Job Discussion Forums

[BocaNY]

Hi,

So let me start by saying that I found a job in CR and have only been here two weeks. I told to sign a contract in which 2 months noticed had to be given. I had family issues come up and when I called in to take the day off to figure things out I was told no. I let slip that I may have to leave to attend to the family problems. Well I got an email from the company saying that if I dont show up I would have to pay them and they will take me to court and they will get six months pay plus loss of profits.

Now here is the thing... I don't have a work permit nor did they plan to get me one. My contract was only for 3 months. And they lied on the contract so they could pay less taxes to the government.

Honestly I don't think they can take me to court since they hired me illegally.

Can anyone help?

[spiral78]

They can't take you to court.

I am not surprised they are reacting negatively (taking a day off in your first two weeks was probably not strategically the best idea) but threatening to make you pay 6 months of wages back is ridiculous, especially given that you only have a 3 month contract.

You are unlikely to be paid by whatever shady school has hired you illegally - I would walk away from them immediately. You will not have any legal recourse against them if they do not pay anyway - just take any losses and go.

They've probably given you a 90 day contract because they know you will have to leave the country anyway - and there is very little work around in July/August in any case- they won't need you then.

But your problems are bigger than this - if you overstay the 90 days in the Schengen zone, you can be banned from re-entering when you try to leave. If you've only been in Europe for a couple of weeks, you have some time to try to work things out, but this is an AWFUL time to try to find work, given the upcoming summer break.

The whole scene is very dodgy- how did you get into this?!

[BocaNY]

No taking off was not part of the plan. I had gotten some troubling news and needed a day to get my head straight. I usually never do that.

I am not expecting to get paid for the week and am fine with that. Luckily I just arrived into the Schengen zone so no problem there. I don't need to work. I took the job to have something to do until Sept. I'll just be applying for jobs for then.

I found their job post on different websites. The interview went okay and I needed/wanted to be teaching for a short period. When I got there what was said in the interview was not what I got. I was warned by the other teachers about them. I should have known. I wasn't thrilled when I got the job and something seemed off to me. Should have listened to my gut.

Good to know that they are using a scare tactic. Am already gone from there and the stress has disappeared.

Thanks for the info Spiral.