Job Discussion Forums

[Ki]

Because we all love to bitch and moan, what are the worst contract clauses you have ever seen? Entries from other parts of the globe are welcome. Also did you sign? If not, did you tell them why or make up some excuse? One director almost burst into tears when I told her the clauses were illegal and immoral and refused to sign. But that was just my opinion. Any good or unusual clauses?

Apart from the horid $30 k break of contract and the bond, the worst I have seen was loss of half a day's pay for being one minute late. No way would I have signed that one.

The funniest one I have seen was that I wasn't allowed to flirt or have affairs with any of the other teachers.

Oh, and does anyone know why schools absolutely refuse to let you take the contract home before you sign it? I asked once and was told that it was to prevent me from photocopying it. As if. I think it is to prevent us from thinking too long about how unfair some of these clauses are.

Positive comments are welcome too by the way. And yes, I am aware that there are a lot of teachers out there who do "bad" things to schools like leave without giving notice, etc.

[Dr_Zoidberg]

The worst I had seen was from a school in Taoyuan. Before emailing me the contract, they made it quite clear that I must accept it as is. No changes were permitted.

The contract contained a plethora of penalties throughout, but the one I felt was the most egregious was the claim that student renewal was 100% the teacher's responsibility, and dictating the penalties incurred for each student that did not renew (ie: the penalty increased with each student).

As one would expect, however, no incentives were provided for anything.

Needless to say, I told them to stuff it.