Originally Posted by
Soxfan1
I’d buy this argument more if taking the bonus was a mandatory requirement for employment. It is not. You can opt out completely or you can defer it until it fully vests.
I’d also buy this argument more if the company wasn’t allowing you to leave before 2 years at all. But you are free to go, and paying or not paying back the bonus is entirely up to what you decided to do day 1.
Let me ask a question. Some companies give employees free uniforms upfront but if you leave in certain amount of time you must then pay for them. And then they payroll deduct your last check to get their money back. Are you saying because you received something of value upfront that has a time requirement to it that this practice is illegal too?
+1 Absolutely. You chose to take the money before it was vested. You have a responsibility to pay it back if you don't meet your end of this contract for the voluntary bonus.
If you don't want to have to pay the bonus money back, you sign to defer until it is vested.