Q: Do I have to pay a relocation bonus back if the agreement wasn't sent to me until after I started working?
I moved to NC from NY. In my offer letter I was offered a $7500 relocation bonus unaware that it would have to be paid back. Accepted the job.. 30 days after starting, I emailed HR asking when I would receive the bonus. HR then emailed me an agreement to be signed about paying back the relocation bonus if I left before 2.5years of employment. If I was aware it had to be paid back I may have not of accepted the position because now I am looking to move back to NY and have to pay back the bonus. After taxes I received $4900. Ive only been working for the company for 3 months.
A: As long as you didn’t sign the agreement, you have strong argument that the additional terms requiring you to repay the relocation bonus are not part of your agreement
A: In North Carolina, generally, an offer without conditions must be honored as-is. The offering party doesn't have the right to impose conditions after the offer has already been accepted. However, an attorney would need to review the relevant documents and information (including the offer letter, the email exchanges, and the agreement) to be able to give a more definitive answer.
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