For context, I'm with a group of apprenticing mechanics/electricians (civilians employed by the US government)
One of my coworkers openly considered quitting during a group meeting because he learned that he may be put on the Night Shift without his permission.
Our supervisor notified him that quitting may cost him $100k – $150k as our signed contract states we must graduate and stay an additional 2 years or we may have to pay our training fees back.
How is this amount even possible or legal? It makes me sick to my stomach to even consider being trapped at my job at the threat of paying such an absurd amount of money back for training fees.
Extra context, we spent 10 weeks in an actual college classroom and the rest of training is at work. Our contract only vaguely says to reimburse 'school tuition and training fees'