Job Discussion Forums

treesloth · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 4

Ok, I am living in an apartment provided for me by my employer in Ethiopia. Now, according to the other american teacher that I work with, he has talked to the guard and decided that we are coming home too late.

So, if he is renting the building for us, do you think that he has a right to say what time my husband and I are home by? I'm usually too tired to go out late, but I have been out until midnight, and my husband, who is a night owl, came home at two once or twice...but we are not obnoxious or loud.

Is this a request/issue anyone else has had? He had said earlier that he would provide an extra $1,000 Birr (about 100 dollars) if we wanted to find our own housing, but I'm not sure he'll stick to that agreement, and I'm not sure what we can find for that price.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Whether or not it's a reasonable request, it's his house, and I think this problem is only going to escalate if you stay there and continue to come in 'late'.

My suggestion would be to tell your employer that you'll take him up on his offer for housing funds and start looking for another place to live.

coffeedrinker · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 149

As far as a course of action, I'm with ls650 - try to find your own housing because regardless of whether it's reasonable or not, if this is what the boss is saying ... it's what he's saying.

I wouldn't be quite as generous with saying "it's his house" though - it's a place he's renting for you as part of your contract, presumably, and he hired you as an adult, presumably, not a child with a curfew. I have heard of contracts where there are actually some pretty particular details or rules specified - doesn't Westgate in Japan say "no houseguests"? But it's one thing to spell it out in a contract beforehand and another for a boss to feel like they can set a curfew for you after the fact.

If there's a real reason for his concern - he lives next door and wakes up for example (though you said noise isn't an issue so that wouldn't be it) - it might be worth it to try and deal with it. But in general, as unfair as it seems, if he has an issue with it, he has an issue with it and it may well be to your benefit to just find other housing.

zorro (3) · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 202

westgate says no house guests after 22:00 or something like that, but nobody cares. they don't watch you round the clock and there is no guard to report back.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I don't know much about Ethiopia, but let me guess at some things...are there security issues at play here? Could the landlord/owner find himself or find you in some trouble by your coming home late, with the police or with anyone else?

Just guessing...

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:41 am Post subject:

Could be the case, Guy.

And yet, it should have been on the table BEFORE.

If there are security issues that make late nights a bad idea,

it should have been discussed before they moved in..

best,
justin

Mchristophermsw · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 228

I would not rush into taking a particular stance on the subject without knowing more detial.

Things to consider:

1) The information is second hand not verbadum and something may have got lost in relating the owners concerns to you.

2) Take into consideration cultural and religous issues.

3) Theres so much to effective clear and consise communication. The first step I would take is to simply talk with the owner about any concerns that he may have. If he does have a real concern about the hours you and your husband keep then "act genuinely interested in finding out why? Make him feel like his concerns are valid and that if it does have something to do with his value system or culture, that your interested in understanding.

In the end, if it is just a matter of him wanting to censor the time you all get home then take him up on his offer and find another place. Think Win Win...this way no one looses face or respect and who knows what oppertunities will come about in the future because you have a positive relationship with him.......keep those networks positive flowing.

Sidebar:

Where are you teaching? I plan on going to Ethiopia next year for a informational vacation for 2 weeks and I want to check out what type of teaching oppertunities are there for when I retire in the future.