Employment contract requires return of all wages if fired. (Reddit)

[Courtesy Flush]

Yes, this could have been faked, so I'm posting this as much to ask if you guys know this to actually be happening as much as for the WTF value.

http://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/rw5x9/so_ive_received_a_job_offer_upon_graduation_but/

[pepperbear]

1. if it's true, it means that one could be fired on the last day of the contract after 2 years work.

right?

[Horse with no Name]

2. In a right to work state??

This is also known as "slavery".

I am pretty sure it is illegal...or at least it used to be.

Who the hell knows now?

[unblock]

3. this is legal only if there is reasonable non-salary compensation (which i suspect is not the case)

this clause might make sense in the employment contract of a big-time ceo who's also getting stock options, bonus, commission maybe, company car, and other forms of compensation.

otherwise it runs afoul of the 13th amendment, minimum wage laws, etc.

if one trusts the legal system and likes to live dangerously, one could sign such a contract, in the understanding that this clause is not legal and therefore unenforceable, notwithstanding that you agreed to it.

however, any labor lawyer will tell you you're far better off having a candid, mutually trustworthy, and commercially reasonable understanding. if presented with this, i would simply strike the paragraph and make any other revisions and submit it back to the employer.

if the contract can't be negotiated, this is a major fail as far as i'm concerned. big companies love to present you with pre-printed contracts for you to sign and pretend that you can't negotiate them. you get. don't let them intimidate you or make you feel like your the one causing a problem. they are.

[chowder66]

4. Found one explanation....

excerpt:
"Bonds of this type are required for employees who handle cash, securities or other valuable things. Since the bonding company is going to be on the hook for whatever might happen up to the policy limits, you can be assured that the bonding company is going to look over the applicant’s record--criminal, civil and financial real carefully before deciding to write the bond.

If there is a loss, the company pays the insured and then goes after the person bonded to recover whatever was stolen, assuming that it can be found and the thief can be found as well."

http://askville.amazon.com/bonded-job/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=17386569

[notadmblnd]

6. somthing like that shouldn't hold up in a court.

I worked for a company that made their employees sign a 10k promissory note if the went through the system engineer program an then left. More than one employee sued, the company lost.

[WingDinger]

7. They tried pulling that shit on me.

Job meant moving 400 miles. they agreed to moving expenses, and a wage. Then, when the papers arrived, it said, the moving expenses were to be provided after the two years, if I was kept. I said, that the lack of faith in me, was more than I had bargained for, verbatim. that they could shove me out, at one day before, and I would be in deep shit. They said, that was their standard contract. I never even gave themn an answer on the offer. FUCK THEM.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Is this the 21st century?

It reads like a modified indenture contract.

[malaise]

10. It is

Still shaking head.
The Chinese and Indian models are spreading.

[Marrah_G]

9. I think that would be considered illegal