Training costs

[Chiv]

Hello all,
I joined a bus company just before Christmas and had bus driver training with them. I did sign a contract stating I would have to repay costs if I leave within 3 years. Do they have to provide a breakdown of the costs because I feel that the amount is disproportionate to the training recived. Also the contract was not explained to me before hand so I had already resigned from my previous job and had no choice but to sign.

Any advice will be gratefully received

[R0b]

Re: Training costs

Hello Chiv,

they should tell you what the costs are and how much you ned to repay. It is highly likely that if the amount to repay is not on a sliding scale it will not be enforceable. What i mean by that is if X pays £2,100 for your training then it would be usual for you to pay 80% if you leave within the first year, 60% the next, 40% after that etc. IF they say you leave any time within 3 years you owe £2,100 it will probably be classed as a penalty clause because they will have recovered some of those costs back over the 3 years through you working for them.

Are the training costs part of your job training or in addition to the standard training you would receive for the job?

[Chiv]

Re: Training costs

It was for the bus licence and it is on a sliding scale.
Thanks

[R0b]

Re: Training costs

Its likely that the clause will be enforceable if it is on a sliding scale then. I is quite common for employers to do this nowadays as people change jobs quite often in a short space of time.
So long as the training costs are not disproportionate then I don't think you will be able to argue that it is a penalty clause, although it is worth asking for them to explain how they have arrived at those costs.

[Chiv]

Re: Training costs

Yeah I have no problem paying but from my Investigations it looks as though they have added another 1700 on. So I will ask for a breakdown then.

Thanks