So, this week Tuesday my uni emailed me (and all the other teachers, foreign and Chinese) to tell us that our Friday morning classes had been shifted to Saturday afternoon, because of local elections.
I emailed them in reply and said that I had been booked to do other work two weeks ago and that I wouldn’t cancel a weekend of work (NT$15000) to come in for one 100 minutes class (travel time 180 minutes).
They’re now threatening disciplinary action, and possible contract cancellation.
I told them they can’t expect people to rearrange their lives around their shoddy foresight and planning. I added that as they reminded me I may not partake in non-uni work the uni admin had mass emailed foreign teachers on many occasions offering private teaching work on the side. I told them I had been contracted three times (three years) and had no disciplinary issues prior to this. I also added that it would be best to resolve this minor issue without ‘outside involvement’.
I bemusedly await their decision.
A penny for your thoughts? What would you do/say to your employer?
You should have lied. Said you had to go to a family funeral, or something.
20-20 vision with hindight. Not sure what I would do in your position now.
Yeah, you have undoubtedly dug yourself in deeper. But there is no good way in these situations with unreasonable people.
After all my years dealing with Chinese/Taiwanese, I would ignore the email, don’t go, and then claim that I never received it. Make profuse apologies and later present a very large conspicuous but cheap present as an apology. Repeatedly apologize for weeks until they are so sick of it they will tell you to stop for real.
But since I hate doing that kind of shit I don’t work for Chinese or Taiwanese any more. 
I shoulda/coulda done as you fellows mentioned - I’ve been in this neck of the woods long enough to know the drill.
But I was feeling honest, which isn’t always a good or necessary characteristic when dealing with the locals.
I think deep down in their hearts they know they’re being unreasonable, and they also know that the majority of the local teachers and professors bump up their salaries by tutoring on the side.
I’m willing to bet they’ll let it go with a written warning or even just brush it under the carpet - it’s the dean who’s taken umbrage to this, the FAO knows foreigners better and she’ll probably soothe him. Since I’m wrapping up with the uni in June next year I’m not too upset.
Must note though I would struggle to apologise to them. In fact I have an outstanding apology owed to me about a previous act of idiocy/disrespect of theirs that I might call up if needed. But that might be adding fuel to the fire…
Smart not to work for the Chinese/Taiwanese, Mucha Man. I’m looking forward to that. Well, actually the company I work for on weekends is in fact British - they’re able to plan a whole year’s schedule and get it out in October of the preceding year. Not so the behemoth of a university.
Always remember that the first casualty of teaching EFL in Asia is pride.
I’d swallow it if I were you and have an easy final few months. Your choice, though.
I guess my reasonably strongly worded email did the job - they’ve backtracked a little and I’m making up the class next week.
I hear you. I’m pretty low key and don’t create any problems - this one came to me by way of me being honest.
Good to hear. Sometimes an organization can be big enough that you don’t piss off any one person enough to make them resentful or lose face.
Arrange for a substitute teacher.
Oh, shoulda read you’re doing it later anyway.
NEXT TIME< arrange for a substitute teacher.
This uni doesn’t ‘do’ substitute teachers, only ‘make up’ classes.
Anyways, it’s sorted now.