Job Discussion Forums

GU · Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 5

I currently work at an English school, but will be leaving. I will start my own English teaching business. My company said I can't tell my current students what job I will be doing next. Many of them are asking me and a lot want to keep I touch. It's really painful that I am not allowed to tell anyone. Many people ask me an I just stand there silently or give a really off topic reply. They seem confused.

I wish they could know that I will still be teaching so they can decide if they want to continue at the current school with a new teacher or continue studying with me. I don't want to ask anyone to quit the current school, but I just want then to know what I will be doing next.

Is it legal for the company to say I can't tell my students what I'll be doing in the future? Another teacher I know told me they can't do thy and I'm free to say what I want. Is that true?

Another teacher I am protected by the constitution so I can tell them, but my company said I can't.

I am really having a hard time keeping this secret, so any advice would be helpful. Thank you.[/list]

GU · Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 5

I am very sorry about my mistakes in the previous post. I typed it on a cell phone with a small keyboard and posted it too hastily.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

...I wouldn't worry about mistakes........this is just a bulletin board......in regard to your problem.........if it were me.........I would tell my students my future plans when asked.........the school cannot control free speech as far as I am concerned........and besides........you're leaving anyway.

kah5217 · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki

Many companies pull that "don't tell anyone" crap. To be honest, there's nothing they can do to you if you tell people; even if it's written in your contract, it's likely cost prohibitive to sue a teacher over it and definitely PR prohibitive.

GU · Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 5

I figure as long as I don't ask students to leave the school, say anything bad about the school, or give any information about my new business (such as lesson prices, for example) it should be fine to just say that I am going to have my own business, isn't it?

Everyone is asking me about my future plans and it really feels so strange to give vague answers to my students who I have been teaching for several years. I feel they have the right to get a straight answer from their teacher regarding why they aren't going to continue to teach them.

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

Your constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression has absolutely nothing to do with how you conduct yourself in a customer-facing role in the workplace. Frankly, the fact that you think one affects the other makes you look like a clueless beginner. And if you'd actually thought this through, you wouldn't have disclosed your plans to your employer either: you'd have had a cover story ready.

But what's done is done. They are just looking after their interests. You should look after yours. Serve your time, be tactful and discreet, and try to leave on amicable terms.

They'll probably ask you to promise to avoid all contact with their customers after you leave. How you handle that is up to you, but if they perceive you as blatantly stealing a large number of customers they might decide to act.

By the way, freedom of speech is never absolute. In fact, if memory serves, there is still a law on the statute books that makes it a crime to address somebody with "offensive language". Oh, and more recently, commercial espionage was criminalised. Wink

rslrunner · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 252

GU · Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 5

Thank you everyone for your input. Please understand I don't plan to or want to steal students. I just want them to know why their teacher for several years is leaving and going to be doing next. If some of them decide to leave and continue to study with me that's fine and my company already confirmed that is fine. However, because I've been employed there for a long time and have a good reputation with them, I know that it would really help my future business if they recommended my lessons and school to their friends, family, and co-workers.

However, my former students would have no reason to recommend me if they didn't know I was still teaching English or where.

If I can tell them my future plans, they could recommend me to people and that would help a lot. By not telling them I feel like I am missing out on that opportunity.

I understand Pitarou's comment. But I told my employer my plans because I don't want to hide anything from them or go behind their back. I don't want to do anything wrong. They said if a student leaves, if I meet them after I finish working at this company, or if they contact me, then it is fine to teach them. I just can't advertise my lessons at the school. That's fine and I don't want to do that.

My question is just this can I tell them "I will be starting my own teaching business" and just leave it at that?

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

Just smile and nod your head, and then do what you want.

The "Asian" way.

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

Just be honest. Tell your students you are leaving because you have a new job, but that the school would prefer you not to talk about it while you are still working there. They will understand that. Give out your (personal NOT new company) business card to any of your students who express and interest and encourage them to keep in contact.

You are setting up in competition. Touting for business while you are still there (even indirectly through recommendations from your current students) would be inappropriate in any job anywhere.

Cool Teacher · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:45 am Post subject:

GU · Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 5

Thank you all for your comments.

Pitarou's comments helped me understand my situation more clearly too. Sometimes the best advice is the harshest on the ears. I'll keep what you've said in mind.

HLJHLJ's comment, especially the second paragraph, helped me a lot too. I understand this point of view. I was being selfish and narrow minded. Thank you.

To be safe and not have any chance of trouble with my employer, I'll just keep quiet. I will miss my students dearly, but I will be able to find new ones. Even if a student asks me directly what I'll be doing I'll try to be as vague as possible. I've also decided not to give out my contact information to anyone, neither personal or business (and thankfully I haven't yet). However, a couple students gave me their contact information and told me to keep in touch or to go out for a drink or lunch. Of course, I accepted.

I mean, if a student hands me their phone number and says "please give a call sometime and let's hang out." Do I have to refuse that too?

The only information they have about me or how to contact me is my name.

So I've made my choice not to give out my contact information or any information regarding my new business or lessons.

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

I think not giving out your contact information is best, but taking it from students is a good choice.

I would simply say something like "I'm moving on" and then explain what that means.

I had some friends who were going to start their own school and told their current students. One of the students then asked the staff, and the teachers all quit within a week (one actually quit before everything happened, then the others were basically told to quit immediately or be fired).