Job Discussion Forums

tglea · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

I'll save a long story but basically I'm bitter about how I was treated by a private school here in Mexico. I'm wondering if it is worth my time to turn the school into the immigration office here. Like most other language schools, this school is basically operating illegally. Like most of the teachers, I was working there illegally too. Are there risks of punishment for me from immigration? I would like to prevent this kind of treatment for the next person that this school decides to leave "high and dry." Thanks

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

I would let it be if I were you. This is the land of no pasa nada and if they aren't doing it, someone else will. Much as I'd like to get rid of a competitor, it's not worth the trouble. Just put it down to experience and ask questions next time.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

I agree with PhilK. Even when you work legally, things may not be to your liking here in Mexico because it's a different world! I'm not sure what the "long story" is but two wrongs don't make a right. Move on, and take it as a lesson in life. You never know how or to whom the school owner may be connected. Risks come with working illegally, and you know that going in. No security, no guarantees, and the possibility of being deported. Crying or Very sad

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

I agree with the others. You never know if some way, somehow the school will eventually find out who ratted them out. 'Blowback' can be a b****.

Just chalk it up to a lesson from the school of life and move on.

tglea · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

I guess I don't see the big deal. I don't think it's that much work to go to immigration office and show them the copies of the checks I was issued. I can also tell them that all the teachers are working at the school illegally too. I'm ready to go back to the states anyways so I'm not worried about my consequences.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

That's mature. I guess the big deal is that it's you that doesn't "get" Mexico and aren't cut out for it. The other teachers will suffer the consequences of your actions. Is that fair to them? The school owner can't get deported. Duh! Grow up. Give notice and go.

JakeJakeJake · Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 135

If I was working there and you ratted them in like a cheap grass; I would be done over because someone made an immature and selfish decision.

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

A friend of mine who was in Korea for three months last year sort of pissed off a school but in a different way. He and all of the other new teachers were told that they would be paid for the two week training but then the school didn't do it.

So my buddy go the new teachers together and told them that they should all strike until they got paid for the training. It actually worked, they got paid but then the school found out who orchestrated the whole thing (my buddy) and they fired him. Sent him to another school. All of the newbies left behind emailed him later saying how the school was treating them and all new teachers with suspicion and bad attitudes in general.

It;s best to keep your mouth shut for the sake of all of those who will be left behind. If you were planning on staying in Mexico, I would say that you should try to find another school. Move on so you don't make it hard on others. Have you been in Mexico long? Sounds like you may just be going through culture shock.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

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

tglea · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

It appeared you came here for advice, which you got. It doesn't sound like the school admin owes you money, but rather that you are just PO�d, and "revenge" tattling isn't pretty.

tglea · Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

Thanks for the advice everyone. Except for the ones that felt the need to basically attack me in a personal way. Based on your replies I would think you work at the school I am talking about. I'll just move on and consider it another lesson learned in Mexico.

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

Good luck with the next place... there ARE some great schools in Mexico, and I hope you find a job with one of those!

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I find the advice given so far seriously shortchanging the original poster. I know that I will get in hot water for what I have to say, but I will say it anyway.
Yes, if an employer seriously transgresses the honest relationship between employer and employee, yes redress is important. But without knowing exactly what serious misdeeds were committed by the school in question, it would be hard to say exactly what would be the proper tactic to employ or whether anything at all should be done.
I am somewhat startled by the knee-jerk response to the posters initial comments. Are we to suggest taking the most conservative approach to this situation without knowing the details?

I have been on both sides of the employer divide. I have been owner and employee of businesses. I had my own photography business as well as a livery service in Boston. I have also been a union organizer. I have said it before and say it again, if you have been seriously wronged in a working relationship, make redress. I have done exactly that from time to time and was rewarded both in previously unrecompensated renumeration and in the thanks from the employees that remained working for the �dastard�.

Many years ago, in my salad days, I drove a cab in Boston. My employer shortchanged me $140 in pay. As he was an extremely abusive employer, (despite the fact that he really did like me and was least abusive to me) I sued him in small claims court. I did not like his yelling and screaming at all the other drivers, and I did not like the fact that he was violently angry when I gave him 2 weeks notice, despite the fact that no one had ever given him so much as two days notice. I won the suit easily. He still refused to pay me. As the neighbors did not like all his yelling and screaming either they eventually called the cops and had him, for the first time ever, incarcerated. At the same time I had sworn out a arrest warrent for non payment. Needless to say the jail keeper would not let him out of the city jail until he paid me the money. Also, needless to say, matters turned around for the other drivers. I was personally thanked by several who said that I had served the cab company owner a lesson and that he not only was he speaking in a quieter voice, but had a change of heart and was then offering fringe benefits to the drivers that I had previously argued for.

I could also tell you other anecdotes from the workplace. But perhaps too many of you are stuck in your thinking,� let it go�. For starters I would suggest that you go to WWW.TEFLWATCH.ORG and follow through on a complaint. As to going to immigration when your own status was also illegal, unh, unh, no way. Even should you decide never to return to Mexico, keep in mind, in life, we sometimes have a change of heart from the most adamant decisions we make.