Job Discussion Forums

[lumberjackej]

I'm sure a lot of you have a phrase in your contract that says something like 'Party A may not accept outside employment from other companies without the consent of Party B'. It basically precludes you from getting other part time teaching jobs.

I want to teach at a primary school but my contract forbids this. Is this a big deal? I figure that if I teach on the weekends, this shouldn't interfere with my regular duties, or my preparation for classes at my University.

How do you all get around this problem?

Also, what is the basis for this clause? Are schools afraid your loyalties will go somewhere else?

Thanks

EJ

[kev7161]

I think you just pretty much don't say anything to your school and make sure the place where you want to moonlight knows not to call your school asking for you. Most private language mills know the score and they stay hush-hush about it.

Over a 5-day period, I have 13 classes to teach. I have two days where I teach only one class, one day where I teach two classes, one day with 5 classes, and one day with four. Many of these classes are late in the afternoon. I could easily teach all my classes in a two or three-day period and then have the rest of the time free to seek outside work (or, failing that, have more morning classes), but my school probably knows that I and other FTs will or would like to go out and seek extra employment so they make the schedule like this purposely.

I'm certainly not going to say on this forum whether or not I or other FTs at my school are working second jobs, but I suspect some may be doing just that.

[carken]

I agree with the other posters, but you should also make it clear to School B that your first responsibility is to School A. For example, if you're teaching at School B on Saturdays, and School A has some activity, etc., that requires you to attend, then School B has to respect that.

Be discreet!

[jeffinflorida]

My contract has one of those clauses but i've been asked by those who hired me if I want to do outside work!

[Magoo]

I totally agree with all of the above, especially [b]Carken's
[quote]Be discreet![quote]. Most of the FT's that I've met have had P/T jobs. As long as they don't interfere with your regular job, nobody need know. My first school, here, even told a colleague that, almost word for word. China is a country where turning a blind eye is an art form. Still, as Carken noted, let discretion be your watchword.
Unfortunately, I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere (in the 5th largest city in China, for Pete's sake), so this option is not too practical for me.

[Zero Hero]

If you teach at the other school you will be working without a visa. That is, you will be illegally employed. Obviously it is up to you whether or not you wish to be a black market employee in a foreign land.

"What is the basis for this clause?" I would have thought that was fairly obvious. It is a standard clause - it is strictly enforced here in HK, for example - and it primarily stems from a concern of potential clashes of interests.

Rather than take another post illegally, why don't you consider a higher paying position somewhere else so you don't have to moonlight?