Draft - Tuition Reimbursement has been discontinued - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

meanSpleen · 09-30-2007, 09:38 PM

Just a little something that I am working on. Any thoughts or suggestions would be nice!

!--- Draft---!

To whom it may concern,

Imagine if your employer took away $3000 out of your pocket each year without an official statement or warning. This is exactly what has happened to every single employee that works for (company name removed); corporate, regional and district wide. Due to unknown circumstances tuition reimbursement has been canceled until further notice. We have not been officially notified of this change to benefits, nor has there been any word of when, or if, this benefit will ever return. This letter is not a call for change, but a spread of information.

One fault to be found in this event is that the company is actively discouraging the education and training of its employees. As a leader in (removed) a highly cultivated workforce should be expected. We should be encouraged to make ourselves better, and in doing so making the company better with improved skills, abilities and ideas. The loss of compensated tuition reduces the likelihood of voluntarily undergoing additional education as we are now forced to pay out of pocket for tuition expenses. This change in what we could expect changes the view and outlook of the company as well.

How the company is viewed by its employees changes dramatically when the knowledge of this development spreads. This sudden and unannounced loss of tuition reimbursement conveys a lack of commitment and trust. The company is no longer committed to provide the tools and resources to create a better and smarter team. We lost merely one of all the benefits provided for us. What will happen if we lose the others? A lack of trust is now apparent as we are no longer assured of being provided for in the future. We were not notified of any change, and we must now wonder what else may go away or change hereafter without being communicated. How we view the company as a whole affects the individual at the same time.

The removal of such an important benefit works to only lower the morale, loyalty and dedication of those who participate, and those who intended to partake in the program. Why should we, and how could we, give the company our all when we have already lost the commitment and trust of the business? We all naturally operate in a give and take society; it is ingrained into our very being. If the company no longer gives what it can to provide for us, how will we ever be able to reciprocate and give back to the company with same and full dedication as before? How can we continue to look highly and stand proudly when we are associated with the company when it begins to turn away from us?

To reiterate, this letter is not a call for change, but a spread of information. I only wish to increase the knowledge of the loss affecting each and every employee of this company whether you may participate, have participated, or intended to participate in the program. There is no obligation by the company to provide such a valuable resource to its employees, but in the same vein is extremely difficult to see the change that has occurred in a positive light. If you agree with any or all of this letter, I encourage you to pass it along so that everyone is aware of the changes taking place.

!---End Draft---!

Ustwo · 09-30-2007, 09:59 PM

A wee bit melodramatic.

By wee I mean very.

The company took out a perk, normally only used by a minority of the company, which is most likely of questionable if any value to the company itself, and you make it sound like this will be the end of the company, and perhaps western civilization as we know it

I'm also not sure what you are after, but when you say its not a call for change, that implies to me you just trying to be annoying to the company by pissing people off.

If you really want that money, you would be better off showing HR or whoever how the program directly benefits the company. My GUESS is that most people who used it, didn't stick with the company long term, but if they did, more so than others, then it would follow they may think it worth continuing the program.

Cynthetiq · 09-30-2007, 10:20 PM

Company benefits change all the time. Health benefits ebb and flow with cost increases and decreases.

Also tuition reimbursement is an often abused program, wherein the learner just jumps ship after the classes are over and the tuition has been reimbursed. This goes for college courses to technical classes.

I can't tell you out of the 15 people I managed took advantage of the reimbursement program and stuck with the company even 1 year after completing the courses. Most thought that the new knowledge meant they deserved a raise immediately. Since that didn't happen, they left with bitter words about how the company didn't value them and wouldn't reward them for their new knowledge. But in truth, they got the benefit of learning, they still needed to prove they could apply what they learned over time. It isn't like college grads get immediate raises, but that is what the expectation has become.

meanSpleen · 09-30-2007, 10:42 PM

Yeah, I realize that the draft is a drama-llama

However, it is something I do feel strongly about, so whether this is justified or not is not as important as how I feel about it. Regardless, this is just a draft and I am not commited 100% to sending it out.

On the other hand, even if the employee handbook mentions "benefits can be changed at any time without official notice", or something to that effect, I still would have been nice to be informed of it at some point.

I guess one of the things that irks me is that one reason I started my current job with (company) is that the tuition reimbursement package was rather nice.

thingstodo · 10-03-2007, 08:08 AM

Well, you can always go to work someplace else! I'll bet your boss would find the cash if you could show how it would benefit the company

09-30-2007, 09:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	Draft - Tuition Reimbursement has been discontinued Just a little something that I am working on. Any thoughts or suggestions would be nice! !--- Draft---! To whom it may concern, Imagine if your employer took away $3000 out of your pocket each year without an official statement or warning. This is exactly what has happened to every single employee that works for (company name removed); corporate, regional and district wide. Due to unknown circumstances tuition reimbursement has been canceled until further notice. We have not been officially notified of this change to benefits, nor has there been any word of when, or if, this benefit will ever return. This letter is not a call for change, but a spread of information. One fault to be found in this event is that the company is actively discouraging the education and training of its employees. As a leader in (removed) a highly cultivated workforce should be expected. We should be encouraged to make ourselves better, and in doing so making the company better with improved skills, abilities and ideas. The loss of compensated tuition reduces the likelihood of voluntarily undergoing additional education as we are now forced to pay out of pocket for tuition expenses. This change in what we could expect changes the view and outlook of the company as well. How the company is viewed by its employees changes dramatically when the knowledge of this development spreads. This sudden and unannounced loss of tuition reimbursement conveys a lack of commitment and trust. The company is no longer committed to provide the tools and resources to create a better and smarter team. We lost merely one of all the benefits provided for us. What will happen if we lose the others? A lack of trust is now apparent as we are no longer assured of being provided for in the future. We were not notified of any change, and we must now wonder what else may go away or change hereafter without being communicated. How we view the company as a whole affects the individual at the same time. The removal of such an important benefit works to only lower the morale, loyalty and dedication of those who participate, and those who intended to partake in the program. Why should we, and how could we, give the company our all when we have already lost the commitment and trust of the business? We all naturally operate in a give and take society; it is ingrained into our very being. If the company no longer gives what it can to provide for us, how will we ever be able to reciprocate and give back to the company with same and full dedication as before? How can we continue to look highly and stand proudly when we are associated with the company when it begins to turn away from us? To reiterate, this letter is not a call for change, but a spread of information. I only wish to increase the knowledge of the loss affecting each and every employee of this company whether you may participate, have participated, or intended to participate in the program. There is no obligation by the company to provide such a valuable resource to its employees, but in the same vein is extremely difficult to see the change that has occurred in a positive light. If you agree with any or all of this letter, I encourage you to pass it along so that everyone is aware of the changes taking place. !---End Draft---! __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

09-30-2007, 09:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ustwo Pissing in the cornflakes	A wee bit melodramatic. By wee I mean very. The company took out a perk, normally only used by a minority of the company, which is most likely of questionable if any value to the company itself, and you make it sound like this will be the end of the company, and perhaps western civilization as we know it I'm also not sure what you are after, but when you say its not a call for change, that implies to me you just trying to be annoying to the company by pissing people off. If you really want that money, you would be better off showing HR or whoever how the program directly benefits the company. My GUESS is that most people who used it, didn't stick with the company long term, but if they did, more so than others, then it would follow they may think it worth continuing the program. __________________ Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

09-30-2007, 10:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Company benefits change all the time. Health benefits ebb and flow with cost increases and decreases. Also tuition reimbursement is an often abused program, wherein the learner just jumps ship after the classes are over and the tuition has been reimbursed. This goes for college courses to technical classes. I can't tell you out of the 15 people I managed took advantage of the reimbursement program and stuck with the company even 1 year after completing the courses. Most thought that the new knowledge meant they deserved a raise immediately. Since that didn't happen, they left with bitter words about how the company didn't value them and wouldn't reward them for their new knowledge. But in truth, they got the benefit of learning, they still needed to prove they could apply what they learned over time. It isn't like college grads get immediate raises, but that is what the expectation has become. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

09-30-2007, 10:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	Yeah, I realize that the draft is a drama-llama However, it is something I do feel strongly about, so whether this is justified or not is not as important as how I feel about it. Regardless, this is just a draft and I am not commited 100% to sending it out. On the other hand, even if the employee handbook mentions "benefits can be changed at any time without official notice", or something to that effect, I still would have been nice to be informed of it at some point. I guess one of the things that irks me is that one reason I started my current job with (company) is that the tuition reimbursement package was rather nice. __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

10-03-2007, 08:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	Well, you can always go to work someplace else! I'll bet your boss would find the cash if you could show how it would benefit the company __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.