Do I tell my new job that I'm still obligated to do four more weeks of teaching on the weekends?
June 18, 2012 12:30 PM Subscribe
Do I tell my new job that I'm still obligated to do four more weeks of teaching on the weekends?
I'm a math Ph.D. who gave up on academia and I have been trying to get into software development for about a year. In the meantime, I've been teaching math classes at the local community college on nights and weekends. The summer quarter started two weeks ago, and I'm teaching one Saturday/Sunday class.
Just last week I was offered a good job at a big company. It all happened very quickly: The interview was so short that I assumed it was a preliminary interview and I'd be called in for a real one later. They asked me when I could start, I told them right now, as I'm only teach a weekend class. The job doesn't start for a while, but there will be four weekends of classes left in the quarter when I start.
When I received the offer letter, I found that it said that the company prohibits outside employment without written permission from the company, and then says that outside employment is a conflict of interest, so no permission will be granted. The recruiter at the company didn't say anything about there being a problem with me finishing teaching this class, but then I can't say with certainty that he understood there would be an overlap.
So I'm really worried about what to do. I don't know if I'm in violation of their rules by teaching this class, and I really don't want to fuck up this job opportunity.
I don't even want to teach the class. I would quit if I could, but it's really irresponsible to quit teaching in the middle of a semester and leave them to scramble and find a replacement. Besides, I don't want to burn my bridges at the community college, especially as my wife may be looking for a job there at some point.
Right now, my best option seems to be to finish teaching, and not say anything to anyone.
Any advice? Am I just being paranoid?
I'm a math Ph.D. who gave up on academia and I have been trying to get into software development for about a year. In the meantime, I've been teaching math classes at the local community college on nights and weekends. The summer quarter started two weeks ago, and I'm teaching one Saturday/Sunday class.
Just last week I was offered a good job at a big company. It all happened very quickly: The interview was so short that I assumed it was a preliminary interview and I'd be called in for a real one later. They asked me when I could start, I told them right now, as I'm only teach a weekend class. The job doesn't start for a while, but there will be four weekends of classes left in the quarter when I start.
When I received the offer letter, I found that it said that the company prohibits outside employment without written permission from the company, and then says that outside employment is a conflict of interest, so no permission will be granted. The recruiter at the company didn't say anything about there being a problem with me finishing teaching this class, but then I can't say with certainty that he understood there would be an overlap.
So I'm really worried about what to do. I don't know if I'm in violation of their rules by teaching this class, and I really don't want to fuck up this job opportunity.
I don't even want to teach the class. I would quit if I could, but it's really irresponsible to quit teaching in the middle of a semester and leave them to scramble and find a replacement. Besides, I don't want to burn my bridges at the community college, especially as my wife may be looking for a job there at some point.
Right now, my best option seems to be to finish teaching, and not say anything to anyone.
Any advice? Am I just being paranoid?
I would quietly finish the weekend classes and not worry about it. They are worried about a conflict of interest, such as you working for a competitor or another venture that would involve you providing your best work elsewhere or profiting off of the work you are doing for their company. I don't think teaching math to students at a community college would count as such a conflict. I would finish out the teaching (on the down low, perhaps, to be on the safe side).
posted by Nightman at 12:38 PM on June 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by Nightman at 12:38 PM on June 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
I would quit if I could, but it's really irresponsible to quit teaching in the middle of a semester and leave them to scramble and find a replacement.
Are you under contract? If not, then that is not your concern. I understand not wanting to burn bridges, but the college will not worry about burning bridges when funding gets cut and they need to ax your position.
Ask your new employer for permission, based on the fact that this is a pre-existing commitment with a pre-determined end-date, but if they say no, then you need to give the bad news to the college. You could also try and see if they will postpone your start date, but I'd be worried they'd simply look to another applicant if you push too hard on that.
Or, thinking outside the box, could you resign from your teaching position, but offer to continue teaching the class as a volunteer? Presuming any form of weekend volunteering would be permissible by the new employer.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:38 PM on June 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Are you under contract? If not, then that is not your concern. I understand not wanting to burn bridges, but the college will not worry about burning bridges when funding gets cut and they need to ax your position.
Ask your new employer for permission, based on the fact that this is a pre-existing commitment with a pre-determined end-date, but if they say no, then you need to give the bad news to the college. You could also try and see if they will postpone your start date, but I'd be worried they'd simply look to another applicant if you push too hard on that.
Or, thinking outside the box, could you resign from your teaching position, but offer to continue teaching the class as a volunteer? Presuming any form of weekend volunteering would be permissible by the new employer.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:38 PM on June 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Accept the job. Then ask for written permission to continue teaching the class.
If they say no, you've got all this time to find a replacement.
I'm sure that it won't be a problem, but secure the job first.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:38 PM on June 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
If they say no, you've got all this time to find a replacement.
I'm sure that it won't be a problem, but secure the job first.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:38 PM on June 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Teaching a course at a local college does not present the same kind of conflict of interest that another job in your field would. Call the HR office at the company and ask them about this, make sure you specify that you're teaching math at a community college so there's no way that this is relevant to software development.
posted by mareli at 12:39 PM on June 18, 2012
posted by mareli at 12:39 PM on June 18, 2012
Yeah, all the negotiation should be done before you take the job. Otherwise, what's in it for them to give you what you want?
posted by griphus at 12:42 PM on June 18, 2012
posted by griphus at 12:42 PM on June 18, 2012
I don't think asking for written (or otherwise) permission is a good idea. at all.
They most likely have it in their policy to not give out such permission. I'm sure other people in the company have part-time jobs, or side jobs out of their hobbies, and nobody worries because those are not the kind of jobs that that contract was written about.
It's just to protect their own asses so they can fire or sue you in the event that you give out company secrets to a competitor.
posted by sarahnicolesays at 1:06 PM on June 18, 2012
They most likely have it in their policy to not give out such permission. I'm sure other people in the company have part-time jobs, or side jobs out of their hobbies, and nobody worries because those are not the kind of jobs that that contract was written about.
It's just to protect their own asses so they can fire or sue you in the event that you give out company secrets to a competitor.
posted by sarahnicolesays at 1:06 PM on June 18, 2012
I would contact the HR department and say "I made it clear to the recruiter that I had this temporary commitment. It ends on x date. I just want to touch base one more time to verify that I can uphold my end of this agreement with the community college."
Even if this type of thing does go against their policies, I don't see any reason they would object to hiring an employee under these conditions. Take care of it on the front end and you avoid any possible negative ramifications on the back end.
posted by raisingsand at 1:08 PM on June 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
Even if this type of thing does go against their policies, I don't see any reason they would object to hiring an employee under these conditions. Take care of it on the front end and you avoid any possible negative ramifications on the back end.
posted by raisingsand at 1:08 PM on June 18, 2012 [5 favorites]
AlexanderPetros: "Right now, my best option seems to be to finish teaching, and not say anything to anyone."
Pretty much. Practically speaking, your new job shouldn't have a problem with this. There's a major difference between "finishing a weekend commitment" and "I'm starting a business on the side", and companies are generally only interested in protecting themselves from the latter. But, there's no reason to bring it up with them.
posted by mkultra at 1:09 PM on June 18, 2012
Pretty much. Practically speaking, your new job shouldn't have a problem with this. There's a major difference between "finishing a weekend commitment" and "I'm starting a business on the side", and companies are generally only interested in protecting themselves from the latter. But, there's no reason to bring it up with them.
posted by mkultra at 1:09 PM on June 18, 2012
I think honesty is usually the best policy in cases like this. Before accepting the offer, explain to the HR department your situation, making it clear that this is the last month of a teaching stint, that it is temporary, that it will not interfere with your productivity on the job (since you're teaching on weekends), and that you feel that you should complete your commitment to the course. Offer a delayed start date, if necessary. Chances are that they won't see it as a conflict of interest. Make sure you get written permission and acceptance in hand, of course.
If that's not acceptable to them, go to your department chair at the community college and explain the situation. Some other faculty member can probably take over your course easily--student grades are based on tests and quizzes, as opposed to a long-term, all-semester project that would require your continued guidance. I'm sure this happens frequently, for all kinds of reasons, and the students likely will not suffer as a result of your departure, and you're unlikely to burn bridges, especially if you've first tried to negotiate with your prospective employer to finish out the summer session.
I don't know if your course has an online component--many do these days--but if it does, you could offer to upload quizzes, exams, exercises, study material, and even videotaped lectures to help students, if you feel as if you're leaving them in the lurch even with a substitute to finish out the session.
posted by tully_monster at 1:11 PM on June 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
If that's not acceptable to them, go to your department chair at the community college and explain the situation. Some other faculty member can probably take over your course easily--student grades are based on tests and quizzes, as opposed to a long-term, all-semester project that would require your continued guidance. I'm sure this happens frequently, for all kinds of reasons, and the students likely will not suffer as a result of your departure, and you're unlikely to burn bridges, especially if you've first tried to negotiate with your prospective employer to finish out the summer session.
I don't know if your course has an online component--many do these days--but if it does, you could offer to upload quizzes, exams, exercises, study material, and even videotaped lectures to help students, if you feel as if you're leaving them in the lurch even with a substitute to finish out the session.
posted by tully_monster at 1:11 PM on June 18, 2012 [2 favorites]
This is not a situation where you are employed by "employer" and want to seek outside employment. Their "no way" policy applies to that kind of request. They knew you had a job when they offered this one to you. Be honest and tell them that in reading the offer letter you have become aware of their policy. Explain your moral objection to dropping a class and students mid-stream, stressing it is week-ends only and non-competitive. If they take a strong stand, then you have to make your choice. Given the apparent strong interest they have in you I would hope they would be more impressed with your character than turned off by a few weeks' outside work.
posted by uncaken at 1:13 PM on June 18, 2012
posted by uncaken at 1:13 PM on June 18, 2012
Take care of it on the front end and you avoid any possible negative ramifications on the back end.
This. If they were to find out about this somehow, even though it was all perfectly innocuous, it's possible that it could be used as grounds for termination because you violated company policy and began work under false pretenses. (I know, I know, but these days I don't trust anyone.)
posted by tully_monster at 1:15 PM on June 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
This. If they were to find out about this somehow, even though it was all perfectly innocuous, it's possible that it could be used as grounds for termination because you violated company policy and began work under false pretenses. (I know, I know, but these days I don't trust anyone.)
posted by tully_monster at 1:15 PM on June 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
First, relax. Second, be honest. I've worked at a number of places with similar clauses, and to a one, they were all fine with employees teaching college courses on the side. Call your hiring manager or HR rep, explain the situation (which should simply be a reminder, since I'm sure this came up in your interview or it's on your resume) and ask their guidance. You're making this out to be A Big Thing, when it's really nothing at all.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 1:23 PM on June 18, 2012
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 1:23 PM on June 18, 2012
Just remind them there is a commitment you have to finish, with details of employer, role and dates and seek consent. It should really be a non issue.
I've had jobs before where my contract required me to seek written consent for any other work and it's never been a problem to get this - all the other jobs I sought consent for were in unrelated fields and part-time and consent always stipulated that I'd be required to leave the other job if my performance in my main job suffered in any way.
Go and speak to the community college, too. Make them aware that you have got a new full time job and that there may be an issue with the last 4 weekends. Let them see if they can cover these otherwise. The sooner you do this the more chance they have to sort it. If they can cover your 4 weekends, brilliant, if not then hopefully you'll get consent to finish your quarter.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:31 PM on June 18, 2012
I've had jobs before where my contract required me to seek written consent for any other work and it's never been a problem to get this - all the other jobs I sought consent for were in unrelated fields and part-time and consent always stipulated that I'd be required to leave the other job if my performance in my main job suffered in any way.
Go and speak to the community college, too. Make them aware that you have got a new full time job and that there may be an issue with the last 4 weekends. Let them see if they can cover these otherwise. The sooner you do this the more chance they have to sort it. If they can cover your 4 weekends, brilliant, if not then hopefully you'll get consent to finish your quarter.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:31 PM on June 18, 2012
One further reason (in addition to everything already stated) to dealing with this before accepting the offer:
If the company turns down your request for an exemption to the outside employment prohibition due to a non-competitive, likely low salary, one-time, previously committed engagement that has nothing to do with your new employer's line of work, then you do not want to work for your new employer. Consider it a test of your new employer's flexibility. If they refuse this - truly a trivial request - then there will be much worse and inconvenient problems in the future.
posted by saeculorum at 1:51 PM on June 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
If the company turns down your request for an exemption to the outside employment prohibition due to a non-competitive, likely low salary, one-time, previously committed engagement that has nothing to do with your new employer's line of work, then you do not want to work for your new employer. Consider it a test of your new employer's flexibility. If they refuse this - truly a trivial request - then there will be much worse and inconvenient problems in the future.
posted by saeculorum at 1:51 PM on June 18, 2012 [4 favorites]
Does the new employer prohibit volunteer work? If not, and they have a problem with you working at the community college, then offer to donate your salary back to the college for the last 4 weeks or pro rata or in some way that you are not getting paid. Then you would just be donating your weekend time to a community organization which I highly doubt is an issue with an employer.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:03 PM on June 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:03 PM on June 18, 2012 [3 favorites]
Hit send too soon.
This way, forgo your salary last 4 weekends, fulfills your obligation to the students and college as well as meets your employer's restraints. Since it is for only 4 weeks and they are not likely to pay you a lot, it is likely worth the forgone income.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:05 PM on June 18, 2012
This way, forgo your salary last 4 weekends, fulfills your obligation to the students and college as well as meets your employer's restraints. Since it is for only 4 weeks and they are not likely to pay you a lot, it is likely worth the forgone income.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 3:05 PM on June 18, 2012
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Recruiters are there to get your but in the door and bank on it. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if his "misinterpretation" of the situation was just him gambling on the fact that you'd rather burn your bridges at the college than lose this job.
posted by griphus at 12:33 PM on June 18, 2012