With months like these…I hate my job

It’s non-stop action and drama at work this month.  First up, 3 administrative people are leaving. Originally it was just going to be one – Kyoko going on mat leave on the 26th.  Then our Operations Coordinator, Zheniya, found out her husband got a co-op arrangement in the oil fields of Fort McMurray. She leaves on the 21st.Then during my week off Ian, who was our interim manager/Victoria’s manager/Marketing Manager for NA/Interim Director for NA, also quit because of a lack of $$.  NA means 10 schools in Canada and the US. Tomorrow is his last day.  Not only that, but the financial officer for Vancouver and Victoria is quitting this month and possibly the AC in Victoria too.  The up side is we will have a new manager, Israel, on the 25th.  He’s from Mexico City and is currently living in Vancouver.  One of our former students has been hired to fill both Kyoko’s and Zheniya’s positions and Kazuyo, our financial person, will cover Victoria and Vancouver’s finances in addition to ours as cost-cutting measures.  There is no replacement manager for Victoria.  HO wanted the Operations Coordinator there to assume the role in addition to her other one to save money, but she said “nope!”.

Meanwhile…I’ve been rabbling on behalf of the teachers. Hopefully I won’t end up like Hoffa. 😀  About a month ago I was talking to the Head of Academics back East (Jill) about the non-competitive starting wage for teachers.  Most private ESL schools start at $27/h and those with experience or more education get more.  We offered $20.  Needless to say once that became known at interviews the applicants were “thanks, but no thanks.” and we couldn’t hire anyone. I recommended that we raise the starting wage to $25 and the wage for our more senior staff to $27.  What came back was $22 for newbies and no change for others (we have a wage freeze on you know).  Was the increase Woo-hoo-worthy?  Considering the last “raise” given to one of best teachers was an insulting 0.53…yes.  $2 is magnanimous. 😑 I expressed to Jill that we can’t do a one-sided increase.  When the others find out it will be disastrous – $22 is more than one with 6 years tenure, the same as another with 8 years tenure, and a buck less than the third also with 8 years tenure.  These 3 are justifiably upset…to the point of quitting because they’ve had enough of this BS and being jerked around.  I conveyed this to Jill and said that if these teachers do leave we’re screwed.  We have no one to replace them; even with the increase to $22/h applicants still laugh at us.  Plus, they are our best teachers and some students are likely to leave and/or complain to their agents which will result in lost business. The company could allay these mutinous rumblings for a measly $6/h ($2/h/teacher).  I’m expecting to find my Inbox full tomorrow with letters back-and-forth among me, Jill, Josephine (Chief Comptroller for NA), Ian, and Israel.  Either that or the phone will be ringing off the hook.  I’m expecting Josephine to say forget that. We’ve already had the one wage increase.

I wonder what May will bring…besides Mayflowers.  😀