Pay back relocation expenses?

LEMental

Hi Everyone

Not sure where to post this kind of enquiry, so hope it's in the right place.

In April this year I accepted a job that required me to relocate. I was offered a generous relocation package and as I was going to be living on my own for the first time since leaving my wife in June 2013, I was keen to furnish my new flat, and also had to acquire all the basics like kitchen utensils, crockery etc. It was a leap of faith for me, but the reputation of this employer was very high, so I felt (naively) that all should be well, so I went and ended up spending the greater part of £5,000 that was the relocation package.

However, five months in, and the boss is a true tyrant, and what is worse, I am not being employed to do what was agreed or what I am very highly trained to do! There appears to be no prospect of the situation changing in the foreseeable future, and my mental and physical health is beginning to be affected, due to the intense stress I feel in my current position, and the weekly barrage of aggression many of us are subject to from the boss.

I feel terribly stupid having spent so much of their money, but as there isn't a payback clause, and they have treated me so badly, I'm not sure what will happen when I hand in my notice so early in my employment with them (I have been offered a job by another employer, doing what I am trained to do).

The only reference they made to the expenses package was in an email sent to me, which I have pasted below.

"Relocation expenses up to a total of £5,000 provided that these expenses are covered by receipts and are for:

A new residence within reasonable travelling distance of Stratford-upon-Avon
The new residence is either bought or rented by you
The cost of transporting your belongings to the new residence
Associated travel and subsistence costs
Domestic goods for the new premises e.g. fridge, cooker".

They also said that after the first three months, I will enter into a 3 month contract, which seems excessive for a job that carries less than a £35k salary!

So how much should/have I to pay back?
Any advice is most welcome.

PS. I do feel a certain amount of moral duty to pay back some of the money I've spent, but as I said, having been duped into a different role and the unreasonable behaviour of the boss, I do feel justified in claiming much of it as a form of 'compensation'.

Takeaway_Addict

Did you mean 3 months notice rather than contract?

If there is no payback clause then there is no moral issue or legal one. They may try and claim some of the money back from your last pay packet but this wouldn't be lawful.

pinkshoes

Have you actually tried raising a complaint to HR or your boss, asking for your work to be in line with your job description?

If you have an HR deoartment, perhaps go and speak to them regarding if any repayment is required, given you would only be leaving due to the job not matching the description.

System

pinkshoes wrote: »

Have you actually tried raising a complaint to HR or your boss, asking for your work to be in line with your job description?

If you have an HR department, perhaps go and speak to them regarding if any repayment is required, given you would only be leaving due to the job not matching the description.

I would suggest against taking issues to HR as they work for the company and not you!

I would not feel obligated morally (or otherwise) to repay a penny - they will likely just offset it against tax.

As regards your 3 month notice period, I would suggest looking for something else and if you get it before this kicks in then so much the better.

Otherwise, unless its a very specific job then I would be looking to (diplomatically) offer them no more than 1 months notice as they've essentially mislead your about the role.

It's likely to be better for all parties to move on even if they don't see it that way!