If the company doesnt have an agreement then thats their own fault, but if they do....just because its legal to enforce or not doesn't make it right. If you accepted the job then you should be true to your word whether you signed a legal document or not. I worked line service and instructed at my local FBO and eventually they paid for my type rating in a Beechjet for our very small charter department. The final bill was a little over 20k. We're a very small operation. Screwing them out of 20k would be pretty significant. I signed a 2 year contract. If Delta offered me a job....hell yea I'd accept it, but I'd also be legally and MORALLY obligated to reimburse my current company if I left early. I'd still come out ahead even after making payments. Whether its legal or not....you shouldn't accept a job if you don't plan on fulfilling the agreement or paying it back if you leave.