Why would this screw pilots? Nobody has to sign the contract, either don’t take the money, go somewhere without a contract, or abide by the terms. I don’t blame them for wanting their money back if you don’t abide by the terms.

Yes your correct, my statement was more to that contracts like those dont favor pilot except to comply completely with agreement or they will come after you.

I have a friend in the same situation. Left early 2019 as a direct entry captain owing back $12k. Would have been downgraded to FO Oct 1st, and not needed for the last 6 months. Literally saved the company money by leaving, now they are coming after the $12k.

Does it say anywhere in the contract that if them leaving saves the company money they don’t have to pay back the bonus?

No.
I honestly just this it is bad faith that the company is coming after former employees leaving a terrible situation, while taking government assistance to pay their current employees. Nothing surprises me with Envoy though. The whole direct entry thing as well as flow has proven to be a complete scam.

Isn’t it bad faith to sign an agreement, accept a bonus, leave before the agreed tenure was up, and try to not repay the remaining balance, as agreed?

This is a dumb argument. No one made them take the bonus.

Yeah know? I can understand someone trying to see if they can get away with not repaying the bonus after they leave early. Even more, can say I have no problem with that. And I originally took this thread to be just that, someone looking into "do I REALLY have to pay it back".

However, I do have a problem with someone acting like they've been screwed over by being made to repay that bonus. That was the terms of the deal. Get real.

I suppose if staying would have benefitted the company. But it wouldn't have and they are furloughing hundreds of pilots. Direct entry captains saved the company when they couldn't get enough captains during the absolute best times of the aviation industry due to a lack of experience FO group. They were literally forcing FO's to upgrade to captain when legal.

Are you just a contract enthusiast or do you love fighting the companies online battles? Not a dumb argument unless you are a company boot licker.

Your buddy signed a contract. The company is bleeding cash right now and are looking at pilots currently on the seniority list to take concessions to alleviate that. Meanwhile pilots no longer associated with the airline get to keep their $20k-$40k bonuses.

The devil went down to Georgia. He was looking for a soul to steal. He ended up out a fiddle of gold. He didn't like that idea, so he backed out of the contract.

That would've been a stupid song.