Job Discussion Forums

[DazzaK01]

Hi All,

Last month I finished with a language school in Southern Poland, and left after 3 months of a 9 month contract. I decided that the location wasn't for me. So I ended my time on the 22nd of last month. I haven't been paid for my last 2 and half weeks of service which was due on the 10th of this month. I've emailed the school owner last Thursday and havent heard anything since. After the secretary failed to follow up last Monday when the date of payment expired.

Is there anyway of contacting a group in Poland for non-payment of services for esl teachers? If I don't hear back from the school or there is further 'problems'.

Cheers

Darren

[Richfilth]

I've never heard of an organisation who could help you in this situation, but at the same time, I can't admit feeling much sympathy to your plight if you'd signed a 9-month contract and just pulled out "because you felt like it."

What sort of clause is there in your contract for leaving without notice? Not that much of it would even stand up in court (if you could even get to court, considering the lack of lawyers in Poland) for either party; schools are known to threaten ludicrous "premature separation" clauses.

Either way, if your attitude to the job was to cut-n-run, the school probably feels the same way about your salary.

[simon_porter00]

First point of call would be the contract. If you've got a notice period and you served it, threaten them with all kinds of legal stuff. If you haven't you've got nowt to stand on. You have to bear in mind that they probably have tens of students to whom they sold the course as having a native speaker and you've just stuffed them, so don't expect them to be too responsive to your claims of "where's my cash?"

Saying that, if there's more to the story.....

[DazzaK01]

It was done cordially. I gave them appropriate notice, the reasons I left were for personal reasons. So I decided not to come back after the christmas break. The school provided me with my final payslip, and I left it at that. I knew fully well, that I was leaving them as the 'native speaker' so I am worried that the attitude might be taken. I hope not, its a good school as far as I am concerned. All my responsbilities were completed as stated in the contract for payment up to the 10th of each month.

[asgerd]

You're saying you got a payslip for the period owing? If that's the case you should be in a strong position - I would keep it very cordial for now and just remind them frequently that the money is missing.

I once left a contract in Prague (strictly according to the terms thereof - lots of notice, end of term etc), was assured by the bookkeeper that I would be paid in full, and when I went to collect, was presented (by a very embarrassed bookkeeper) with a bill for all sorts of random stuff: induction for my replacement, which I did myself on my own time, and provision of books for her (she just got mine)... naturally the bill amounted to exactly the (pathetic) amount I was due, and I was leaving the next day. It wasn't worth fighting from abroad, but it rankled for years. London School, if anyone is wondering - many years ago.

Maybe that's what your school is doing - being annoyed with you, and just chancing you'll forget about it or give up.

[phantombedwetter]

Listen Dazza,
Let me ask these questions as plainly and simply as I can without getting incandescent with rage and repeatedly bashing my head against the monitor.

Question 1
1. Do you know what a contract is?
Q2
2. Does the concept of a contract mean anything to you, legally or morally?
Q3
3. Do you have any idea what will happen when students show up for class with no teacher?
Q4
4. Do you care about any of the above?

[asgerd]

Phantom, are you saying that Dazza should be feeling very bad about what he's done and just forego his last wage? It's immoral to run off with no notice, sure, but not to end a contract if all parties agree.

It shouldn't be taken lightly, and I do think bowing out early (as I did too) lets the side down, and the burden is borne by the school, but that's the risk you take in employing itinerants (in all industries). The itinerant faces risks too.

[phantombedwetter]

asgerd,
To be perfectly honest we know nothing about the situation as there are not enough facts.
We don't know if the contract was mutually terminated, broken by the school or the teacher.
We don't know if the teacher was lied to, overworked, beaten, tortured or even forced to listen to Whitney Houston.

There are so many issues involved that a post like that needs to be expanded on, however, with the little amount of info given, I side with the school.

Tell us all a bit more Dazza, we've all been there in one form or another

[asgerd]

Ok, yes we do need more info if we are going to have a tribunal. FTR I do think the school has got the muddy end of the stick here, but that that's just a fact of life for an employer. Dazza should pursue his money, gently and directly, for now on the presumption that it was all agreed so there's no problem except some small oversight. (I am currently an employer, though not of teachers.)

[spiral78]

One highly relevant piece of info that is currently lacking:

was Dazza possessed of completed, signed, sealed, and delivered legal working papers for Poland at the time he/she broke the contract?

If not - not a snowflake's chance in....

If so, well, assuming that appropriate procedures were followed, the school should pay - but if they don't, I doubt very much that there is any real legal recourse that would be worth it for a two-week pay packet.

[DazzaK01]

Hi All,

Just to clear something up firstly. I did receive a final payslip before I left as the monies owing to me. My biggest worry is that because I am abroad I won't be able to claim what is owed to me.

Secondly the school is legit, but there was no working papers signed when I left, but the school still presented me again with my final payslip.

Honestly the school requested I stay on til the winter break, and I refused due to in fairness my teaching would suffer coz of again personal reasons so I decided to live. It was mutually agreed to leave on the date given.

So I expected my final payment to be made. We all left on I felt good terms, and I did feel some guilt leaving like that. So I understand that the school was put in a position where they had to find another teacher or change rosters to have a non-native speaker take the classes, while they search for another native speaker.

But still I emailed 5 business days ago, and havent heard anything from the school.

Again the school was quite helpful to me, in so many ways the job just didnt work on a personal level.

[nocturnalme]

Hopefully you meant to type "so I decided to LEAVE" not "live" or your "personal problems" really were bad Or else the school were glad to be rid of a teacher who can't spell ;-0

[spiral78]

Unfortunately, without signed working papers at the time, your legal options would be significantly limited (probably to zero, I'm afraid).

[Khrystene]

What you did... it's not immoral but it gives other teachers a bad name.

Students don't take kindly to it either. Still, you've left and that's it. It's a funny pattern this 'native speaker' leaving around Christmas time actually. Happens quite a lot.

As to getting your pay, well, as others have said I would keep it friendly, and send a reminder. Though, also as someone said, you should check your contract for an 'early leaving' clause, because you may actually have signed up to pay a fine if you left, albeit unknowingly (?!).

If it's only 2.5 weeks pay, you would most likely do best to cut your losses.

[Khrystene]