Job Discussion Forums

[konchiter]

Hi all,
This is my first post here! Usually I'm an adept lurker but have little to contribute. My experience with Bilkent Primary School (BUPS/BIS) was something that I felt that teachers on their way to Turkey should see. I posted this in the expatinturkey.com forum and the mymerhaba.com forums as well, and had both positive and negative feedback. Please Keep in mind that this is my experience only, and though I think people realy ought to think twice about this school (which has the same contract/ board of directors as the university, for all you English instructors contemplating the first-year bridge program!) and their lack of professionalism. From the overwhelming consensus of the responses on the other forums, this contract is pretty standard, so though the pay isn't all that bad, there are really no employee rights. Now in the K-12 credentialed teaching circuit, this is a really really bad pay/benefits/contract package. (Original forum post follows)

I came into this forum becaue I wanted to get some information about a possible employer (see the "Bilkent-any info?" post in the Ankara Chat forum). There is a bit of background here...so, I am a credentialed teacher from California, looking for a job. I'm bored, just got back from Honduras teaching diving, and feel like teaching primary school again. I don't feel like waiting for the Boston teacher recruiting fair in Feb, so I send out a few resumes to schools that don't look half bad (and most mid-year K-12 posts ARE bad, or else the other teacher wouldn't be leaving in the first place!). Bilkent looked a bit more promising than that, though the salary wasn't the best, but OK for Turkey ($2000/mo). Anyhow, I didn't need to move to a post right away, and decided to be a bit discerning about the positions that I was being offered. I had a lovely phone conversation with the director of BUPS/BIS (Gary Crippin), wherein he told me that he would have the principal of the primary school call me the next day. Equally wonderful conversation with Robert Haag. They asked questions, I asked questions, so far it sounds like a reputable place to work. I am reassured that any and all questions will continue to be answered, and all staff members can be contacted for info. I request staff emails and am told that we could handle that if I were offered the position. Red flag #1. Then, 2 days later, they offer me the position with an "exploding offer" to accept/decline within 36 hours. Red Flag #2. I am not offered any information, and I need to reiterate my request to contact staff and request a copy of the contract and benefits package. I receive several emails oozing charm from both the director and the principal, both ready to please. I look over the contract and note that there are several "we can really screw you if we feel like it clauses" and rightfully question them and ask for clarification. Then, the next day I receive an email from Dr. Crippin stating that the position has been suddenly filled internally. Wow, right after I questioned the contract? hmmm, sounds like RENEGING!..... anyhow, I decided to put the contents of the contract right here! I feel that Bilkent is filling their "international" school with teachers who have no idea how screwed they are by the very non-international administrative system in place! By the way, I listed my questions below the contents of the contract, and any reputable school would have been prepared for them, as the fact that so much was missing (standard fare in international teaching, really) from the contract shows that Bilkent cares nothing for the teachers it hires- Anyhow, I wasn't that keen on them even before the reneging, and I'm taking a position at another school anyhow, so this really isn't a vindictive vent as much as just a bit of help in the job search for you guys.

BİLKENT UNIVERSITY PREPARATORY SCHOOL

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

This contract confirms the employment of XXXXXXXXXX (hereinafter referred to as "the Employee") as a teacher at Bilkent University Preparatory School (hereinafter referred to as "the Employer") beginning January 14, 2006 and terminating August 22, 2007, subject to the following conditions:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1 This contract will be valid from the beginning date stated above on condition that the Employee is given medical clearance and is granted permission by the Turkish Government for a work permit visa.

2 The contract will be void if the Employee does not start work within two weeks of the beginning date of the contract

3 Whereas the monetary terms of this contract are expressed in units of US Dollars, any monetary payments and compensations stipulated in this contract shall be made in Ankara and in New Turkish Liras, using the selling price of the US Dollar set by the Central Bank of Turkey 15 days prior to the date of payment. The Employer reserves the right to pay one half of the Employee's salary in Ankara in New Turkish Liras and the other half in foreign currency into an account in Turkey or abroad.

4 Salary payments are made at the end of the month. The salary remains constant throughout the contract period except for periodic revisions. The Employee receives payment only for the contract period specified above. However, no payments can be made for the period before the day the appointee starts working at the School, regardless of the contract dates.

THE EMPLOYER'S RESPONSIBILITIES

5 The nominal net salary of the Employee will be $XXXX US Dollars per month to be paid at the
end of each month in accordance with the general provisions of Article 3.

6 All taxes and fees charged for visas, work permits and residence permits for the Employee will
be paid by the Employer. Receipts should be given to the Administrative Manager for these
expenses.

7 A settling in allowance of 100 US Dollars for the Employee will be paid by the Employer

8 All taxes and deductions levied on the salary by the Turkish Laws and Government will be paid by the Employer.
9 The Employee will be provided with an economy-class air ticket between Arizona and Ankara. At the end of the successfully completed contract the Employer agrees to pay the Employee�s return flight to her permanent residence.
10 At the beginning of the contract, the Employer will provide the Employee with a baggage allowance of 300 (three hundred) US Dollars for shipping of personal effects. Receipts should be given to the Administrative Manager for these expenses.
11 The Employee may also be paid an additional allowance to be determined by the Employer for the shipment of teaching resources, provided that approval therefore from the school director is obtained prior to shipment. Receipts should be given to the Administrative Manager for these expenses.

12 The Employer will provide the Employee with free lunch on school days.

13 The Employer will provide the Employee with a furnished apartment on the campus of Bilkent University of size appropriate to the familial circumstances of the Employee. The Employee does not pay rent for the apartment, but is expected to meet expenses for heating, water, electricity, etc.

14 Insurance procedures for the Employee will be carried out according to the stipulations of the Social Security Law and the Employer will pay the due insurance premiums. The Employee will be able to consult the school doctor on campus and will receive health services in a Social Security hospital in Ankara. A partial charge may be made for certain services and prescriptions.

15 In addition to the provisions of Article 14, the Employer will provide coverage through a private medical insurance scheme, subject to the Employee being acceptable to the insurance company, to cover most in-patient and outpatient costs in Turkey or abroad. A partial charge may be made for certain services and prescriptions.
16 The Employee will be provided with the option to enroll in a shared-cost retirement plan through an organization selected by the Employer. If the Employee agrees to contribute up to 4 % of her said salary to the said plan, the Employer agrees to make an equal contribution on behalf of the Employee.

THE EMPLOYEE'S RESPONSIBILITIES

17 The Employee agrees to teach at the School as required.

18 In addition to the workload referred to in Article 17, the Employee agrees to perform administrative and extracurricular tasks and duties, which the School administration will assign, in such school affairs as sponsoring student clubs, participating in and/or supervising extracurricular events, supervision of the students in the grounds and in buildings, serving as a substitute teacher when necessary, assisting in the admissions and orientation of entering students, participation in general faculty meetings, parent-teacher conferences and other meetings scheduled by the School administration. Some of these tasks and duties may take place after school hours, in the evenings and during the weekends.

19 In case of long-term illness determined by medical reports at a hospital approved by the Employer, the Employee will notify the school administration of the expected length of absence. The Employee will receive his salary for a period of two months from the date of the first medical report, at the end of which the Employee may be granted leave of absence without pay or the contract may be terminated at the discretion of the director of the School.

20 During the term of the contract, the Employee will not accept work outside the school and will not get involved in any other profit-making activity in Turkey.

21 The Employee will pay all service charges for utilities in her lodgings including heating, electricity, running and drinking water, bottled cooking gas and the general care of the building.

FINAL CLAUSES

22 The Employee certifies that the she is legally and ethically able to sign this contract and is not bound by any other employment contract or verbal commitment.

23 The Employee agrees to sign the Turkish version of this contract, should the Employer request it.

24 The Employer reserves the right to appoint the Employee to fulfill all or part of her teaching obligation in other units of Bilkent University or affiliated institutions.

25 In the event of unauthorized absence on the part of the Employee, failure to do work or carry out the responsibility assumed, behavior unbecoming to or incompatible with the position held, violations of the stipulations of this contract or of the School�s working rules, principles, procedures or administrative directives or any other offensive act, the contract may be canceled in accordance with the disciplinary procedures of Bilkent University.

26 The contract will be automatically terminated on the date specified above. It may be extended for further terms by mutual agreement provided that the Employee gives written notice of such intention by the last regular work day at the end of January 15, 2007.

27 In the event of any dispute on the terms of this contract or any other matter arising there from, the laws of the Republic of Turkey will be applicable and Ankara law courts are authorized to adjudicate.

Containing 27 articles, this contract has been prepared in Ankara and signed by:


_________________________ _____________________

Professor XXXXXXXXX


AND MY QUESTIONS WERE THE FOLLOWING:

1) The contract begins on Jan. 14, but I understand that Michelle has not yet determined that she will be available to co-teach for a week and ease the transition after my arrival, and that is but one of the mid-year appointment concerns. I feel that it is only fair for Bilkent to offer me my salary for the entire month of January. I will be spending massive amounts of overtime/weekend time in the classroom the first weeks organizing my understanding and preparation of the curriculum and materials. This is aside from the lack of a formal orientation during the first week that I arrive, so my understanding of resources/procedures, campus layout, and the town itself will be choppy at best.

2) A medical certificate is required for the visa process but there is no stipulation for reimbursement and the amount to be reimbursed by Bilkent.

3) References are made to medical services received on campus, and alternately in town. I would like clarification on this point. Also, there is reference to a medical plan and prescription coverage and I am curious about the plan provider and provisions.

4) There is no discussion of professional development, yearly sick leave/accrued leave, or personal leave (for bereavement, recruiting, professional development, or otherwise). Please elaborate on how many days are alloted to teachers in the school year and whether any is paid.

5) Section 18 mentions that the employee may be required to work evenings and/or weekends. Please elaborate.

6) Is section 20 per Turkish law? What about during the summer?

7) The last clause is unclear. Please list ALL institutions affiliated with Bilkent. Have staff members been moved from primary to other positions, and if so, how many times in the past 5 years?


8 ) I feel that the sentence in clause 17 is decidedly vague. I am being hired for a third grade position to extend through June of 2007? And how many contact hours are contracted? How many prep hours are guaranteed?


9) No provision is made for the shipping allowance at the END of the teaching contract, which should state at least $300 for my return to home of record.

10) What is the monthly insurance premium for which I will be responsible?

11) There is no discussion of the free courses that you assured me were part of the package at Bilkent University, which I understand may not always fit into my schedule. I enjoy learning, though, and one of the draws to Bilkent was the variety of graduate (and undergraduate) courses.

Anyhow, I don't know if this helps anyone, but I thought it could. I'm sorry that I won't be in Turkey like I thought! But, if anyone has any questions on international credentialed teaching, write to me at konchiter at yahoo dot com.

[tekirdag]

As far as contracts in Turkey go, that one's not too bad. Believe me, they come worse. Sometimes teachers are expected to sign just the Turkish version contract on a "gentlemen's agreement" and a handshake. Such was the case at my last school.

And many employers have a "take what u get" attitude so they probably changed their minds about you because you seemed too fussy.

Things are done very differently here in Turkey. More importance is placed on the relationships between people, how they get along, not details and contracts.

I find no.23 very interesting.

[Otterman Ollie]

Sorry to differ,on that last point as you are not a Turkish citizen you are subject to different laws ,therefore signing a Turkish only contract makes the "contract" invalid therefore unforceable ,at least in theory. I doubt if the employers are aware of this fact if so you will be expected to sign both types .Of course you could always get you Turkish "contract" translated and then go over it item by item ,assumming your boss is prepared to do that which I doubt .

[tekirdag]

A Turkish friend who had worked in a dershane said a contract is in a language other than Turkish is worthless. He said at that dershane the teachers' signatures(on the English contract) were on a page of their own(last page-nothing else written there). The Turkish workers simply took that page from the contract, added it to the back of the Turkish contract and sent it off as part of the work permit applicaiton.

Teachers didn't know that they had signed the Turkish contract.

And that was a reputable dershane.

[tekirdag]

Just asked another Turkish fellow. He said regarding English contracts-

[Otterman Ollie]

Every worker is entitled by law to have a copy of their work contract in a language that they can understand .Any lawyer worth his fee will use that and demand that a second language which was directly translated from the turkish is available for the signer to peruse at his or her leisure .If thats not happening already then don't sign it . Very soon the new regs coming in will make this mandatory anyway so its up to you to push for your rights not regard it as a privilage ,christ they screw enough as it is anyway .

[Otterman Ollie]

Every worker is entitled by law to have a copy of their work contract in a language that they can understand .Any lawyer worth his fee will use that and demand that a second language which was directly translated from the turkish is available for the signer to peruse at his or her leisure .If thats not happening already then don't sign it . Very soon the new regs coming in will make this mandatory anyway so its up to you to push for your rights not regard it as a privilage ,christ they screw us enough as it is anyway .

[Otterman Ollie]

I think we should agree that if you sign a contract that you don't understand then you really are leaving yourself open for a lot of grief.

[tekirdag]

hear hear

[Mark Loyd]