I am working at a school that pays by the hour. There is a lot of extra work that I have to do and it has to be done during my own time (un-payed). This seems rather strange to me.
When I discussed and signed my contract it was agreed that I would have some responsibilities that I would need to attend to during un-paid time but I feel I was mis-lead about how much time that would be.
Anyone have similar situations or insight into the matter?
Thanks
What does the “extra work” entail? I teach twenty four classes a week and on average spend another five hours preping classes or doing reports. generally prep work is not paid for.
If the unpaid work is scrubbing the toilet or cleaning up kids rubbish I’d tell them to take a walk.
L.
Prep time and grading homework as extra is pretty typical. It shouldn’t be more than 30 minutes for a 2 hour class (once you get a handle on the system). Weekly and monthly reports are also standard fare.
But some schools want teachers to listen to a class load of tapes, give free make-up lessons to kids who miss a class, do excessive amounts of phone calls to kids (fine when paid per/call as many schools do), write up kids’ speeches and help them rehearse for performances, etc.
Occasional extra work can be part of the contract. But when extra work means you spend 1 hour out of class for every 2 in class that means you’re making 25% less per hour than your wage says. If, including prep time and grading homework, it gets to 1 hour out of class for every hour in class it means you are effectively halving your wage.
If feel you’re being asked to go above and beyond what is merited by your pay and your contract, simply tell them that you aren’t available.