Job Discussion Forums

[kylemcgee]

Hello -

I am a well qualified teacher who has worked for the British Council for the last several years.

I accepted a 2 month contract in Tunisia for summer school. I was told we would have good conditions in the apartment we would occupy. The accommodation was to be near the ocean and all that we needed was to be supplied.

I arrived to find the apartment in a poor, 'dry' area of town in the industrial area of Tunis. We do not have the basic things we need to live including a washer and there are many cockroaches in the place. They are unwilling/unable to change the situation. I wouldn't mind too much, but the money is very poor and Tunis is expensive.

I am considering leaving and giving some notice to give them some time to find someone new. I have never done this before and I'd prefer not to burn any bridges.

I am curious if anyone else has ever left a contract and if so what the fallout was. Any insight?

Thanks!

Kyle

[powerrose]

There seem to be two schools of thought. One is to do the "honorable" thing and work with the school even to the point of giving notice and risking their wrath, and the other is to cut and run.

I say that you do the second thing. I'm assuming that you've spoken to different people in authority at your school, you've approached them numerous times, and in different ways (like writing down your complaints and submitting them to someone).

You need to think about yourself here. The worst case scenario for the school is that they will lose revenue from not having a teacher. The worst case for you is facing the wrath of an employer in a foreign country. I don't know what the visa situation in Tunis is like, but you could come home to find your employer has changed the locks on your apartment, and your visa is gone. They could also do things like withhold pay or make your life miserable.

We talk a lot on this board about entitlement and what we are owed as teachers. Well, the one thing I will firmly state that we are owed is clear communication, honesty, and a sense of understanding that we are foreigners and occasionally need assistance (One example, a school doesn't "owe" you money to pay for a visa, but they should absolutely help you with the paperwork, since clearly they are better able to and its simple common courtesy).

Your employer has failed on all these points (as I understand from your posting). They didn't clearly communicate the housing conditions. In fact, they were dishonest about the housing. And their attitude of "deal with it" shows no compassion for you as a foreigner, and instead seems as if they are hoping that you are "stuck" there and have to take their crappy behavior.

So I say, save up and leave one weekend. Leave a letter in the apartment stating that you had been misled about the housing, how your tried to resolve the situation, and your vulnerability as a foreigner leaves you with no choice but to "flee". I mentioned the possible negative for the employer, but on positive is that the loss of revenue will convince them to improve conditions for the next person they hire.

Good luck!

[spiral78]

I disagree somewhat with the previous poster.

I think it would be more prudent to give them notice in writing that, if a better situation cannot be found for you within ABC time period, you will have to leave. Express regret that you feel you will be forced to break your contract with the school if your accomodation is not sorted, and then follow through with the dates if they do not respond positively.

In part of the letter, I would describe exactly what you had expected/been promised, and exactly what is wrong with the flat you've got.

I'd probably attach photos of the accomodations' weak points.

That way, it's above board all around.

[markcmc]

2 months is not really a long time, but if you do decide to leave simply don't mention the summer job to anyone.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

It also depends on the employer. Is it a small private, a large system or a multi-national? I've walked away from two large multi-nationals, but in line with what spiral78 said...I had very good reasons to spell out for not completing the contracts...and they weren't grievances. The only time I EVER thought about pulling a runner was when I worked for an unspecified foreign military organization that couldn't be trusted if their collective tongues came notarized.

Having a family also brings you pause. If it's a small private that is bent on screwing you...and as said before (and I'm assuming that yer single), it's only a summer gig, then a short weekend vacation that lasts forever might be the best solution.

But, as a venerable poster on another board always cautions..."choose your Master well"...is always sage advice.

Luckily, I have...

NCTBA

[powerrose]

I agree with you, Spiral, in general. Something about advertising a nice seaside apartment and dumping teacher in a roach-infested apartment in an industrial park makes my 'psycho employer' alarm bell go off.

But I have had success with giving a school a clear ultimatum as well. You could always tell them that they need to find you new accomodations within 2 weeks, and at the end of the 2 weeks, go to a hotel and not come to work. That seems really crappy, but I had one disorganized school that only responded to "emergencies" like this. As long as you keep showing up to your job, it isn't a priority to them.

[denise]

[dragbag]

I am in my first TEFL post overseas so there are obviously more informed voices. But in my first month due to contract hours and accomodation albeit minor issues with the latter I was forced to give an ultimatum. It was in writing with a great deal of regret expressed if I had to go through with it. Basically exactly as spiral78 described. I attached a copy of the contract as well as emails that took place before and after accepting the job to my letter and asked for a meeting once it was submitted. It worked but I guess all situations/employers are different.

[johntpartee]

I'd leave. Immediately.

[ls650]

I guess it depends on the situation. How desperate are you to complete your contract? Do you need this school as a reference, or do you have enough experience you can just write them off?

If you have plenty of teaching experience on your resume and can afford to leave, I recommend you do so.

On the other hand, if you're really desperate to get any experience on your resume, or they are supposed to pay out a bonus upon completion, then I guess you're pretty much stuck. Hey, at least it's only two months - plenty of folks in these forums have been stuck in worse situations for a lot longer than that.

[johntpartee]

Point well taken. BUT.....cockroaches. Eeeewwww!!!

[spiral78]

BUT.....cockroaches. Eeeewwww!!!

Photograph the nasty buggers. Give 'em a treat and they'll smile for the camera
Make the photos part of your ultimatum.

Get what you want from the school, in an up-front and professional way - or walk. If it ever comes back to bite you, you will have documentation that the school failed to take appropriate steps.

[Big Poppa Pump]

If this school is through British Council you have to balance the possible ramifications of leaving early and escaping your flop of an apartment versus getting a bad name with the larger British Council organization.

I work for a large organization and I know the higher admins keep a blacklist of teachers who have left the company in a lurch. Not everyone who quits early ends up blacklisted as some have very legitimate reasons for doing so, but those who don't...

[Glenski]

[naturegirl321]

Get out, but take it off your CV.