Company recinding contract renewal offer

0x0005D0 · Jun 25, 2016

Long story short, I work at a charter high school for international students. Recently I made some comments off the clock, towards nobody in particular, that they shouldn't be hiring immigrants who can't speak the local language to teach, especially if those people have dubious credentials.

As we receive some funding from the government, I don't see anything wrong with the statement, but the incoming Dean got wind of it and said that they would have to discuss the status of the contract with the other teachers. After discussing it amongst themselves, they decided to rescind my contract offer because, in their view, my statements could create a potentially hostile workplace environment and it showed that I was being "cutthroat" and wouldn't be a team player. I find this unfair for a few reasons: First, I had already been elected department chair by my peers, but the Dean did not actually ask anybody in my department who actually had the most experience working with me. Second, if other teachers had the right to make decisions on the status of my contract, then surely in the interest of fairness there should have been a degree of reciprocity; I was never asked to provide input on the status of other teachers' contracts. Thirdly, last year's Board of Directors and Parent Association had already approved my contract offer, as well as the promotion, for next year due to my performance as a teacher.

Was that a fair move on their part? If it's not is there anything I can do?

McBell · Jun 25, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
Long story short, I work at a charter high school for international students. Recently I made some comments off the clock, towards nobody in particular, that they shouldn't be hiring immigrants who can't speak the local language to teach, especially if those people have dubious credentials.

As we receive some funding from the government, I don't see anything wrong with the statement, but the incoming Dean got wind of it and said that they would have to discuss the status of the contract with the other teachers. After discussing it amongst themselves, they decided to rescind my contract offer because, in their view, my statements could create a potentially hostile workplace environment and it showed that I was being "cutthroat" and wouldn't be a team player. I find this unfair as first, I was never asked to provide input on the status of other teachers' contracts, and secondly, last year's Board of Directors and Parent Association had already approved my contract offer for next year due to my performance as a teacher.

Was that a fair move on their part? If it's not is there anything I can do?

Are you in an "at will" state?

0x0005D0 · Jun 25, 2016

Mestemia said:
Are you in an "at will" state?

I don't work in the United States, so the contract is all that mattered. Technically I'm still on the old contract as the new ones won't be signed until the end of this month, and wouldn't go into effect until August 10th, meaning my contract for the upcoming year was rescinded before it can start.

The local laws aren't really clear about this, but my original contract makes it clear that there was no guarantee of renewal. I do have an official letter from the Board of Directors saying that they were going to offer me a new contract, and that my promotion had been accepted, but that's all I have at the moment.

I'm assuming at this point it would be more of an internal affair than a legal one.

Shadow Wolf · Jun 25, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
The local laws aren't really clear about this, but my original contract makes it clear that there was no guarantee of renewal. I do have an official letter from the Board of Directors saying that they were going to offer me a new contract, and that my promotion had been accepted, but that's all I have at the moment.

You may want to get a lawyer then. As I am reading it, there is a big difference between "going to offer" and having signed it. Given you don't work in the US, I can't say exactly what laws you're working under and how they work, but, generally speaking, if you have any questions or concerns a lawyer is the best place to start, as they have resources, knowledge, and training to guide you in a better and more definite direction than what random strangers on the internet can.

0x0005D0 · Jun 25, 2016

Shadow Wolf said:
You may want to get a lawyer then. As I am reading it, there is a big difference between "going to offer" and having signed it. Given you don't work in the US, I can't say exactly what laws you're working under and how they work, but, generally speaking, if you have any questions or concerns a lawyer is the best place to start, as they have resources, knowledge, and training to guide you in a better and more definite direction than what random strangers on the internet can.

I've basically already initiated my own lines of inquiry and contacted the President of the Board, as I'm sure that he would have more say than the Dean (who hasn't even begun working there, and therefore is on provisional status). I have been on good terms with him, and if I can settle it with him without paying a lawyer, I'm willing to do so.

Jayhawker Soule · Jun 25, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
Long story short, I work at a charter high school for international students. Recently I made some comments off the clock, towards nobody in particular, that they shouldn't be hiring immigrants who can't speak the local language to teach, especially if those people have dubious credentials.

I, on the other hand, don't think that they should hire or tolerate those with dubious ethics.

0x0005D0 · Jun 25, 2016

Jayhawker Soule said:
I, on the other hand, don't think that they should hire or tolerate those with dubious ethics.

Do you think it's ethical that someone who doesn't speak the language spoken by the majority of the students they're to be educating should get a taxpayer-funded salary?

Shadow Wolf · Jun 25, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
I've basically already initiated my own lines of inquiry and contacted the President of the Board, as I'm sure that he would have more say than the Dean (who hasn't even begun working there, and therefore is on provisional status). I have been on good terms with him, and if I can settle it with him without paying a lawyer, I'm willing to do so.

That would be ideal. Maybe the technicalities of law are simpler were you are, and you won't need a lawyer to help you sort them all out.

0x0005D0 said:
Do you think it's ethical that someone who doesn't speak the language spoken by the majority of the students they're to be educating should get a taxpayer-funded salary?

I am curious as to where you are at, because not that many places outside of America get worked up over the language issue, and if anything expect people to be multilingual.

Rick O'Shez · Jun 25, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
The local laws aren't really clear about this, but my original contract makes it clear that there was no guarantee of renewal. I do have an official letter from the Board of Directors saying that they were going to offer me a new contract, and that my promotion had been accepted, but that's all I have at the moment.
.

It sounds like you are on a fixed-term contract, which leaves you in a tricky position. It might depend on the wording of the letter from the Board of Directors - how definite was it about offering a fresh contract? Is there anyone senior apart from the Dean you could talk to?

If things don't work out then bear in mind you might need a reference from your current employer, probably best not to get too confrontational.

columbus · Jun 25, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
Do you think it's ethical that someone who doesn't speak the language spoken by the majority of the students they're to be educating should get a taxpayer-funded salary?

At an international charter high school?
Yes, definitely I can understand circumstances where the top priority for the staff might not be fluency in the local language.
Tom

McBell · Jun 25, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
I don't work in the United States, so the contract is all that mattered. Technically I'm still on the old contract as the new ones won't be signed until the end of this month, and wouldn't go into effect until August 10th, meaning my contract for the upcoming year was rescinded before it can start.

The local laws aren't really clear about this, but my original contract makes it clear that there was no guarantee of renewal. I do have an official letter from the Board of Directors saying that they were going to offer me a new contract, and that my promotion had been accepted, but that's all I have at the moment.

I'm assuming at this point it would be more of an internal affair than a legal one.

Good luck.
Sounds to me like you really need to get a lawyer and go over all the paperwork you have with a fine tooth comb.

AsianActivist · Jun 25, 2016

I work at a charter high school for international students. Recently I made some comments off the clock, towards nobody in particular, that they shouldn't be hiring immigrants who can't speak the local language to teach

Honestly? You work at an INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL and you can't figure our why you were let go for making disparaging comments about immigrants? Maybe you're the one that doesn't deserve to teach. And what's even worse is that rather than take it like an adult, you decided to play the office politics game by going over your immediate supervisor's head, making alliances behind his/her back and taking the coward's way out to get your job back with a total disregard to your co-workers. The Dean is right: you are being very unreasonable, unethical, and cut-throat and creating a toxic environment for those around you.

Personally, I'd rather hire an immigrant high school dropout with no experience, but with a positive attitude than a local with an advanced degree, years of experience, and a negative attitude. Knowledge and experience can often be learned with enough patience, but bad attitudes never seem to change and end up infecting the rest of the organization.

McBell · Jun 25, 2016

AsianActivist said:
Honestly? You work at an INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL and you can't figure our why you were let go for making disparaging comments about immigrants? Maybe you're the one that doesn't deserve to teach. And what's even worse is that rather than take it like an adult, you decided to play the office politics game by going over your immediate supervisor's head, making alliances behind his/her back and taking the coward's way out to get your job back with a total disregard to your co-workers. The Dean is right: you are being very unreasonable, unethical, and cut-throat and creating a toxic environment for those around you.

Personally, I'd rather hire an immigrant high school dropout with no experience, but with a positive attitude than a local with an advanced degree, years of experience, and a negative attitude. Knowledge and experience can often be learned with enough patience, but bad attitudes never seem to change and end up infecting the rest of the organization.

assume much?

0x0005D0 · Jun 26, 2016

Rick O'Shez said:
It sounds like you are on a fixed-term contract, which leaves you in a tricky position. It might depend on the wording of the letter from the Board of Directors - how definite was it about offering a fresh contract? Is there anyone senior apart from the Dean you could talk to?

If things don't work out then bear in mind you might need a reference from your current employer, probably best not to get too confrontational.

They essentially said that the contract was "renewed, pending my decision": Essentially all there was for me to do was sign the contract.

http://i.imgur.com/V9Jdjo3.png

Thief · Jun 26, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
Long story short, I work at a charter high school for international students. Recently I made some comments off the clock, towards nobody in particular, that they shouldn't be hiring immigrants who can't speak the local language to teach, especially if those people have dubious credentials.

As we receive some funding from the government, I don't see anything wrong with the statement, but the incoming Dean got wind of it and said that they would have to discuss the status of the contract with the other teachers. After discussing it amongst themselves, they decided to rescind my contract offer because, in their view, my statements could create a potentially hostile workplace environment and it showed that I was being "cutthroat" and wouldn't be a team player. I find this unfair for a few reasons: First, I had already been elected department chair by my peers, but the Dean did not actually ask anybody in my department who actually had the most experience working with me. Second, if other teachers had the right to make decisions on the status of my contract, then surely in the interest of fairness there should have been a degree of reciprocity; I was never asked to provide input on the status of other teachers' contracts. Thirdly, last year's Board of Directors and Parent Association had already approved my contract offer, as well as the promotion, for next year due to my performance as a teacher.

Was that a fair move on their part? If it's not is there anything I can do?

I tend to be rebel.....free speech and all that....

if they don't come to their senses....go public....

oh!....that's right ....you already have!

nevermind

Shadow Wolf · Jun 27, 2016

0x0005D0 said:
They essentially said that the contract was "renewed, pending my decision": Essentially all there was for me to do was sign the contract.

http://i.imgur.com/V9Jdjo3.png

If the contract hasn't been signed, there may be nothing you can do.

Company recinding contract renewal offer

0x0005D0

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McBell

Resident Sourpuss

0x0005D0

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Shadow Wolf

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0x0005D0

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Jayhawker Soule

-- untitled --

0x0005D0

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Shadow Wolf

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Rick O'Shez

Irishman bouncing off walls

columbus

yawn <ignore> yawn

McBell

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AsianActivist

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McBell

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0x0005D0

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Thief

Rogue Theologian

Shadow Wolf

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