Answer by Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin – Moreh Hora’ah at Beis Horaa Rechovot, Israel:
Hashem says in the Torah, “Ki li bnei Yisroel avodim,” that Yidden are slaves to Hashem. Chazal explain this as a prohibition for a Yid to become enslaved to anyone but Hashem, and one may therefore back out of a job even if he committed for a certain time-period or project.1
What about backing out to accept a better paying job? Some say that he may only leave to be free and work independently, but not to accept another contract, even with higher pay.2 Others argue that the choice of employer and job, is itself a part of the independence granted to the Jewish worker.3
If leaving will cause the employer a direct loss (i.e. a failed project), the worker may not leave, and in many instances the worker will have to cover the loss he causes (except in situations of absolute duress, onnes).4
If other workers are available at the same rate, the employer can only have “complaints” (which have limited halachic value).5
If the going rate is now higher than what the worker is being paid, poskim are disputed whether quitting and causing the owner to hire new workers for the going rate is considered causing a “loss.”6 However, if the cost of living drastically changed due to inflation, acharonim write that he is entitled to back out under all circumstances.7
There is also a prohibition to retract one’s word in monetary transactions, and one who does so is called “untrustworthy.” Poskim are disputed whether one who drops a commitment due to market change is considered untrustworthy. 8
However, an employee with a fixed long term contract who leaves after several years because of a significant economy change is not considered untrustworthy.9
In conclusion: An employee should not leave in middle of a term to receive better pay elsewhere. If he leaves and thereby causes loss to the owner and there are other workers available at the going rate, the employer cannot collect payment for the price difference (since the employee can say he holds like those opinions who permit it – kim li).
REFERENCES:
1. ב”מ ע”ז ע”א, שו”ע חו”מ סי’ של”ג ס”ג ונו”כ שם. וראה שוע”ר חו”מ הלכות שאלה ושכירות סכ”א שגם קבלן יכול לחזור בו. וראה בכל זה למען ישמעו גליונות .290-292
2. משמעות הרמ”א חו”מ שם ס”ד. וראה פת”ש חו”מ שם סק”ד.
3. שו”ת חו”י סי’ ק”ו, תשו’ מים חיים חו”מ סי’ כ”ו ,ערוה”ש חו”מ סי’ של”ג סי”ז (אלא שבאם חזר בצורה כזה ידו על התחתונה). וראה בתשו’ קרית חנה סי’ כ”ה שמחלק באם עובר לבעה”ב חדש מותר אבל לתבוע תוספת מבעה”ב שלו אסור שאז נשאר עבד אצלו.
4. שו”ע חו”מ שם ס”ה. ובתנאי שכששכר אותם היה יכול למצוא פועלים אחרים, דא”ל שנוי מחלוקת – ראה ש”ך חו”מ סי’ של”ג סקכ”ח. וראה למען ישמעו גליונות 290-292 לפרטים נוספים.
5. שו”ע חו”מ שם ס”ז. ונפק”מ לתרעומת – ראה שו”ע חו”מ סי’ של”ב ס”ה.
6. המחנ”א שכירת פועלים סי’ ז סב”ל שאי”ז דבר האבד. אבל ראה חזו”א ב”ק סי’ כ”ג סק”ל סב”ל שבאם הבעה”ב צריך להוסיף הרי”ז דבר האבד.
7. שו”ת מהרש”ג ח”ב סי’ רלה.
8. שו”ע חו”מ סי’ ר”ד ס”ז, וברמ”א סי”א מכריע שיש בזה מחוסר אמנה. אבל בש”ך שם סק”ח (ע”פ קצוה”ח סי’ רכ”א סק”א) נראה מדבריו להקל. והרב י”ש שי’ קרביצקי דייק מה שבשוע”ר הלכות מכירה ומתנה ס”א סותם בזה, ומזה יש סימוכין שס”ל כרמ”א. וצ”ע.
9. הלכה ברורה שכירת פועלים קונטרס ענינים שביתת פועלים הערה ב’.
Published by Merkaz Anash
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