I got fired and the company made me sign a statement and a restitution letter by saying I'd go to jail if I don't sign it.
2007-07-13 12:04:37 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Restitution? What did you steal? Restitution means you have to pay something back. So pay it back, or go to jail. It is where people who steal belong.
2007-07-13 12:07:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Restitution does not mean the returning of stolen goods! (though it COULD mean that.) It simply means returning benefits accrued on one side and restoring the detriments suffered on the other - it can mean anything, like repaying training costs after only a short term of engagement.
If you are unsure, DON'T SIGN ANYTHING! Read the small print first and see what the implications of signing the letter are. Would being bound by the terms of it be bad? And since when do private companies decide who goes to jail? That is a job for criminal courts, not former employers!
2007-07-13 19:17:28 · answer #2 · answered by undercover elephant 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not exactly, what they probably did was offer you the choice of signing the document, or facing charges (for whatever crime you committed that you'd be paying restitution for). There's no gaurantee you'd have been convicted and go to jail, the burden of proof is on the prosecution, afterall.
Most companies won't even go that far if they catch you stealing from them. Most will just say "Quit, or we'll press charges." That way they get rid of a crook, and don't have to pay unemployment.
2007-07-13 19:10:48 · answer #3 · answered by B.Kevorkian 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They cannot force you to sign any contract. And any contract signed under threat of force is generally void as involuntary.
And a company cannot send you to jail. Only the govt can send you to jail, and only if you broke a criminal law that allows for jail time as part of the sentence.
You need to speak to a lawyer licensed in your state ASAP.
2007-07-13 19:09:35 · answer #4 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That usually happens when a person is proven guilty of doing something wrong. If you are not guilty you have the right to say no to sign. If the company insist, then you also have the right to sue the comapny if you are innocent.
2007-07-14 04:02:11 · answer #5 · answered by Stone Dust 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speaking for the United States Only..NO...Absolutely NOT! No one can MAKE you sign anything you don't want to sign. As a matter of fact, you can sue them for false statements and fraud. I would if I were you.
Don't let anyone scare you into signing anything you don't want to sign or you don't understand enough to sign. The USA is all about freedom/rights and all that jazz. Don't be fooled again and let me just say once more to make sure you understand...SUE THEM!!!
2007-07-13 19:13:37 · answer #6 · answered by KPG 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like you committed a crime and they were doing you a favor by allowing you to fix the problem instead of facing jail time. Consider yourself lucky.
2007-07-13 19:26:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Restitution implies you stole from your employer. Is that true?
2007-07-13 19:10:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They cannot force you to sign anything, you have every right to refuse to sign papers from work (even write ups).
Don't ever sign anything that they claim you have to sign.
2007-07-13 19:27:09 · answer #9 · answered by MrCool1978 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be honorable {after the fact} and pay for what you did, with money or your time in jail---your choice.
2007-07-13 19:15:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋