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TK421
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:30 pm Post subject: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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So I gave my two months a little bit ago, leaving my contract a couple months early. I was supposed to leave on August 28.
Yesterday my boss called a meeting with me and said she's not pleased with my performance and that she's firing me and I have to be gone in one week. ONE WEEK. I live in a studio above my school, my school is huge, a huge building so my boss is my landlord. She gave me a list of reasons why I need to go, mostly siting that I'm late to class too much. I go at the same time as all my fellow teachers from the office.
The real reason I suspect is a new couple is coming and my school won't rent out any apartments outside of the school. They're going to use my studio, which I share a two bedroom studio suite with a girl, until the other girl is gone at the end of August and then the two bedroom studio will be theres. She will not admit this but everyone at my school knows it.
Today, I tried to plead with her, get her to let me stay longer, to prepare. Instead, she says I have to leave TODAY. TODAY. I told her I'm going to contact ATEC, the labor boards and a lawyer and she said go ahead and do that. In reality, that will be such a pain and more money that I am already screwed out of. WHAT DO I DO. There's really nothing to do except blacklist this school on every list on the internet.
Also, here's the kicker. A couple weeks ago I suspected I had a urinary tract infection so I went to the hospital to be tested. They tested me for every kind of bacteria, including STDs. My boss DOES NOT pay into the medical plan even though she takes the medical out of my pay check. She Usually reimburses us for small clinic fees. Well these tests were a few hundred dollars. She refused to pay, then she called the hospital and asked them everything I was tested for. They told her everything. Yesterday, ALL the results came back negative and they said I probably just have some minor inflammation and gave me antibiotics. Today she told me she doesn't want me around the children because I have sexual problems. Because they tested for those things to be safe. WTF!!!!! WTF???? Could I possibly feel worse right now? No. I don't know what to do.
I'm screwed so badly.
LASTLY, she fired me one week before my first and only paid vacation to Tokyo, which I have tickets for to meet my brother. She refuses to let me stay until then. |
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rowdie3
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Location: Itaewon, Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, that all sounds horrible. Sorry you have to go through that.
I would call the labor boards today and get their advice. There are people on these boards that will give you advice from first hard experience as to what to do. Is this a hagwon owned by that lady? Is it a one off or part of a chain?
I have heard of people just refusing to move out but that will be tough considering where you are living. Are you in the country or in Seoul btw?
Do you have a friend who would let you stay for a little bit while you wait for your trip to Tokyo?
Anyways, I don't have much advice to give. Just wanted to sympathize. Hope someone on here is able to give you something specific to do. |
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Dr. Whom
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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| TK421 wrote: |
I'm screwed so badly.
LASTLY, she fired me one week before my first and only paid vacation to Tokyo, which I have tickets for to meet my brother. She refuses to let me stay until then. |
I feel like I really need to go out and buy some cheese. |
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balzor
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm sorry to hear about your situation. First thing to remember is to be calm. I don't want to sound like an [Mod Edit] here, but since you are not getting your severance and return airfare(i assume this), There is not really too much you can get out of them. Stay with friends. Even if they cancel your visa tomorrow, you can stay in country up to 30 days. What was your plan in August? Keep those plans. This situation surely sucks. For sure, go see the labor board and lay everything out to them. Did you ever get a write-up or warning for anything? if not, tell them this. Sounds like the school has no grounds for firing you. Labor hates this kind of thing. Good luck going forward. Sorry, i can't be more positive, but these situations are hard to resolve to your benefit. |
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Waluigi
Joined: 09 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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| TK421 wrote: |
So I gave my two months a little bit ago, leaving my contract a couple months early. I was supposed to leave on August 28.
Yesterday my boss called a meeting with me and said she's not pleased with my performance and that she's firing me and I have to be gone in one week. ONE WEEK. I live in a studio above my school, my school is huge, a huge building so my boss is my landlord. She gave me a list of reasons why I need to go, mostly siting that I'm late to class too much. I go at the same time as all my fellow teachers from the office.
The real reason I suspect is a new couple is coming and my school won't rent out any apartments outside of the school. They're going to use my studio, which I share a two bedroom studio suite with a girl, until the other girl is gone at the end of August and then the two bedroom studio will be theres. She will not admit this but everyone at my school knows it.
Today, I tried to plead with her, get her to let me stay longer, to prepare. Instead, she says I have to leave TODAY. TODAY. I told her I'm going to contact ATEC, the labor boards and a lawyer and she said go ahead and do that. In reality, that will be such a pain and more money that I am already screwed out of. WHAT DO I DO. There's really nothing to do except blacklist this school on every list on the internet.
Also, here's the kicker. A couple weeks ago I suspected I had a urinary tract infection so I went to the hospital to be tested. They tested me for every kind of bacteria, including STDs. My boss DOES NOT pay into the medical plan even though she takes the medical out of my pay check. She Usually reimburses us for small clinic fees. Well these tests were a few hundred dollars. She refused to pay, then she called the hospital and asked them everything I was tested for. They told her everything. Yesterday, ALL the results came back negative and they said I probably just have some minor inflammation and gave me antibiotics. Today she told me she doesn't want me around the children because I have sexual problems. Because they tested for those things to be safe. WTF!!!!! WTF???? Could I possibly feel worse right now? No. I don't know what to do.
I'm screwed so badly.
LASTLY, she fired me one week before my first and only paid vacation to Tokyo, which I have tickets for to meet my brother. She refuses to let me stay until then. |
your spelling leaves a lot to be desired, but I wouldn't say that's a good reason to sack you.
surely there's a story behind the story here? if not, it's horrific. |
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salgichawa
Joined: 18 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:07 pm Post subject: Re: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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| TK421 wrote: |
So I gave my two months a little bit ago, leaving my contract a couple months early. I was supposed to leave on August 28.
Yesterday my boss called a meeting with me and said she's not pleased with my performance and that she's firing me and I have to be gone in one week. ONE WEEK. I live in a studio above my school, my school is huge, a huge building so my boss is my landlord. She gave me a list of reasons why I need to go, mostly siting that I'm late to class too much. I go at the same time as all my fellow teachers from the office.
The real reason I suspect is a new couple is coming and my school won't rent out any apartments outside of the school. They're going to use my studio, which I share a two bedroom studio suite with a girl, until the other girl is gone at the end of August and then the two bedroom studio will be theres. She will not admit this but everyone at my school knows it.
Today, I tried to plead with her, get her to let me stay longer, to prepare. Instead, she says I have to leave TODAY. TODAY. I told her I'm going to contact ATEC, the labor boards and a lawyer and she said go ahead and do that. In reality, that will be such a pain and more money that I am already screwed out of. WHAT DO I DO. There's really nothing to do except blacklist this school on every list on the internet.
Also, here's the kicker. A couple weeks ago I suspected I had a urinary tract infection so I went to the hospital to be tested. They tested me for every kind of bacteria, including STDs. My boss DOES NOT pay into the medical plan even though she takes the medical out of my pay check. She Usually reimburses us for small clinic fees. Well these tests were a few hundred dollars. She refused to pay, then she called the hospital and asked them everything I was tested for. They told her everything. Yesterday, ALL the results came back negative and they said I probably just have some minor inflammation and gave me antibiotics. Today she told me she doesn't want me around the children because I have sexual problems. Because they tested for those things to be safe. WTF!!!!! WTF???? Could I possibly feel worse right now? No. I don't know what to do.
I'm screwed so badly.
LASTLY, she fired me one week before my first and only paid vacation to Tokyo, which I have tickets for to meet my brother. She refuses to let me stay until then. |
Hi There,
Check with the hospital about the medical check. If it is not true she is a problem.
Did she cancel your visa? Maybe you can use the trip to get a new work visa. But you should be able to change worlplaces at immigration if you have a letter of release. |
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balzor
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:12 pm Post subject: Re: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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| salgichawa wrote: |
| TK421 wrote: |
So I gave my two months a little bit ago, leaving my contract a couple months early. I was supposed to leave on August 28.
Yesterday my boss called a meeting with me and said she's not pleased with my performance and that she's firing me and I have to be gone in one week. ONE WEEK. I live in a studio above my school, my school is huge, a huge building so my boss is my landlord. She gave me a list of reasons why I need to go, mostly siting that I'm late to class too much. I go at the same time as all my fellow teachers from the office.
The real reason I suspect is a new couple is coming and my school won't rent out any apartments outside of the school. They're going to use my studio, which I share a two bedroom studio suite with a girl, until the other girl is gone at the end of August and then the two bedroom studio will be theres. She will not admit this but everyone at my school knows it.
Today, I tried to plead with her, get her to let me stay longer, to prepare. Instead, she says I have to leave TODAY. TODAY. I told her I'm going to contact ATEC, the labor boards and a lawyer and she said go ahead and do that. In reality, that will be such a pain and more money that I am already screwed out of. WHAT DO I DO. There's really nothing to do except blacklist this school on every list on the internet.
Also, here's the kicker. A couple weeks ago I suspected I had a urinary tract infection so I went to the hospital to be tested. They tested me for every kind of bacteria, including STDs. My boss DOES NOT pay into the medical plan even though she takes the medical out of my pay check. She Usually reimburses us for small clinic fees. Well these tests were a few hundred dollars. She refused to pay, then she called the hospital and asked them everything I was tested for. They told her everything. Yesterday, ALL the results came back negative and they said I probably just have some minor inflammation and gave me antibiotics. Today she told me she doesn't want me around the children because I have sexual problems. Because they tested for those things to be safe. WTF!!!!! WTF???? Could I possibly feel worse right now? No. I don't know what to do.
I'm screwed so badly.
LASTLY, she fired me one week before my first and only paid vacation to Tokyo, which I have tickets for to meet my brother. She refuses to let me stay until then. |
Hi There,
Check with the hospital about the medical check. If it is not true she is a problem.
Did she cancel your visa? Maybe you can use the trip to get a new work visa. But you should be able to change worlplaces at immigration if you have a letter of release. |
The medical thing is common here to give bosses the private info. You are right in that if OP is in japan, go ahead and get a tourist visa, so you can be in country without problem. unfortunately i think the LoR is out of the question. OP if you are in country when the new teachers arrive, contact them and let them know what is up. It's the responsible thing to do that way the boss can't screw them also |
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Murph
Joined: 31 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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| Waluigi wrote: |
| TK421 wrote: |
So I gave my two months a little bit ago, leaving my contract a couple months early. I was supposed to leave on August 28.
Yesterday my boss called a meeting with me and said she's not pleased with my performance and that she's firing me and I have to be gone in one week. ONE WEEK. I live in a studio above my school, my school is huge, a huge building so my boss is my landlord. She gave me a list of reasons why I need to go, mostly siting that I'm late to class too much. I go at the same time as all my fellow teachers from the office.
The real reason I suspect is a new couple is coming and my school won't rent out any apartments outside of the school. They're going to use my studio, which I share a two bedroom studio suite with a girl, until the other girl is gone at the end of August and then the two bedroom studio will be theres. She will not admit this but everyone at my school knows it.
Today, I tried to plead with her, get her to let me stay longer, to prepare. Instead, she says I have to leave TODAY. TODAY. I told her I'm going to contact ATEC, the labor boards and a lawyer and she said go ahead and do that. In reality, that will be such a pain and more money that I am already screwed out of. WHAT DO I DO. There's really nothing to do except blacklist this school on every list on the internet.
Also, here's the kicker. A couple weeks ago I suspected I had a urinary tract infection so I went to the hospital to be tested. They tested me for every kind of bacteria, including STDs. My boss DOES NOT pay into the medical plan even though she takes the medical out of my pay check. She Usually reimburses us for small clinic fees. Well these tests were a few hundred dollars. She refused to pay, then she called the hospital and asked them everything I was tested for. They told her everything. Yesterday, ALL the results came back negative and they said I probably just have some minor inflammation and gave me antibiotics. Today she told me she doesn't want me around the children because I have sexual problems. Because they tested for those things to be safe. WTF!!!!! WTF???? Could I possibly feel worse right now? No. I don't know what to do.
I'm screwed so badly.
LASTLY, she fired me one week before my first and only paid vacation to Tokyo, which I have tickets for to meet my brother. She refuses to let me stay until then.
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"your spelling leaves a lot to be desired" |
You have got to be kidding me! Do you really think that the OP wants to read something that at a time like this? If you can't be helpful or supportive then bugger off! I'll end by highlighting the irony of your post. Sentences begin with capital letters. |
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Von Ludwig
Joined: 01 Sep 2009
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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| Waluigi wrote: |
your spelling leaves a lot to be desired, but I wouldn't say that's a good reason to sack you.
surely there's a story behind the story here? if not, it's horrific. |
Are you kidding me? You decide to comment on her spelling while she is going through hell?!  |
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conrad2
Joined: 05 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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| You are not the first one this has happened to OP. Let this be a lesson to you newbies. Unless you trust your employer 100%, if you decide to leave a job early, get your pay and leave. No notice. Zip. Unfortunate, but thats the way it has to be. |
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NYC_Gal
Joined: 08 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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| conrad2 wrote: |
| You are not the first one this has happened to OP. Let this be a lesson to you newbies. Unless you trust your employer 100%, if you decide to leave a job early, get your pay and leave. No notice. Zip. Unfortunate, but thats the way it has to be. |
+1 |
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questionmark
Joined: 11 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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| TK421 wrote: |
So I gave my two months a little bit ago, leaving my contract a couple months early. I was supposed to leave on August 28.
Yesterday my boss called a meeting with me and said she's not pleased with my performance and that she's firing me and I have to be gone in one week. ONE WEEK. I live in a studio above my school, my school is huge, a huge building so my boss is my landlord. She gave me a list of reasons why I need to go, mostly siting that I'm late to class too much. I go at the same time as all my fellow teachers from the office.
The real reason I suspect is a new couple is coming and my school won't rent out any apartments outside of the school. They're going to use my studio, which I share a two bedroom studio suite with a girl, until the other girl is gone at the end of August and then the two bedroom studio will be theres. She will not admit this but everyone at my school knows it.
Today, I tried to plead with her, get her to let me stay longer, to prepare. Instead, she says I have to leave TODAY. TODAY. I told her I'm going to contact ATEC, the labor boards and a lawyer and she said go ahead and do that. In reality, that will be such a pain and more money that I am already screwed out of. WHAT DO I DO. There's really nothing to do except blacklist this school on every list on the internet.
Also, here's the kicker. A couple weeks ago I suspected I had a urinary tract infection so I went to the hospital to be tested. They tested me for every kind of bacteria, including STDs. My boss DOES NOT pay into the medical plan even though she takes the medical out of my pay check. She Usually reimburses us for small clinic fees. Well these tests were a few hundred dollars. She refused to pay, then she called the hospital and asked them everything I was tested for. They told her everything. Yesterday, ALL the results came back negative and they said I probably just have some minor inflammation and gave me antibiotics. Today she told me she doesn't want me around the children because I have sexual problems. Because they tested for those things to be safe. WTF!!!!! WTF???? Could I possibly feel worse right now? No. I don't know what to do.
I'm screwed so badly.
LASTLY, she fired me one week before my first and only paid vacation to Tokyo, which I have tickets for to meet my brother. She refuses to let me stay until then. |
First, Get a notebook and write down a plan of action to get through your situation. You can do it. Things to consider: where to stay, whether to look for another job, applying for a new job, returning home, visa or passport stamp run to Fukuoka, checking airfares, documenting your case, getting new application documents, transferring documents to new school, etc.
Second, find a temporary place to stay with a friend.
Third, contact the Labor Office. Your owner is required to give you 30 days notice when you receive a notice of termination or pay you for that time. You might want to mention this in an email to your hagwon.
Labor Office - (02) 1350, press option 5, then press option 1
Fourth, The Seoul Global Center also offers free labor consulation from practicing attorneys. Call switchboard at: English: Jeong Mae Bak (02-2075-4138. Explain your case and they can outline a strategy.
Read the "sticky" at Dave's ESL Cafe on legally hammering your boss.; There's an attorney with 20 years experience mentioned that assists English teachers.
Reread your contract terms for termination. Normally an employer is supposed to give you prior warnings before being terminated.
Question: Has your hagwon notified you in writing. The Labor Office will tell you that the hagwon has to give you a written notice AND it is supposed to state that you will be terminated in 30 days. If the hagwon terminates you before 30 days, they have to pay you.
Email your boss and document the verbal reason for termination in writing. Emails become supporting documentation for your Labor petition. Try to get a Korean friend to translate relevant parts when you file your petition with Labor (the Suwon labor office is the location for filing petitions requesting a remedy for unfair dismissal).
Fifth: File a petition for remedy of unfair dismissal at the Suwon Labor Office. It may take 2 - 3 months to process. I did and received 2 months pay for my unfair dismissal. i also filed a separate petition for the extra hours my hagwon asked me to work (example, student assessments between classes) and Labor had them pay me for that also. Your email file will help provide support for your Labor petition.
Get email addresses from students and teachers that you can use to document in writing that you were on time for class. Also, get letters of recommendation from students. Getting emails first will allow you to take care of this later since you are under a lot of pressure and time constraint.
Your owner or hagwon representative is supposed to go with you within 14 days after your last day of work to cancel your visa and then you have an additional 30 days to secure a job before having to depart Korea, so you have some time to make a decision or even secure another job.
Your boss sounds irrational which is a problem at a lot of hagwons so document everything in writing. Hagwon owners will say one thing to you and another to Labor. Hagwons will play a waiting game until the last minute to see if you will give up.
NOTE: Repost your situation under "Job Forums" for additional advice.
Note: If you do a turnaround from Japan you will need to have application documents again to reapply. The application process for E-2 visa teaching positions is changing: 1 Sep 2010, notarized copy of diploma and no sealed transcript and 1 Jan 2011, apostille "federal" crb for U.S. citizens.
Note: After 6 months your current crb is no longer valid.
Check with Immigration on transferring your documents if you obtain a position before being required to leave the country. I believe transfer of documents only applies to public schools, not hagwons. Unaware of minimum time to have worked to be able to transfer documents.
Immigration: 02-1345.
Last edited by questionmark on Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:09 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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TK421
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:49 am Post subject: Re: I was fired from my Hagwon yesterday |
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| Waluigi wrote: |
| TK421 wrote: |
So I gave my two months a little bit ago, leaving my contract a couple months early. I was supposed to leave on August 28.
Yesterday my boss called a meeting with me and said she's not pleased with my performance and that she's firing me and I have to be gone in one week. ONE WEEK. I live in a studio above my school, my school is huge, a huge building so my boss is my landlord. She gave me a list of reasons why I need to go, mostly siting that I'm late to class too much. I go at the same time as all my fellow teachers from the office.
The real reason I suspect is a new couple is coming and my school won't rent out any apartments outside of the school. They're going to use my studio, which I share a two bedroom studio suite with a girl, until the other girl is gone at the end of August and then the two bedroom studio will be theres. She will not admit this but everyone at my school knows it.
Today, I tried to plead with her, get her to let me stay longer, to prepare. Instead, she says I have to leave TODAY. TODAY. I told her I'm going to contact ATEC, the labor boards and a lawyer and she said go ahead and do that. In reality, that will be such a pain and more money that I am already screwed out of. WHAT DO I DO. There's really nothing to do except blacklist this school on every list on the internet.
Also, here's the kicker. A couple weeks ago I suspected I had a urinary tract infection so I went to the hospital to be tested. They tested me for every kind of bacteria, including STDs. My boss DOES NOT pay into the medical plan even though she takes the medical out of my pay check. She Usually reimburses us for small clinic fees. Well these tests were a few hundred dollars. She refused to pay, then she called the hospital and asked them everything I was tested for. They told her everything. Yesterday, ALL the results came back negative and they said I probably just have some minor inflammation and gave me antibiotics. Today she told me she doesn't want me around the children because I have sexual problems. Because they tested for those things to be safe. WTF!!!!! WTF???? Could I possibly feel worse right now? No. I don't know what to do.
I'm screwed so badly.
LASTLY, she fired me one week before my first and only paid vacation to Tokyo, which I have tickets for to meet my brother. She refuses to let me stay until then. |
your spelling leaves a lot to be desired, but I wouldn't say that's a good reason to sack you.
surely there's a story behind the story here? if not, it's horrific. |
Yeah, thanks. I typed all of that in a huge rush, in about 2 minutes. Stream of thought. There are one, maybe two spelling mistakes and grammar mistakes due to typing how I would be speaking. What I really need right now is someone pointing out that my English is less than adequate. My English is absolutely perfect when I care. I'm great at editing. I wonder when people will stop thinking the internet is a great example of literary skill.
And there's no story behind the story. This is how it happened.
Thank you everyone who has been helpful. I'll be making some calls and writing some e-mails. |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:02 am Post subject: |
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not much you can do really...
you are another victim of exploitation!
get a release letter! and find another job!
your boss sounds like a real cow!
black list her school on all the sites! and tell your co workers... |
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Leslie Cheswyck
Joined: 31 May 2003
Location: University of Western Chile
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:14 am Post subject: |
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| You didn't pull a midnight runner and you're being punished for it. |
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