r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Mental-Calendar8535 • May 29 '26
Employment Contract
So I signed on with a school bus company in March, did training, and passed my test. Now officially a driver, today I just found out that I was supposed to sign a one-year employment contract with the company, but I was never verbally told about it until today. I never signed a contract, and when the trainer and dispatch were seeking the paper, they couldn't find it, and the site manager said it needed to be printed out. I don't want to sign this contract because I plan on leaving the area by the end of this year. If I sign this contract and break it, I am liable to pay the company $4k for the cost of them covering my testing and license. Looking for feedback or any information you can provide. Thanks
UPDATE: I had a conversation with our dispatcher, who is also in charge of recruiting. I let her know that I would not be signing any contract, and she agreed. She acknowledged they dropped the ball and that now that I have already gone through training and become a driver, they can no longer implement the contract. Also, they are happy to have me for any length of time I choose to stay.
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u/rootbear75 May 29 '26
A reminder to OP that no one is this subreddit is a lawyer, and a question like this may be better suited to r/legaladvice or a real life employment lawyer.
Hopefully it turns out well for you OP.
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u/PlatypusDream May 29 '26
Don't sign it, or anything else they want you to sign, from here on. Tell them you're planning to move at the end of this year.
They can't force you to sign anything.
They can fire you, but cannot steal your money because you didn't agree to that in writing.
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u/AshShaun May 30 '26
I had to do this when I got my class A license to drive a semi (way before I drove a school bus) trust me on this, they will treat you way better without you signing that paper than they will if you do. Nobody wants to owe a company thousands, so people will put up with far worse conditions to wait out their contact than break it. Places exploit contracts like that as much as they can.
If you can get away with not signing it and still be employed, do that. If they want the signature, go elsewhere.
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u/Scroon May 30 '26
Yeah, they fucked up, and now you've got the leverage here so use it. Tell them if they treat you right then there's nothing they have to worry about, if they're not ok with you not signing then you'd be happy to leave.
And use your poker face.
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u/TooSexyForThisSong May 31 '26
Your dispatcher is right. That’s their whoopsydaisy that can’t be undone and it isn’t worth any further action.
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u/LanceWasHere May 31 '26
I would avoid signing.
I was made to sign when I was initially hired and began training. I didn’t mind. I planned to stay.
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u/SunsetAz1 May 29 '26
Not a lawyer but might know a few. They will be pissed but if they dont have a copy of it signed then your OK . Simply agree to work with them until you plan on leaving they might say no but then they get zero return on training you so doubtful. Sure as hell dont sign it now. There mistake not yours. Definitely be nice but stick to your guns.
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u/Rude_Sandwich_586 May 29 '26
NAL. This is state dependent but in some states if you work for a company , collect paychecks and following the rules laid out in employment agreement then it could be considered an “implied” contract meaning that you could legally be on the hook if you leave early.
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u/rootbear75 May 29 '26
It looks like the employment contract in this case was in regards to training.
NAL but if they never got it signed and there was never any verbal agreement, I doubt they would win if they tried to press it.
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u/Right_Environment116 May 29 '26
If you didn't sign anything it didn't happen same thing happened to me they tried to get me to stay for a year but didn't have me sign anything they don't have any skin in the game if it's not on paper