Ah, the time of last-minute work contract renewals…New contract starts April 1 and do not receive it until April 1.
The quick back story: I have been working for one of the Big Eikaiwa as an online teacher for 10 years. First 8 years part-time and I had a fullish-time gig elsewhere that was my employer on record for visa renewals. Every year sign 2 6 month contracts. One in april, one in October. Carry on. Two years ago, Big E asks if I would go to a more full-time schedule as they want to start offering daytime hours from their online center. Me: "Well, will you take over filling in the employer form for my visa renewal/extensions?" They: "Can do!"
New contract for the term received. It's for 3 months and 4 days?! Me: "This term is odd. Why does the work contact expire on my visa expiry date, not a usual 1 year contract?" Big E: "New policy. Work contracts end when visa expires if visa expires prior to end of the usual contract term." Me: "Seems like that sort of info should have been shared many months ago." Big E: "New policy. Effective immediately."
Whatever. I'm about to renew my work visa anyway.
Me: "Here is the employer form to fill in for my visa renewal and extension." Big E: "We don't do that anymore. Since all teachers are freelance, no form from us." Me: "Ah, other freelance employers do it when staff has them as their main job." Big E: "We don't anymore. New policy." Me: "You did last year and again this sort of info seems like it should have been shared before a new contract and before now." Big E: "As said, new policy. Just started. Effective immediately."
*I have spoken with other staff – they have same situations, so this is not a situation of Big E coming after me specifically.
I am pretty sure that having had 10 years of 6 month contracts – they can't randomly change their contract term based on my visa expiry without having notified me well in advance.
I am also pretty sure that if they would no longer fill in an employer form, even though they did last year, and promised they would in future, that they can not spring this on someone 3 months before visa renewal.
End note: I'm attending grad school part-time and when graduate will change careers. Eikaiwa, especially from online, lets me save commute time, and be able to easily attend my own online classes and study. I'm not really looking to go on a major job hunt at this point.
by musicandavocados