively changed that without discussing with me. And, apparently, no one else who was temp-to-hire had to wait that long. So 6 months came and they made me an offer.
So, about the offer:
-The offer itself includes a slight pay raise & benefits, including good insurance and 401k. According to my boss, I impressed the higher ups and they were fighting over who I report to. I remembered that and asked for a slightly higher rate, so I'll hear back soon what they decide since they know I have to accept/decline soon.
-My difficulty with the offer is that Company X requires that I stay for one year, or else pay a repayment fee to the Company for hiring me from the temp agency. I talked to HR yesterday and they said it is non-negotiable. They said they require that of everyone they hire from temp agencies. My repayment fee (again, if I leave before one year) is $3,000, or $250 per month for 12 months. The longer I stay, the less I would pay if I left. For example, if I left after 6 months, I would pay $1500. It decreases by $250 a month. Is this a good deal? I've never heard of this before. I don't want to pay anything in this fashion- it seems like it's just money they're taking from me if I leave. After a year the fee is paid and I could leave with no fee.
-My problem with staying for a year is that I've been having a hard time fitting in Seattle. Since I came, I didn't think it was the best fit for me personally. I miss Chicago and New York a lot- the faster pace, good transit, more people and diversity. I have met some wonderful people here (including Mefites!) who seem to be true progressives, which has made my time here that much richer and made me feel more welcome after some racism here. But ultimately I'm not sure it's the right city for me. I saw myself leaving in Spring to go to New York.
-But my other difficulty is that I need to be careful about any big financial decisions I make. I don't have a family to fall back on if I should run out of money, as they were abusive and I cut off ties with them. But I do have good savings.
-If I do take the job and stay for a year and then move to New York, I would be almost 28. Is 28 too old to start over in New York? I guess I feel like I have less of my 20s left to find my way and wonder how socially acceptable that would be as I approach my 30s.
-I wonder if it would reflect poorly on me to future employers in New York if I were to leave a full-time job after a year, compared to leaving a temp job. Would that actually look worse?
-If I were to decline the offer, I don't doubt that Company X would bring in someone else (perhaps the next day) and have me train them. HR said this to me when I asked what would happen if I hypothetically turned it down. That would probably last a week at most to stay on and train the next person and then I would have to get another job. I don't have another job lined up, so I would have to find something else really quickly if I wanted to go that route of quitting there and finding another job that doesn't have that time requirement so I can leave when I'm ready without paying a fee.
So, I think that lays out all sides of it. My heart sinks at the thought of putting off New York for another year. But it feels secure to have a job so I can save and prepare more for my move. And maybe if I gave Seattle more time I could find more people here who I get along well with. But I worry about putting off my hopes. I am very conflicted about what to do. Do you have any thoughts about the offer, kind Mefites? Any help is much appreciated.
Best answer: Yuck - but it may be legal under Washington state laws (not a lawyer). I've worked with similar arrangements, but back then (they near full employment times of the 90s) the employer tried to do their best to keep the employee and ate the fee (generally the cost of "buying" you from the temp agency).
How much money do you have saved up now, today, to go back to New York? Figure that into your calculus of paying the fee when you do leave based on continued employment now and what you'll 'owe' when you leave. It may be non-negotiable now, but it might not be non-negotiable when you leave.
Bird in the hand, while you feather your next nest to (stir fry a couple of aphorisms).
posted by tilde at 5:52 AM on December 3, 2013
How much money do you have saved up now, today, to go back to New York? Figure that into your calculus of paying the fee when you do leave based on continued employment now and what you'll 'owe' when you leave. It may be non-negotiable now, but it might not be non-negotiable when you leave.
Bird in the hand, while you feather your next nest to (stir fry a couple of aphorisms).
posted by tilde at 5:52 AM on December 3, 2013
Best answer: Temp agencies have clauses in their contracts that require their clients to pay them if they hire away a temp employee. So the company wanting to be sure you will stick around and wanting to be made whole if you don't is not unusual. It's the way it works in the temp world. Whether or not they will really try to collect is an open question.
Are you sure that its something specific to Seattle that is driving your malaise about being there? At a certain level, a big city is a big city. Before moving across country again it might behoove you to make sure that the problem really is Seattle, and not something that will follow you to NY.
posted by COD at 5:53 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Are you sure that its something specific to Seattle that is driving your malaise about being there? At a certain level, a big city is a big city. Before moving across country again it might behoove you to make sure that the problem really is Seattle, and not something that will follow you to NY.
posted by COD at 5:53 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Take the job. A year goes very quickly, if you decide to stay the full year. And 28 is not too old to start over in NYC.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 5:53 AM on December 3, 2013 [13 favorites]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 5:53 AM on December 3, 2013 [13 favorites]
Best answer: PS - At 30 I was looking at law school (ultimately did something else) so no, another year is, from the rear view mirror perspective, not going to make it too late or you too old. But I also had about 10 more years than you broken off from most of my family, though I still had a few here and there to call on if needed.
posted by tilde at 5:54 AM on December 3, 2013
posted by tilde at 5:54 AM on December 3, 2013
Best answer: I'm a little confused here: the HR department you've been talking to --- is that the temp agency HR department, or the full-time job's HR? But either way, this all sounds kind of shady to me, everything from the way the temp agency has been leading you on and changing the rules mid-stream to this repayment fee business. If I was you, I'd not only pass on the repayment-fee job but also leave this particular temp agency entirely.
Re: your temp agency boss being perplexed by things like the agency's 3 months/6 months rule change: remember, he works for the temp agency, not for you --- frankly, this guy sounds more like a sleezy bait & switch used car salesman than an honest employer.
posted by easily confused at 5:56 AM on December 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Re: your temp agency boss being perplexed by things like the agency's 3 months/6 months rule change: remember, he works for the temp agency, not for you --- frankly, this guy sounds more like a sleezy bait & switch used car salesman than an honest employer.
posted by easily confused at 5:56 AM on December 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: What? I have never heard of companies trying to pass on their agency fees to the employee. What happens if you get sick and have to stop working? Or they fire you? Do you still have to pay the fee?
I would think very carefully before I agreed to something like this, at the very least try to find a legal hotline so you can ask the question. It's part of their cost of doing business and they get to try you out for 3 months (now 6) and you have been working like a full time employee with zero benefits so they have been saving money.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:57 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would think very carefully before I agreed to something like this, at the very least try to find a legal hotline so you can ask the question. It's part of their cost of doing business and they get to try you out for 3 months (now 6) and you have been working like a full time employee with zero benefits so they have been saving money.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 5:57 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: " full time employee with zero benefits so they have been saving money "
Sort of. Right now the OP is a paperclip - so her 'cost' goes somewhere else in the paper clips pile instead of the employee pile of money.
I know a lot of people are being tripped up by this fee thing - in some cases a contract with a temp agency is written for 3 months (more for 6 months to 9 months now) - the paperclip works for the company through the agency at the agency rate (say $65 an hour so the employee takes home $35) for X months. At the end of that term, the paperclip is hired, and the agency can take a fee (or if it's sooner, the agency takes a higher fee equivalent to that $30 an hour of 'lost time') for getting the employee in there.
The final company requiring the employee to pay it back if they leave before X time has passed sounds to me like I've seen for other company-paid resources: Stay at least a year or pay back relocation expenses. Stay at least a year or pay back what we paid for our MBA. In case of firings or layoffs - firing was a case-by-case basis IIRC, layoffs negated any "payback" penalty as far as I was told.
In this economy I'm not really surprised that they're putting temp agency fees on the employee as well. :( I recently was negotiating with a company they were pretty much putting it the same way - I had to work for them through the agency for 6 months, then I had to stay on at least a year after that as an employee. (I'd worked for them previously for the better part of a decade so it was a no brainer that I'd stay on). They have had in place the same policy for relocation expenses and education expenses. I actually had a few co workers back in the day hire on to work for the company, get relocated, and quit a little over a year later now that they'd been moved to this part of the country.
posted by tilde at 6:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sort of. Right now the OP is a paperclip - so her 'cost' goes somewhere else in the paper clips pile instead of the employee pile of money.
I know a lot of people are being tripped up by this fee thing - in some cases a contract with a temp agency is written for 3 months (more for 6 months to 9 months now) - the paperclip works for the company through the agency at the agency rate (say $65 an hour so the employee takes home $35) for X months. At the end of that term, the paperclip is hired, and the agency can take a fee (or if it's sooner, the agency takes a higher fee equivalent to that $30 an hour of 'lost time') for getting the employee in there.
The final company requiring the employee to pay it back if they leave before X time has passed sounds to me like I've seen for other company-paid resources: Stay at least a year or pay back relocation expenses. Stay at least a year or pay back what we paid for our MBA. In case of firings or layoffs - firing was a case-by-case basis IIRC, layoffs negated any "payback" penalty as far as I was told.
In this economy I'm not really surprised that they're putting temp agency fees on the employee as well. :( I recently was negotiating with a company they were pretty much putting it the same way - I had to work for them through the agency for 6 months, then I had to stay on at least a year after that as an employee. (I'd worked for them previously for the better part of a decade so it was a no brainer that I'd stay on). They have had in place the same policy for relocation expenses and education expenses. I actually had a few co workers back in the day hire on to work for the company, get relocated, and quit a little over a year later now that they'd been moved to this part of the country.
posted by tilde at 6:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Call the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Employment Standards Office to find out if this is legal or enforceable. If you refuse to pay in the end, you might expect that you aren't going to get a good reference.
I don't think this sort of indentured servitude is a great way to treat your employees in general though and it doesn't give me a good feeling. If there were another job available I would take that but you can decide whether this is better or worse.
posted by grouse at 6:07 AM on December 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
I don't think this sort of indentured servitude is a great way to treat your employees in general though and it doesn't give me a good feeling. If there were another job available I would take that but you can decide whether this is better or worse.
posted by grouse at 6:07 AM on December 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Let's commit to staying in Seattle for 1 year. I don't think you'll regret that. You have a job you like and you're settling in. You have housing, you're making friends, etc.
New York will be there in January 2015 too.
How great is it that you have a permanant job with bennies!
You haven't made Seattle your home yet. I suggest that you give it a try. Sign a year lease, take that job for a year and really set your mind to making it work where you are.
One year down the road, you'll be in a MUCH better position to move to New York, if you even still want to do that!
In that year, take a vacation to New York, with an eye towards moving there. You had some great experiences previously, but living and working in a new place is a "hole nother" thing entirely. It's funny, but you may have conflated the experience you had on vacation in New York into something that is impossible to live up to as a resident of New York.
Bloom where you're planted.
As for the legality of the "pay back the recruiting fee" that's out of my wheelhouse, so you may want to investigate that.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:11 AM on December 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
New York will be there in January 2015 too.
How great is it that you have a permanant job with bennies!
You haven't made Seattle your home yet. I suggest that you give it a try. Sign a year lease, take that job for a year and really set your mind to making it work where you are.
One year down the road, you'll be in a MUCH better position to move to New York, if you even still want to do that!
In that year, take a vacation to New York, with an eye towards moving there. You had some great experiences previously, but living and working in a new place is a "hole nother" thing entirely. It's funny, but you may have conflated the experience you had on vacation in New York into something that is impossible to live up to as a resident of New York.
Bloom where you're planted.
As for the legality of the "pay back the recruiting fee" that's out of my wheelhouse, so you may want to investigate that.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:11 AM on December 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
Best answer: I've done a "fee for leaving before a year" gig before. It's common in entry-level-ish jobs, especially ones where people are liable to work for a few months, decide "I can do better than this!" and flee the coop. There's really no reason not to take it... you can do a year of ANYTHING, and this will be better than, say, a year of jail, or a year of Siberia.
posted by julthumbscrew at 6:17 AM on December 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by julthumbscrew at 6:17 AM on December 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: -I wonder if it would reflect poorly on me to future employers in New York if I were to leave a full-time job after a year, compared to leaving a temp job. Would that actually look worse?
If you decide to stay, it sounds like your potential bosses like you and would potentially provide great references.
If they like you that much, you may want to consider whether there are other job skills that you want and go after those too at your work place (some workplaces are open to this and offer anything from training to classes, or even let you take on a new project that requires new skills). If your bosses like you they are usually more open to this. But this is something to consider if you stay, in that you may make yourself an even better candidate for another job.
A yr later, you can tell potential employers in Chicago or NY (whatever personal story as to why you were there for a year) plus how you are moving to NY/Chicago because you see it as a better fit.
So why would they turn down 1) person in front of us has the skills we want 2) will learn new things 3) great references 4) potential great fit and gave a logical reason as to why they left before and may stay here?
But it is how you tell the story.
Good luck.
posted by Wolfster at 6:20 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you decide to stay, it sounds like your potential bosses like you and would potentially provide great references.
If they like you that much, you may want to consider whether there are other job skills that you want and go after those too at your work place (some workplaces are open to this and offer anything from training to classes, or even let you take on a new project that requires new skills). If your bosses like you they are usually more open to this. But this is something to consider if you stay, in that you may make yourself an even better candidate for another job.
A yr later, you can tell potential employers in Chicago or NY (whatever personal story as to why you were there for a year) plus how you are moving to NY/Chicago because you see it as a better fit.
So why would they turn down 1) person in front of us has the skills we want 2) will learn new things 3) great references 4) potential great fit and gave a logical reason as to why they left before and may stay here?
But it is how you tell the story.
Good luck.
posted by Wolfster at 6:20 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I don't know if it's enforceable, but I can see why they're doing it. Temp agencies make their money by basically sucking places like this into depending on you, and then trying to get them to pay an exorbitant amount of money to keep you on. And that's on top of the usually about 50% premium the place was paying on your wages already. The $3k may not actually be the full amount of what they're paying.
It's not a huge vote of confidence in how the business is doing that they don't think you're worth basically paying an extra $3k a year, but on the other hand, it's also not particularly hard to stay for a year. If you had to commit to longer than that, I know it might be tough, but how long have you been there already? It's only twice that. And if you make it six months, it's $1500. Which they may or may not really try to collect. Make it ten and it's $500. You could probably just put a bit of money into a savings account--I wouldn't cut them a check though until they actually made a serious attempt to collect it, after. But the job will look better on your resume if you've been there at least a year and a half, anyway.
If you're going to agree to anything to this effect, I would say my only caution would be to make sure that they're willing to add the caveat that if they lay *you* off, you don't owe them anything.
This is basically why temp agencies are a bit of a scam, but when you're in the middle of it--if I was you I'd just take it because it'd be far easier than finding another job, but I think you're totally right to find it skeezy, because it is.
posted by Sequence at 6:42 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's not a huge vote of confidence in how the business is doing that they don't think you're worth basically paying an extra $3k a year, but on the other hand, it's also not particularly hard to stay for a year. If you had to commit to longer than that, I know it might be tough, but how long have you been there already? It's only twice that. And if you make it six months, it's $1500. Which they may or may not really try to collect. Make it ten and it's $500. You could probably just put a bit of money into a savings account--I wouldn't cut them a check though until they actually made a serious attempt to collect it, after. But the job will look better on your resume if you've been there at least a year and a half, anyway.
If you're going to agree to anything to this effect, I would say my only caution would be to make sure that they're willing to add the caveat that if they lay *you* off, you don't owe them anything.
This is basically why temp agencies are a bit of a scam, but when you're in the middle of it--if I was you I'd just take it because it'd be far easier than finding another job, but I think you're totally right to find it skeezy, because it is.
posted by Sequence at 6:42 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Oh, I remember you from your previous questions! It's great that you got an offer like this, even if it's a little odd.
My recommendation would be to take it. I say this as a person who currently lives in NYC. If you spend another year there (and you'll be able to put it down as 16 months on your resume, which isn't a terrible tenure for a job in your 20s), you'll be moving to New York with more savings, more experience in an office environment, and more experience just making it work in a big city. Believe me when I say it's hard to find your people here, too- I'm only just starting to, really, and I'm on year three here!
I agree with others above who say it sounds like you haven't really committed to the idea of Seattle. No city is going to be perfect, and it would be good practice to really commit to discovering what you love about the place, just for a year.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
My recommendation would be to take it. I say this as a person who currently lives in NYC. If you spend another year there (and you'll be able to put it down as 16 months on your resume, which isn't a terrible tenure for a job in your 20s), you'll be moving to New York with more savings, more experience in an office environment, and more experience just making it work in a big city. Believe me when I say it's hard to find your people here, too- I'm only just starting to, really, and I'm on year three here!
I agree with others above who say it sounds like you haven't really committed to the idea of Seattle. No city is going to be perfect, and it would be good practice to really commit to discovering what you love about the place, just for a year.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Lemme ask you this. You say the plan was to relocate to New York in the spring. But - do you have the money TO do that? I'm guessing no. So you can look at this as - you'll work there for a year, so as to GET the money to relocate. And then if you stay a full year, you'll have that much more money for relocating with, PLUS you won't have had to pay a fee.
As for whether 28 is "too late" for New York - I'm screening for new roommates right now, many of whom are moving to New York for the first time at much older ages than you. You're fine.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:08 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
As for whether 28 is "too late" for New York - I'm screening for new roommates right now, many of whom are moving to New York for the first time at much older ages than you. You're fine.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:08 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I would say take the job. Every month, do your damnedest to sock that $250/month away in a savings account. Think of it as your Fuck You money; the money you need to escape the indentured servitude they've got you locked into. At six months, you can walk away clear, if it's a really terrible place, and six months is nothing; in the meantime, you'll have bought yourself enough time to really make a plan for how to get to New York if you want to. At the end of the year, if you stick around, you'll have a $3000 nest egg, and a lot more freedom. You'll be able to move wherever you want (or take a better job in Seattle) and you won't even be thirty yet!
posted by pretentious illiterate at 7:09 AM on December 3, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 7:09 AM on December 3, 2013 [10 favorites]
Best answer: Look at it this way: If you quit now, there's a good chance you'll blow through $3,000 (or more) in savings between the time you quit and the time you find a new job. So you can blow through it now, or you can risk the possibility of having to blow through it later, but with more cash in the bank and maybe a great offer waiting for you.
I'd take the job, intend to stay for the full year, at least, and keep an eye on opportunities in NYC. If something great comes along you can eat the $3,000, if not, 28 isn't too late to relocate and you'll be making some money and gaining some experience in the meantime. This seems like a no-brainer to me.
(I am not commenting on the legality of the fee situation, BTW - it may be legal, but I certainly think it's unethical. Still, this is a practical decision and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.)
posted by breakin' the law at 7:19 AM on December 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'd take the job, intend to stay for the full year, at least, and keep an eye on opportunities in NYC. If something great comes along you can eat the $3,000, if not, 28 isn't too late to relocate and you'll be making some money and gaining some experience in the meantime. This seems like a no-brainer to me.
(I am not commenting on the legality of the fee situation, BTW - it may be legal, but I certainly think it's unethical. Still, this is a practical decision and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.)
posted by breakin' the law at 7:19 AM on December 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You could ask for the year clock to start ticking from three months ago. But, if you're entry level, they kind of have you over a barrel. Your one trump card is that they like you (don't negotiate yourself out of this) and they don't want to go find another one of you.
I agree, though, take the job. Worry about the fee later. Get at least a year of working in. Congrats!
posted by amanda at 7:20 AM on December 3, 2013
I agree, though, take the job. Worry about the fee later. Get at least a year of working in. Congrats!
posted by amanda at 7:20 AM on December 3, 2013
Best answer: Another thing: if you take the job and end up leaving in, say, six months, maybe you can negotiate the fee. Maybe they won't, or can't, collect it. You don't really know - but what you do know is that if you quit, you won't have any money coming in and you'll have to rely on savings now. The potential downside of quitting is just much greater than the potential downside of taking the job.
posted by breakin' the law at 7:23 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by breakin' the law at 7:23 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It's not that uncommon for businesses that expend cash up front on new employees (moving expenses, training, etc.) to have a repayment fee if the employee leaves. At least they're kind enough to prorate it. The fact that you're seriously considering leaving in the near future shows why they have to worry and have a policy like this (which isn't a slam against you, but they have to act in their own best interest too).
As far as whether they can get the money out of you, I suspect it would be automatically deducted from your last paycheck.
Unless you are imminently employable and can land something else in under a month, I would take the job in this economy.
posted by Candleman at 8:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
As far as whether they can get the money out of you, I suspect it would be automatically deducted from your last paycheck.
Unless you are imminently employable and can land something else in under a month, I would take the job in this economy.
posted by Candleman at 8:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I moved to NYC to start over when I was 27, left after a few years, and moved back when I was 34. I felt old both times, but the ticking clock was only in my head. Here's why: no one actually knows how old I am until I tell them. (And I look a bit younger than I am, so people are usually surprised when they find out my true age.) You're only too old to start over at 28 if you think you are.
You may want to think a little more about why you think people will look askance at you being 28, and who those people are, and if there's a way to mitigate it. For instance, are you worried potential employers will think you're unaccomplished for your age? Worried that everyone in your age bracket will be partnered with children? Etc.
The other thing to consider is that the trappings of an adult life in NYC are not necessarily the same as those in other cities. For instance, many people here have roommates well into their 30s and 40s out of financial necessity. Plenty of people put off having kids because it's expensive, or they don't have room. Others have pets instead of children. For every person in a high-paying, high-powered career, there's someone that same age (often with the same education!) who's a receptionist or a server and doing something creative on the side.
There are many reasons to move to NYC, and many reasons not to, but at 28, your age shouldn't be one of them.
P.S. Take the job.
posted by serialcomma at 8:14 AM on December 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
You may want to think a little more about why you think people will look askance at you being 28, and who those people are, and if there's a way to mitigate it. For instance, are you worried potential employers will think you're unaccomplished for your age? Worried that everyone in your age bracket will be partnered with children? Etc.
The other thing to consider is that the trappings of an adult life in NYC are not necessarily the same as those in other cities. For instance, many people here have roommates well into their 30s and 40s out of financial necessity. Plenty of people put off having kids because it's expensive, or they don't have room. Others have pets instead of children. For every person in a high-paying, high-powered career, there's someone that same age (often with the same education!) who's a receptionist or a server and doing something creative on the side.
There are many reasons to move to NYC, and many reasons not to, but at 28, your age shouldn't be one of them.
P.S. Take the job.
posted by serialcomma at 8:14 AM on December 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
Best answer: If you want to talk to someone about the legalisty, there is the King County Bar Association Pro Bono page and King County Department of Public Defense links.
Assuming the repayment is legal, I think you should take the job, save as much money as you can for your safety net, and get enough therapy so that when you can afford to move to Chicago, you are really ready to make the most of it. (From previous questions, I remember that you like Chicago best but had some fears associated with it. Go where you like best, when you're strong enough to manage the fear.) You've lived in Chicago before, so you both know you actually like it there and you will have some friends there already.
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:39 AM on December 3, 2013
Assuming the repayment is legal, I think you should take the job, save as much money as you can for your safety net, and get enough therapy so that when you can afford to move to Chicago, you are really ready to make the most of it. (From previous questions, I remember that you like Chicago best but had some fears associated with it. Go where you like best, when you're strong enough to manage the fear.) You've lived in Chicago before, so you both know you actually like it there and you will have some friends there already.
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:39 AM on December 3, 2013
Best answer: Take the job.
Don't do direct deposit of your paychecks.
Stay for a year or as long as you can.
The "fee" would likely come out of your last paycheck. If the balance due is greater than your last paycheck, I highly doubt they would expend the cost of going after you for such a small amount.
posted by WeekendJen at 10:24 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Don't do direct deposit of your paychecks.
Stay for a year or as long as you can.
The "fee" would likely come out of your last paycheck. If the balance due is greater than your last paycheck, I highly doubt they would expend the cost of going after you for such a small amount.
posted by WeekendJen at 10:24 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: My guess is that the fee is to reimburse them for the fee they have to pay the temp agency for hiring you.
If you really like this job, I would just commit to a year. If there was some pressing reason you could not commit for a year (going back to school, maternity leave, concrete plans to relocate for Reasons), that would be one thing, but that doesn't seem to be the case. While it sounds like you are considering moving to New York, you don't appear to have any firm plans one way or the other. You're not putting off New York for a year, you're putting it off for like three months maybe. People don't relocate across the country on a whim over a weekend.
What I would do in this situation is hunker down, save your money, and consider this your year to get all your ducks in a row to move to New York. Visit to check out neighborhoods. Do your research. Reach out to potential career resources out there. Figure out the logistics of how you are going to move your entire life cross-country. Really do it right. Then, on day 366, get on that plane to New York with confidence.
FWIW there is no appreciable difference between moving to New York at 28 and moving to New York at 29.
posted by Sara C. at 11:37 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you really like this job, I would just commit to a year. If there was some pressing reason you could not commit for a year (going back to school, maternity leave, concrete plans to relocate for Reasons), that would be one thing, but that doesn't seem to be the case. While it sounds like you are considering moving to New York, you don't appear to have any firm plans one way or the other. You're not putting off New York for a year, you're putting it off for like three months maybe. People don't relocate across the country on a whim over a weekend.
What I would do in this situation is hunker down, save your money, and consider this your year to get all your ducks in a row to move to New York. Visit to check out neighborhoods. Do your research. Reach out to potential career resources out there. Figure out the logistics of how you are going to move your entire life cross-country. Really do it right. Then, on day 366, get on that plane to New York with confidence.
FWIW there is no appreciable difference between moving to New York at 28 and moving to New York at 29.
posted by Sara C. at 11:37 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: They probably have to pay the temp agency. Tell them a) time already worked for them should count. b) if they ask you to leave for any reason, will they be paying *you*? And decide if it's worth it. No idea if it's enforceable, or worth fighting of enforced. Maybe don't take it if you don't want it?
posted by theora55 at 12:06 PM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 12:06 PM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Take the job. Stash $60pw away in an account. Then if you want to leave before the year is up, you have your repayment fee ready. If you stay the year you will have $3000 in savings to help you move somewhere else. Win win!
posted by Kerasia at 1:52 PM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Kerasia at 1:52 PM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Dear Mefites,
Thank you so much for all of your advice and support. I can't say how much I appreciate you all taking the time to really read my question and give such helpful answers. :)
I was thinking long and hard today, reading everyone's responses and looking at my goals, and I'm thinking about taking the job and just eating the fee with my savings if I am ready to leave before the year is up. Breakin' the Law is right, the minute I quit, I don't have any money coming in, and I remember how hard it was for me to even find this temp job. And, chances are I'll spend around $3,000 until I find another job. I can use this time to really put my head down and research New York so that when that day comes, I can hit the ground running.
I did contact the Employment Standards Office and haven't heard back (but left a message), so I am curious as to what the law is. And I talked with HR (at Company X) and they said that the repayment fee is for voluntary termination only, and in the case of emergencies, they would be open to discuss it before requiring payment. That leads me to believe that perhaps it can be negotiable down the road if I pay my dues and am tactful. And I have some good news- I got a raise from the initial offer.
So, I am going to do the practical thing for now and rely on my savings to eat the fee (if it's under a year) once I'm ready and prepared. I'll probably be back on here asking questions about New York.
Thanks so much, everyone, for your help. It really goes a long way. :) Take care.
posted by independence under the radar at 8:42 PM on December 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Thank you so much for all of your advice and support. I can't say how much I appreciate you all taking the time to really read my question and give such helpful answers. :)
I was thinking long and hard today, reading everyone's responses and looking at my goals, and I'm thinking about taking the job and just eating the fee with my savings if I am ready to leave before the year is up. Breakin' the Law is right, the minute I quit, I don't have any money coming in, and I remember how hard it was for me to even find this temp job. And, chances are I'll spend around $3,000 until I find another job. I can use this time to really put my head down and research New York so that when that day comes, I can hit the ground running.
I did contact the Employment Standards Office and haven't heard back (but left a message), so I am curious as to what the law is. And I talked with HR (at Company X) and they said that the repayment fee is for voluntary termination only, and in the case of emergencies, they would be open to discuss it before requiring payment. That leads me to believe that perhaps it can be negotiable down the road if I pay my dues and am tactful. And I have some good news- I got a raise from the initial offer.
So, I am going to do the practical thing for now and rely on my savings to eat the fee (if it's under a year) once I'm ready and prepared. I'll probably be back on here asking questions about New York.
Thanks so much, everyone, for your help. It really goes a long way. :) Take care.
posted by independence under the radar at 8:42 PM on December 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
*Since the job comes with a raise and benefits, you really need to run the numbers for yourself. It could be that the raise does not cover your benefit costs, and you'll be taking home less money per paycheck, which is sometimes not a good deal unless you have expensive medical problems. If that's the case, stick with the temp agency and buy your insurance on the open market.
posted by juniperesque at 5:50 AM on December 3, 2013