Job Discussion Forums

microbabe · Joined: 03 Feb 2010 Posts: 115

Hi,

We are currently teaching in Portugal in a private language school in the north. My husbands contract is about 32hrs / week. He is now up to 40 ish for this term only. His extra pay for his trouble /month is 20 euros! Evil or Very Mad

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I've got your story beat, I think.

I'm paid to teach 8 classes per week. For the month of May, I'm up to 14 per week. Extra pay? Zero. Cool

However, I'll take July off for free.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 12:01 pm Post subject:

Ha ha ha! Suckers! Twisted Evil

microbabe · Joined: 03 Feb 2010 Posts: 115

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Netherlands. Pretty shameful for a 'developed' country - and a respected international university, eh?

Mike_2007 · Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 349 Location: Bucharest, Romania

That's nothing. I have to work ten extra hours a week for free with my face pressed into hot gravel and then thank my boss for the privilege.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

Geeez ! By the end of this thread, we'll hear of some poor b*st*rd who actually had to PAY to work overtime .... in addition to having his / her face pressed into hot gravel .... plus .... having to thank the boss for the privilege.

What is the world coming to ?

Best
Basil Smile

johnslat · Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject:

Dear basiltherat,

"By the end of this thread, we'll hear of some poor b*st*rd who actually had to PAY to work overtime .... in addition to having his / her face pressed into hot gravel .... plus .... having to thank the boss for the privilege."

Cripes - you mean you DON'T have to do all that? Please tell the rest of us where you work.

"What is the world coming to?"

An end, eventually - either on a personal or universal scale.

Regards,
John

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 11:11 pm Post subject:

Not to put too fine a point on it, but...

...repeat after me:

"No, thank you. I don't think it's in my interest to take on these extra hours."

(Other responds, "But we really need...")

"No, thank you. I don't think it's in my interest to take on these extra hours."

(repeat, ad nauseaum. For variety, "I'm sorry, but I don't think..." is a useful one as well.)

I know- you have your reasons for putting up with it. July off is nice! But add it up- IF it's unreasonable and actually not in your interest, odds are that they'll negotiate, as they won't get anyone else to do it either.

Best,
Justin

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Interestingly, when I said the "No, thank you. I don't think it's in my interest to take on......" I obviously had to say, the classes were left officially in my name (my responsibility) and the scheduler went seeking people to 'cover' for me. So, now my work colleagues could be under the impression that I'm unable to teach 'my' courses. They're not, in reality - I've been here for six years and it's well known that I'm generally available to do (reasonable) extra in the busy times, but the fiction with management is maintained.

I've sent out an email explaining clearly. The emperor wears no clothes...but he's still the emperor and I reckon there will be repercussions. Embarassed

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 8:49 am Post subject:

Off with the emperor's head! Long live the people! Long live the Revolution!

Isla Guapa · Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 4:27 pm Post subject:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

He imagines he is finely dressed in managerial robes, you see Evil or Very Mad

This masquerade is supported by other members of management - if one were revealed as naked, all would be revealed Laughing

Isla Guapa · Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 5:14 pm Post subject:

Somehow, spiral's problems with the management at her school remind me of Dilbert, that wonderful American comic strip, which lampoons and lambastes this kind of behavior in corporate America. I sometimes use it with my most advanced student for conversation practice, and she tells me that the same nonsense also is rampant in Mexico.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It's the Nature of Management. Shall we pool our experiences and write a book?

The Naked DOS: A Tail of EFL Management