Jacksonville, NC asked in Employment Law for North Carolina

Q: Can I be forced to pay back EARNED (not overage) wages and salary for terminating my employment?

I was hired and signed an employment contract and it is saying that I must pay back all earned wages for hours I worked during what they refer to as training cycles. I am an employee who has resigned due to poor leadership and poor training, but the employer is telling me I now owe them 27,000$ for my wages between September 2022 (classroom job training) and the end of on-the-job training (during which I completed actual work with a supervisor alongside me). I've made a complaint to the DOL but am waiting for action. They offer a payment plan to pay back the fees at 100$/month but with a 10% APR as well.

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1 Lawyer Answer
N'kia (NLN)
N'kia (NLN)
Answered
  • Cary, NC
  • Licensed in North Carolina

A: In theory, an employee may be required to pay back an employer. But if a contract clause is unreasonable or violates a specific law, it might not be enforceable. An attorney would need to review the contract to be able to thoroughly evaluate the situation. Since you've already reported to the DOL, they should be able to provide additional information and guidance.

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