My husband and I co own a small business.
The industry is personal services. Without getting too specific, think hair or tattooing.
Recently he got notice from one of the employees that she is quitting. She’s been with us for 6 years, but just finished her apprenticeship less than 2 years ago. Before her apprenticeship, she was working more of scheduling, cleaning, and selling products.
She gave us like 4 months notice, and that gives us time to at least start training someone else. But here’s the thing. She is already scheduled for a class pertaining to the industry that we’re paying for. It costs about $2k and the class takes place roughly two months before she leaves.
My husband asked if I think we should still pay for it, I said no because it’s an investment in an employee who will work for us. If we pay for it now, we’re investing in somebody else’s employee. He’s made up his mind he’s still going to pay for it because he doesn’t want bad blood, but I’m still annoyed. That’s money we can use for the business. Since him and I had a baby, I’ve really stepped back from working there, so I feel like he should have a final say.
But I’m still curious what other business owners think, what would you do?
I would offer to split the cost with her, you valued her an an employee, and you may get some return on the training before she leaves.
In the future you may want to write u to your contract that for paid trainings you expect x number of months work after said training.
I work in education, and one of the few perks is paid courses. In the contract it explicitly states I must be employed for 1 year or MAYBE subjected to having to pay back the cost of the course.
I have never seen a district asked for it but it’s an option.
He said no.
Btw this is the second time an employee has done this after we’ve paid for training. Husband said those contracts don’t hold up
Then this is a leadership problem not an employee problem