Asking for a friend
Yes. Tell your friend this is very often the case.
Generally you need to if you are fired, you don't if you are laid off. But can vary based on company and the employment contract I'm guessing
What does your friend's contract say on this?
If it is a genera reduction in force then generally not, other wise you have to. These should be there in the offer letter.
Someone done fucked up.
It depends. For my case if company will decide to terminate contract for any reason I don’t have to pay back. But if I decide to terminate then yeah.
Try not paying it back and tell us how it goes. I doubt they will care.
To put it simply, if you are the reason for job termination, then you pay. If company is laying you off due to their financial/ organizational f*** up, then you don't pay.
It may be prorated.
Suuuure