Howdy Beyond,
I am seeking a small bit of legal advice / conversation on a "hypothetical" work situation.
Mods, if this is in the incorrect sub-forum i apologize and feel free to move it to the correct sub-forum.
Anywho,
Let us pretend that "hypothetically" you had a contract with a large multi-national oil company. It was for a good scholarship program in which they paid for your 4 years of schooling, your residence, and included a monthly stipend for some spending money, food, cost of living and what have you.
This contract also included a clause that the signee was obliged to, upon graduation and termination of the scholarship, return back to your home country and work for this large oil company for a two year term.
Now, a number of months ago, the signee felt a desire to stay in Canada and, upon speaking with a number of people with authority within the company, was allowed to remain in Canada and was free to persue employment elsewhere, basically cutting off that small "obliged work term" clause completely. Unfortunately, none of that was signed in paper...just spoken and agreed upon.
Now, let us say that this same company has recently "changed their minds" and is demanding the signee to pull up their roots, head back home and start working for them, which the signee doesn't really want to do. They have also threatened legal action against any signee's/their families that do not return...to what extent the legal action will be has not yet been defined.
Now beyond, what i'm asking is if there's a way that, "hypothetically, of course" the signee could weasle their way out of their contract with this company based on the point the company has gone all "flippy-floppy" on their side of the contract (you're working for us, you can stay, oh no wait you're comming back).
I'm quite sure that the existence of the original paper contract means that the oil company "hypothetically" has the signee by the "hypothetical" balls so i'm pretty sure I already know what kind of answer i'll get, but i'm curious to see what beyond/others with a bit more legal expertise than myself think on the situation.
Many thanks, Beyond.
-D
-edited slightly for clarity on one point