Suppose either party asks the labor department to arrange mediation. (That doesnât cost anything, except to the taxpayer.) Even though mediation is not binding unless both parties reach an agreement at the end of it, making a false statement during mediation may result in an administrative fine (see Act for the Settlement of Labor-Management Disputes).
You could instead admit that you lied or just Glomarize. That wonât help you to gain the mediatorâs sympathy (or improve the image Taiwanese have of foreigners), but more importantly, it gives the other party something to use against you (not the statement you do or donât make during mediation but the discovery that you lied before mediation). If for whatever reason the case does go to court, the fact that you lied counts against you.
And the only way this ridiculous tendency will ever fall into disuse is if people stop using it. One step at a timeâŚ
Oh yeah, and donât piss off the bureaucrats of the underworld.
The contract system in Taiwan is exploitative and works in favour of the employer every time. Teachers here wonât or canât organise, and this allows schools to call all the shots. They have this âtake it or leave itâ attitude and itâs difficult to negotiate better terms. This is particularly true of TEFL jobs. There are just too many people hunting for English teaching jobs these days, and employers are unable to differentiate between us. They think the right person is someone who 1) Turns up now, 2) Lives nearby, and 3) Goes along with everything, smiles and doesnât ask questions. Taking all this into account, and the fact that many people are dependent on their job for residency, then you are bound to sign a contract you wish you hadnât at some point. We have discussed lying about bereavement. Another option is to get yourself fired. You donât have to do anything too outrageousâjust turn up late without explanation a few times or something like that. For an employer to sue you they need to know where you live and your phone number, so another thing to consider when abruptly terminating a job is to move. Hope this helps. Iâm speaking from a lot of experience.
