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I know this isn't a relationship issue but this board is sure to examine all sides.
What are the ethics of quitting a job you just accepted?
I signed a contract to teach at a charter school and am regretting it. Between the hours (longer than most high schools) and the after school requirements, I will have to make my kids switch back to the local public schools in order to avoid not being able to particpate in their activities and avoid rediculous drive time (I'll explain this if you wish but it's long). School starts in a week, I'm a week into their training program. I just heard that I may get a job offer from the school my girls were attending tomorrow. If I do, is it right to take it?
I wanted to work at my girl's school from the beginning but the only opening they had was math and they saw me as a fantastic candiate for science but not math. They'll find out tomorrow if they're losing one of their science teachers. If they do, I've been told my name is at the top of the list and an offer will be made.
My husband says this happens all the time where you sign on with one company and another comes along with a better offer. What do you guys think?
If I get the job at their school, I eliminate all issues with conflict between metting my obligations to my kids and to my profession. In fact, I'm free to devote more time to teh latter as I'll be the one hanging around after school waiting for my kids to get done with their extra curriculars.
What do you guys think. Kind of cart before horse as I don't actually know I'm getting the offer (depends of if their science teacher got the job he went for) but the ethics of quitting a week after I accepted a job is weighing on my mind.
I know this isn't a relationship issue but this board is sure to examine all sides.
What are the ethics of quitting a job you just accepted?
I signed a contract to teach at a charter school and am regretting it. Between the hours (longer than most high schools) and the after school requirements, I will have to make my kids switch back to the local public schools in order to avoid not being able to particpate in their activities and avoid rediculous drive time (I'll explain this if you wish but it's long). School starts in a week, I'm a week into their training program. I just heard that I may get a job offer from the school my girls were attending tomorrow. If I do, is it right to take it?
I wanted to work at my girl's school from the beginning but the only opening they had was math and they saw me as a fantastic candiate for science but not math. They'll find out tomorrow if they're losing one of their science teachers. If they do, I've been told my name is at the top of the list and an offer will be made.
My husband says this happens all the time where you sign on with one company and another comes along with a better offer. What do you guys think?
If I get the job at their school, I eliminate all issues with conflict between metting my obligations to my kids and to my profession. In fact, I'm free to devote more time to teh latter as I'll be the one hanging around after school waiting for my kids to get done with their extra curriculars.
What do you guys think. Kind of cart before horse as I don't actually know I'm getting the offer (depends of if their science teacher got the job he went for) but the ethics of quitting a week after I accepted a job is weighing on my mind.
Thanks.
I agree with your husband. You've got to do what is right and best for your family - this is a no brainer
Okay....coming from somone who works behind the scenes in public education....just be honest.....go to your principal and tell him/her your dilema....you family has to come first....if you have a better offer out there that allows you more time for your family and you want to take it you need to tell them exactly how you feel.....if they are a "true" school district they will completley understand. Just be completley honest with them. It's a dog eat dog world out there you have to do what is best for your family....or who will?
I agree, the new job as it stands now would be a bad move for your family. And your first loyalty should always be to do what's best for your family, particularly your children. It's not the same as if you accepted it, then turned it down for a better job offer elsewhere.
I'm kind of in the middle on this. A contract is just that, a contract. I've had to live up to contracts I've regretted signing because I felt that was my word. However, given that you haven't gotten into the middle of the school year yet, you can always approach your principal and ask if a replacement could be easily found.
However, if the principal cannot help you, that means breaking your contract means leaving your employer with a serious problem. If that's really the case I think you need to suck it up and work through the contract. You knew what conditions the job would entail before you signed the contract, after all. It's the ethical thing to do, it's what you've promised to do, and you'll feel better about yourself having done that.
I'm kind of in the middle on this. A contract is just that, a contract. I've had to live up to contracts I've regretted signing because I felt that was my word. However, given that you haven't gotten into the middle of the school year yet, you can always approach your principal and ask if a replacement could be easily found.
However, if the principal cannot help you, that means breaking your contract means leaving your employer with a serious problem. If that's really the case I think you need to suck it up and work through the contract. You knew what conditions the job would entail before you signed the contract, after all. It's the ethical thing to do, it's what you've promised to do, and you'll feel better about yourself having done that.
Actually, no I didn't. I knew the hours were longer but didn't relize that I'd have to stay even later every Wednesday for staff meetings which makes it impossible to get to the girls current school and get my younger daughter to her keyboard class. This was the straw that broke the camels back WRT my kids staying in their school. When I accepted this, I thought I could manage to keep them there with a lot of driving. Dd#2 is too talented to pull from piano and there is no other class for her level in the school she's in and no other similar school in the area. Pulling my kids from their school wasn't what I signed up for but it's what I'll have to do to accomodate this job.
Also, I had no choice but to accept as I was on unemployment and the second you turn down an offer, you can't draw anymore.
I also did not know I'd have upwards of 170 kids per day. Most high school teachers in this area have about 130. I was told after I hired in that class sizes go up to 34. And I didn't know I'd be micromanaged. That I"m really struggling with. I'm used to being treated like I'm competent and will do my job not like I need to be babysat.
The contract has a 14 days notice clause if I quit. The question is does that apply after only a week?
What everybody else said! Just quit on a good and polite note, so you don't burn any bridges should you need to work there in the future.
Quitting after one week will burn bridiges I'm sure. Although burning this bridge doesn't matter. I had no intention of returning to this school next year because wihtout latch key (my kids will be too old next year) my girls would have been left sitting out in front of their school for 2 hours every day waiting for me if I stayed here.
The administrator who cued me in that I may get an offer told me she never would have approached me if the school year had started but does not consider a change now unethical. She says it happens all the time that teachers take one job and then another better offer comes along. Her take is if I did it after school started, which I would be if I gave the required 14 days notice in my contract, I would be.
Last edited by Ivorytickler; 08-21-2008 at 08:26 PM..
Actually, no I didn't. I knew the hours were longer but didn't relize that I'd have to stay even later every Wednesday for staff meetings which makes it impossible to get to the girls current school and get my younger daughter to her keyboard class. This was the straw that broke the camels back WRT my kids staying in their school. When I accepted this, I thought I could manage to keep them there with a lot of driving. Dd#2 is too talented to pull from piano and there is no other class for her level in the school she's in and no other similar school in the area. Pulling my kids from their school wasn't what I signed up for but it's what I'll have to do to accomodate this job.
Also, I had no choice but to accept as I was on unemployment and the second you turn down an offer, you can't draw anymore.
I'm really empathetic, but here's my question for all that. Did they mislead you, or did you not ask? Ethically, it's an important distinction.
That being said, it sounds like you've already made your decision and want validation. If so, you need to do it quickly and minimize the damage to your professional reputation.
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