Professional fees & leaving the company
Discussion
Bit of a query about the situation I find myself currently in.
My employer had a policy of paying the first three years of professional membership fees of any new start accountant joining the company. I've currently been with them 4.5 years, so have had my 3 'allotted' subscriptions paid.
Membership spans from January to December each year.
As I have already had my 3 paid for me, I paid this years subscription in January, approx. £220.
I handed in my calender month notice on 27th March.
2nd April I receive communication that the company is changing their policy and will now pay one subscription per employee per year. This communication was dated March and covers any subscriptions for 2012.
I ask the HR manager who agrees the company should pay in my circumstances. Ask the site leader who agrees with the HR manager. Ask my manager (works offsite) who says he'll look into it and get back to me. First thing he said was 'why would the company pay when it's not going to benefit them?' followed by 'they'd ask for the proportion back anyway' which instantly tells me his thoughts.
Today I finally hear back from my manager, apparently there was an additional part of the policy that wasn't in the general announcement which states “Professional Certification expenses will not be reimbursed for an employee who voluntarily terminates or who has been terminated for cause, even if prior approval had already been given.” I've told the HR manager this, who is not impressed in such a 'get out clause', to quote.
Now... I think I know what your answers may be (suck it up), but what would be your view on the above!? I was, and continue to be an employee of the company when the announcement was made, and if was communicated in March before I handed in my notice I assume it would not have been a bother.
My employer had a policy of paying the first three years of professional membership fees of any new start accountant joining the company. I've currently been with them 4.5 years, so have had my 3 'allotted' subscriptions paid.
Membership spans from January to December each year.
As I have already had my 3 paid for me, I paid this years subscription in January, approx. £220.
I handed in my calender month notice on 27th March.
2nd April I receive communication that the company is changing their policy and will now pay one subscription per employee per year. This communication was dated March and covers any subscriptions for 2012.
I ask the HR manager who agrees the company should pay in my circumstances. Ask the site leader who agrees with the HR manager. Ask my manager (works offsite) who says he'll look into it and get back to me. First thing he said was 'why would the company pay when it's not going to benefit them?' followed by 'they'd ask for the proportion back anyway' which instantly tells me his thoughts.
Today I finally hear back from my manager, apparently there was an additional part of the policy that wasn't in the general announcement which states “Professional Certification expenses will not be reimbursed for an employee who voluntarily terminates or who has been terminated for cause, even if prior approval had already been given.” I've told the HR manager this, who is not impressed in such a 'get out clause', to quote.
Now... I think I know what your answers may be (suck it up), but what would be your view on the above!? I was, and continue to be an employee of the company when the announcement was made, and if was communicated in March before I handed in my notice I assume it would not have been a bother.
Xtype said:
yeah I think your taking the piss 
What he said ^^^^.You've benefited from 3 free years, paid for one, don't want to work for them anymore so why should they cough for your years subscription? I'd take the same view as your manager, even if they paid it I'd want the unused proportion back.
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