Hi there, am hoping someone might be able to advise on a situation re a joining bonus from my previous employer which they are now claiming I have to pay back.
In a nutshell, they offered me a bonus amount to sign up with them, which they went ahead and paid me shortly after I started - for various reasons some months later the role has not worked out and I decided to leave. I checked through all of my paperwork before doing so, and there is nothing in my contract regarding clawback of any bonus - in fact there is no mention of the bonus at all; the only place it is referred to is in my offer letter which just states the amount and makes no mention of it being repayable under certain circumstances.
When I handed in my notice there was no mention of the bonus being repayable, so I assumed all OK on that front, however I have now received my final pay and they have deducted the bonus amount from it, which is particularly stressful as it leaves me without enough money in my account to pay my mortgage this month with no warning. I've contacted HR and they are claiming that the contract I was given (and signed) is the wrong version and it should include clauses stating that I must pay back the money if leaving within x amount of time - I've never seen or been given a copy of any terms and conditions other than the ones I signed, and it has never been mentioned in any communication that the bonus was conditional.
I'm trying to figure out whether I have a leg to stand on if I pursue this with them - either to get the money back or at least to agree to repay it in smaller installments so I'm not left with no money for bills this month. Can anyone advise?
Thank you in advance