Can a company take tuition reimbursement back out of monies owed.?

Question

I worked for a company that offered tuition reimbursement. My obligation was to maintain a B average for each course and give them a year of service for each tuition paid. After two years on job, they found out they owed us health and welfare benefits totaling approximately $14,000. In order not to pay all the money back, the reimbursement they paid me was taken back allegely as a credit. To me this is a type of loan transaction because you repay a loan not tuition while fulfilling your obligation. Can this really be done.

Answer 1

when companies pay for your tuition, they want you to stay with the company for X amount of years after you graduate. If you leave before that time is up you owe them the tuition they paid. Same as maintaing the expected GPA

Answer 2

Are you still working there? If so, I would definitely seek legal counsel. If they owe you tuition reimbursement AND they owe you benefits, they should not be able to take either away.