Job Discussion Forums

mthood · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 73

I re-signed with my school for the upcoming year just two weeks ago. I've already changed my mind about it. I know contracts are broken all the time, but should I be upfront about it or look for a loophole? In other words, are there actually enforceable penalties for me breaking it?

Any consequential experiences out there?

tararu · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 494

Whatever you do, don't do a runner. You just end up hurting other teachers not the school. Just sit down and talk to them. Explain your situation and apologize profusely. There won't be any penalty for breaking your contract. However, you may wake up with a severed horse head on your pillow one morning.

mthood · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 73

Thanks for the advice. I'm certainly not looking to give us English teachers a worse reputation than we already have for being unreliable. They'll be informed, I just don't want to be punished for being honest with them.

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 9:54 am Post subject:

I think its more the exception than the rule to get signatures this early July August or even September seems the most likely time perhaps they want to hang onto you ,which puts you in a good position I feel . Do you have another place to go to ? They (old place) could make problems for you at your new place if you do a runner ,the legal fallout is never really a proper threat as noone wins ın the end but the ones who come after you may inherit the bad feeling you leave behind . Talking to them in a frank and open way may bring about a compromise that suits you if you had doubts about staying why did you sign another contract ?

mthood · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 73

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

The worst they can do, I think, is find a way to withhold money from you. I once had a school decide they didn't have to pay me for about 2 weeks of the previous month, plus money they owed for travel expenses, because I told them a month in advance that I was planning on leaving (I wasn't even on a contract with a specific time-frame-- just month to month, I thought). I waited until the canteen was full of students, perspective students, and some parents and started a big shouting match with the director and the accountant, and in the end managed to get paid for the work I'd done the previous month, but not the travel expenses...

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411