scottishlad

I have been offered a full time job in Christchurch and I will be accepting but they have said they want me to commit to at least 18 months of working with the company and if I leave before this I will be expected to pay a $4000 dollar bond.

Does anybody have any info on this? Obviously 18 months is a long time considering and who knows what might happen, so seems to be a bit...threathening?

Whats to stop me just leaving the company and joining another company? or travelling elsewhere etc?

Thanks

Myusernamewastaken

What type of job is it and do they provide some kind of training for you?

luvwelly

Will your visa type not tie you to the single employer anyway?
If you don't know the answer to this, you are under-researched.

The bond thing sounds ridiculous to me and I would just say NO and not go.

scottishlad

carpenter and no, no training as far as im aware.

scottishlad

The visa is a skilled workers 2 year visa so would be able to work with whoever I wanted.

As for the under-research comment, is this not what this site is for? thanks for the input anyway, great help.

Northern Henry

Sounds a bit odd, The must be some background to this:

1. Are they to commit (suggest in writing, for your protection) to some training/ certification - if so can understand their position - I've had many an individual utilise in-house and paid for certification only for them to walk on receipt.
2. Are they paying any of your expenses for moving or visa costs?
3. If no further info, sounds like one to avoid...

scottishlad

No in house training and no contribution towards any costs of moving, visas etc.

They said it was to prevent jumping ship to another company, which would make me feel like this would happen if they are putting this bond in place to stop it, who would want to leave a company if there wasn't any reason to leave?

I have another offer from another company which seems a bit more flexible so might have to look into this one again.

Northern Henry

Sounds like you've answered your own question...

scottishlad

Aye I have emailed the other company to try push things forward with them. Was just wondering if anybody else had come across this and if they would be able to stop me leaving without paying the bond. Seems like the best thing to do is not take the chance. cheers

bourbon-biscuit

It's common to expect a payment if you leave early if they have fronted for relocation costs but never heard of asking for a financial bond. I wonder if it's even legal?!

scottishlad

That was my thinking, perhaps scaremongering?

Persephone

The bond does sound unusual, not sure it could be legally enforceable

I'm interested in what visa you're on. An essential skills visa is tied to a job, in fact you cannot apply until you have a job offer. And if you change jobs then it has to match the criteria needed to gain a work visa.
The only one I can think of is a 23 mth working holiday visa, you cannot take up permanent work on that.

gazmac

As much as it appears odd it may provide you with some job security also.

I would be sceptical of the legal standing of any such agreement considering there is no financial outgoing on their part.

I was bonded to a DHB for 12 months but they provided a relocation package even though I only moved from within NZ and the committment was that I pay a % of the $$$ back if I left within the specific timeframe.

scottishlad

It is the essential skills visa, I already have had the job offer and documents sent to me, haven't sent away yet as I still have a medical to do. If it is tied to the one job then why do they need a bond to stop me moving to another company?

scottishlad

Yes I know it does provide job security etc but at the end of the day, 18 months is a long time and things can change, the last thing I would want is to then pay out $4000 dollars to be able to leave the role.

My thinking is it might just be scare mongering but good to double check just incase.