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tuna007az · Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 12

So this is going to be a long one...........

Yesterday during our class break all of the students were running around and some were stepping on an ant hill.....the teacher in question told them to stop and told them to stop again and finally he began to yell at them.....I then told the teacher in question to relax and calm down....he didn't take so well to the the point he followed me around our office and front area of the school verbally threatening me and then spits on and repeatedly tells me he will hurt me and the goes on to talk about my family and me............................................

I decide to leave and while i left he then went on to verbally assault the two other foreign teachers at different times......at a beginning of one class and the end of another......The owner is aware and so is the manager and they have told me he will not be fired but probably not rehired next semster[b]............

I have called out today and told them i do not feel comfortable at work......I am also telling them it is me or him and thats final.... I am lucky because I have JFRV(married to Taiwanese)........Also I dont want to file a police report because he has told us which it is true that he has various Taiwanese friends that are into "bad" things...So what do I do?

1.Go to the labor office?
2.quit my job and move on( i have been at this job for 3 years and built a lot of privates which makes a lot of money)
3. Any suggestion would deeply appreciated

worried teacher[/b]

Insubordination · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 394 Location: Sydney

Legally, I can't advise you. However, I think you are right in putting your foot down. Sure the guy was having a bad day and probably resents you and your salary but he crossed a line. You are simply demanding a (not unreasonable) level of respect and letting them your know your limits. You expect that someone cannot spit on you at work with impunity. 'Probably won't be re-hired' pffft! They're testing you to see how little they really have to do.

I wonder what would happen were the situation reversed.

adogadie · Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Posts: 82 Location: Taiwan

I smashed a Taiwanese in the face once, and before I knew it, three others jumped me and of course I got the worse of it; so don't ever go that way. If I were you, I'd go to the labor board, or just to have a meeting with him and the boss and see what can be done to resolve the problem; maybe you could strive to teach your classes without him in the room. But don't let him bully you around. He sounds like a wacko. Just a thought.

Insubordination · Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 394 Location: Sydney

PS but I'm on the teacher's side about destroying the ant hill.

KayuJati · Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 313

Wow. It sounds like a tough spot and I have been there myself.

My gut reaction is for you to de-escalate the situation as much as possible AND protect yourself by documenting what happened. You could do that by writing a letter or Memo to the school leader explaining what happened and asking for their advice on how they will rectify the situation. If you can get them to respond in writing (or by email), you can keep dated copies for future action. Keep copies of everything; the letter/Memo you send and the replies that you receive back. If they tell you something verbally, write it down, date it, and put in a safe place. (I own a hand-held voice recorder for such verbal commitments.)

Why do I say 'ask for their advice' rather than 'give them an ultimatum'? I think that you know the answer to that. 'Face' is important. You caused the co-teacher to lose face and now you are paying for it. Don't go and make the same mistake with the school leader/administration. Allow them an out; by asking for advice, they can consider how to respond in a way that saves face for the co-teacher, for you, and for them.

I have been in a similar situation, and only by going on with my duties as if nothing happened did it finally blow over. As the sole foreigner in a workplace with Asians, I can tell you, in their mind I am WRONG simply because I am the foreigner, and they are RIGHT simply because they are the locals. Understanding this helps me navigate the minefield of office politics.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

Dr_Zoidberg · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 11:26 am Post subject:

Rooster is right with regards to the other foreign teachers. They'll do nothing that jeopardizes their situation.

There is a phone number for foreigners in need of help. Sorry, I don't have it. I think you'd be better off going there than to the police.

A friend of mine once opined, "In this culture there's power in being an *sshole." And, of course, he's right. The reason Taiwanese like your co-worker act that way is because they know there's very little chance that anyone will stand up to them. Your laoban will do as little as possible either way no matter how you approach him. The promise not to re-hire is just pablum to shut you up.

As for your co-workers implied threat about his mob connections, I call BS on that. You talk to any Taiwanese bad-boy wannabe and he'll tell you he has them. It's more likely your co-worker would be waiting outside for you one night with some of his binlan-chewing buddies.

As Rooster said, decide what your priorities are.