[TMarieRN]

I have actually had to breach my contract this past week due to family emergency. My company is telling me that I have to pay for housing and furniture bc they say they cannot get out of lease on neither. I am very upset bc I do not have another job and I only worked one week of pay for them to keep. I told them if I have to pay then I should get to keep the apt and furniture for the 3 months. They said that technically the lease is not mine, so they cannot do that. They told me today that I should try to find someone to fill contract and my worries would be gone. They were being nice until today when I told them that I definetly could not go back. I have been a traveler for a while but has never had to brake contract, so I am really lost about this. Do I really have to pay for the housing since it is not my lease to begin with? What can they do to me?

[jadamsthern]

I have only been traveling for a little while, but what a friend told me is this: If you like the company you work with and they always seem to have assignments for you....if you back out of a contract, the next time you return for another assignment they will mysteriously have no openings for you...so my advice..if you like your agency and recruiter I would not back out...unless you give them notice and wait for them to bring in a replacement.

[HeyFraydo]

I never make a verbal contract because I want to see the written contract and negotiate any changes if neccessary. You can alaways tell the Nurse Manger or Hiring Manager it looks good and you just have to iron out a few details with the company or something along those lines.I remember one recruiter that had her boss breathing down her neck to get me to committ verbally and I kept saying my agreement will be when you have a signed written contract by me which I believe is more than fair. You may even want to take notes on the interview and other agreements on housing and such to attach to your contract saying your are signing with the condition that this information is true. Always make sure the recruiter and hiring manager are on the same page because there is a seperate contract between the company and the facility. Watch out for those phrases in the contract that are one sided such as saying you are responsible for all cost if the contract is terminated for any reason. You won't reduce the risks entirely that's why you get paid more for traveling but you can contain things. Travel Companies by the way can not withhold your paycheck for work performed. If they want to sue you they still need to pay you. Some companies will try this and you can go to the labor board if neccesary but stay tuned to this forum and others to learn what companies to avoid. If a company has a bad record in this you will here more than one story.

CJ

TravelNurseToolbox.com

[desertangelrn]

Always go for written contract. Advice enroll in prepaid leagal plan such as www.prepaidlegal.com (For the record I am an independent associate for this pre paid legal plan as well as a customer I am not seeking commissions so I ask you enter the www.prepaidlegal.com which will bring you to the companies web site not an associate.) it cost about $26 a month for a family and you can have your contract reviewed by an attorney within 24-48 hours. Which is a good feature of the plan to use and with on average a traveler doing 4 contracts a year the cost is well worth it.

My advice leagal matters including contracts should be handled by Attornies. Would you go to Jiffy Lube for a tooth ache