What are my obligations regarding a job that I took which required me to move but now I want to quit?
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What are my obligations regarding a job that I took which required me to move but now I want to quit?
About 2 weeks into the job, the move proved to difficult for my family. I did not sign a relocation contract and my offer letter didn’t have a repayment clause. My terms of employment are at will and per HR policy within the first 90 days can be terminated by either party without reason. My work over the 2 weeks has been highly praised. I spent a lot of money moving coming here to work and had full intention of staying. It’s just not in the cards. Am I at risk of being sued? If it would help, should I offer any unpaid wages as payment towards the relocation benefit or should I just leave it alone and see what they want?
Asked on December 5, 2015 under Employment Labor Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
The *only* circumstances under which you could be sued, if there was no relocation contract or repayment clause, would be if you received relocation assistance and/or a relocation bonus from the company and there was some evidence or reason to think that you never intended to keep the job but only took it so as to get the assistance or the bonus. In that case, if you never intended to keep the job but led the employer to believe that you would, you could potentially be considered to have committed fraud.
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