Hello guys,

This happened to me last year as I am currently serving my first year 2nd month of my training bond. I did not wanted to bring this up but I think there is no harm to let other people know. I also wanted to prepare myself if I wanted to switch job and therefore breaking the bond.

I am working in a Swiss Multinational Company for more than 7 years till date. It happened last autumn when my superior proposed me to go for oversea training. The training was 2 weeks in Zurich, Switzerland.

It happened two days before my flight to Zurich - my superior called me via phone and told me there might be an employee training bond for my training and 'it is very short, probably 1 year' as quoted. (I did not record the phone conversation)

Right after I came back, Human Resources Business Partner contacted me and asked me to sign on the Employee Training Bond Letter. And right away I told myself gosh, it was 3 years and by breaking the bond will have to pay USD14,000 equivalent of penalty in full.

I protested the letter, I said I was being told only 1 year. However, the respond from HRBP was "this is company procedure" and you have to follow it after tallying with the cost for the training.

However, I reluctant to place my signature at first. After being told by HRBP that the letter is still valid if you didn't sign on it and it may bring negative effect on me since I have went for the training but don't want to sign the letter. Then, I wanted to place a statement under my signature (sign in protest) but I was not allowed to write anything other than my signature.

And after being persuaded by superior that '3 years is not long' - just with a blink of an eye. I finally signed the letter.


This is a real story happened to me and I wish other people can really take this as lesson. Get written confirmation first -whenever there is involvement on your career be it new employment, training, etc.


Is there any relevant agency/authority that can assist employers on this matter?
Since I have signed, if I wanted to leave the company, is there any way or negotiation that I can pay just a portion amount of the contract?

seems pretty clear cut to me.

Since you already signed it, you have to work for 3 years or pay back $14k.

You should have resigned and not signed it. Too late to consider leaving now.

This post has been edited by Baconateer: Nov 27 2020, 12:39 PM

This basically.

Black and White, thus there are only one way trip for you

You can bring to labour department but I highly doubt you'd get much out of it. They may quite likely ask you to stay for the agreed 3yrs or pay the US$14,000 in full. Good luck mate!

Talk to your manager and hr to sort it out.

BTW, you know there is another 1+ years to go, why send in job applications to stress yourself ?

This was exactly what I thought now. As Covid-19 screwed some people's life. I am situated in a blessing in disguise situation. I'm looking things positively.