Job Discussion Forums

alan33 · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 2

I started a promising new job at the Little Forest school run by Jack and Sarah Huang in San Ming district. Sarah seemed nice and offered me 32 hours or so, monday to saturday.

I went in for my first Monday, very sore from a sunburn I'd gotten in Kenting the previous day. The following day, Tuesday, I had to go to the doctor in the morning with the burn. It turned out I had second degree burns. Immediately after I got home from the doctor, the pain and itch got so bad I had to be taken to the emergency room, where they treated me. It turned out I had first degree burns on my back and shoulders. They wanted to keep me for 3 days at first, then bandaged me up, gave me 4 different anti-histamines and a painkiller, and sent me home with an OPD appointment.

I phoned Sarah that day and told her I'd been to hospital, and couldn't work that day, and probably the next. She said everything was okay, since I couldn't say for sure when I'd be back, she'd cancel all my classes for that week, and I could just start the following Monday. I felt terrible about this, but there was nothing I could do (except lie on my stomach!).

I phoned her again on Thursday to confirm what she'd said, and she informed me that I'd been replaced. I was really upset, too upset to even discuss it.

I phoned on Friday to see about getting paid for the hours I'd worked on Monday, and also to make sense of what had happened. She basically admitted to not believing my story, that she couldn't have me working when she didn't know when I'd be phoning in to say I couldn't work.

I was so angry. I'd given her two reference letters from other schools, at which there had been no problems. I was in agony from first degree burns, I'd lost my job, and here was this woman accusing me of lying.

On Saturday morning I went to the OPD for a final wound treatment, and they gave me a letter. I went to the school to collect my pay, and gave Sarah the letter. I even showed her the bandages across my shoulders. She acted suitably concerned, but when I asked her if they had hours, she simply repeated her mantra of "oh, we don't know when you'll phone in sick". I was stunned... I asked her if she'd read my reference letters. She pretended she hadn't gotten them. I told her I'd had no choice this week... the doctor's note was right in front of her.

She wouldn't compromise, paid me for me hours on Monday and I left feeling nauseated and revulsed at this carry on. Now I'm still recuperating, and I've no job.

This woman is heartless and unscrupulous. She *assumed* I'd lied, gave my job away without consulting me, all while I was pretty much paralysed at home. Even presented with the evidence of my illness, she would not relent and make up for it in any way (I know she had hours because while I was going to be working there, she was able to give my girlfriend hours on Saturdays).

Don't go near this school.

Yours,
High and Dry.

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

Playing devil's advocate here, but I think "being very very sick and almost ready to die" is something EVERY english school manager has heard from their foreign teachers, especially after a really good weekend.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

You worked one day and then called in sick!!!!

alan33 · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 2

Wow, almost identical to forumosa.com! Don't you see any problem with being told (while in the hospital... not recovering from the night before or anything) that everything's okay with your job and then it being given away in lightning speed while you're still, actually, really, truly sick?

I'm astonished at how much everyone sides on the side of the school that did this to me.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The school was right. You were wrong.

It is almost universal that for the first month or three or six you are on PROBATION.

They want to test you. The first rule of teaching is BE THERE. If you can't do that...................................

Wonder · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 109

Sound like one of those rare situations when you are right and they are right. The school is only protecting its ass. You should just lick your wounds (literally), and get back out there and find another job. That city is enourmous and you will have no problem.

I hate to be the one that says I told you so, but before your first day at your next school....wear sunblock and don't get too drunk!

Hope it all works out!