To assist employees financially who choose to enroll in continuing education courses, such as computer training, management courses, or advanced degrees, many employers often offer tuition reimbursement plans. Although there's no law requiring companies to reimburse you for tuition fees, many offer this benefit as a gesture of generosity as it usually benefits the company in the long run. Generally, the goal of tuition reimbursement is to produce better-educated, more highly skilled workers. Some companies require that employees earn a minimum grade point average or score to qualify for reimbursement. Other companies repay tuition expenses only if the employees stay on staff for a certain length of time. Basically, the terms and agreements involving tuition reimbursement are decided upon the discretion of each employer. Keep in mind that companies generally don't reimburse tuition for courses that you take to fulfill the minimum work standards required to perform your job or courses that don't relate to your position in the company. Furthermore, in the event that you quit or are discharged while receiving tuition reimbursement, employers may protect their investment loss by making the amount of your reimbursement contingent on your completion of the course and your status with the company. To find out your company's rules regarding the reimbursement of tuition expenses, it's recommended that you consult your employee manual.
