These Americans are trapped in their jobs: they need to pay $10,000 to quit

[turbinetree]

Dozens of news anchors robotically intoned “This is extremely dangerous to our democracy,” after reciting what turned out to be a script by Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner and operator of 193 local TV stations. Dan Rather called it Orwellian, and many have asked in amazement: why would local journalists across the nation allow themselves to be used in such a demeaning way?

The answer is clear to me, as a lawyer with decades handling cases involving low-wage workers: people need jobs. But the anchors may have an even more specific concern: an employment contract that doesn’t just bind but entraps them.

Among other things, Sinclair contracts contain a requirement that employees must pay their employers if they leave their jobs before their contract terms end. For example, an employee making $50,000 annually might have to pay in the ballpark of $10,000 if she wanted to leave after one year of a two-year term.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/08/sinclair-broadcast-anchors-us-labor-contracts

[uppityperson]

1. Watching the vid, when they said that line, so many looked down or looked down sharply

[turbinetree]

2. My better half is psych major and she always tells me look at how people look with their eyes

if they look down or to the top left they are lying, if they look to right and up, they have something to hide------

[MichMan]

3. Both parties to a contract can be held liable for breaking it I believe

Since there is an employment contract for aa set time period, either party can be obligated to pay if the contract is broken from my understanding.

If the employees had a two year contract and were fired after one year, it would be expected that the employer would have to pay damages perhaps even continue wages for the remaining terms of the contract. I would assume the same would occur if the employee was to quit prematurely.