Is it ever okay to ghost an employer?

[Anonymous]

I got into a sticky situation recently with an employer. I was a freelance language teacher contracted to a school. I recently switched to full-time work when I was offered a full-time job last month. The issue is that the school’s contract was only in a foreign language I don’t understand so when I translated it I found out that they expected me to give a 12 week notice period (I hadn’t even worked there 12 weeks to be honest). So when I gave them only a month’s notice, they got mad at me even though they knew I didn’t speak the local language (at least not to legal language level!) I also worked for other schools and they all had a one month notice period. So this place is the only one making it awkward. I only teach there for ONE hour a week so it’s hardly worth continuing just to adhere to the dumb 12 week notice period. I can’t physically teach this lesson due to my new work schedule, I don’t want to keep teaching it because I can’t be bothered to plan a lesson a week all for the equivalent of like $15, so I don’t see any other way to get out of this situation than ghosting them. I feel terrible about it but I don’t think they’re going to let it go if I try to bargain with them. I don’t want to be that employee butttt they have made this whole scenario awkward as hell. Am I justified in wanting to just ghost them? What would you do?

[Effably]

Legally speaking, one of the requirements for a valid contract is capacity. Meaning your ability to understand the terms. This obviously isn't quite met. There is also the part where the contract differs from most similar ones in an unexpected way.

If taken to court I like your chances more than I do theirs. It isn't a clear cut case though. But I'd bet on you winning.

I would not ghost them. I would explain in as polite a way as possible that you did not have the capacity to examine a legal contract. That you thought both sides knew this and that they would, in good faith, have informed you of any exceptions. That you assumed the contract would follow convention and that you have acted according to the established norm. Finally apologize for any inconvenience, explain you have other employment and thank them. Do not ghost.

[Asker]

Genuinely can’t think of how to politely say that I will not be returning to teach.

[Effably]

If you can not be polite simply be blunt. You can more or less just write what I did with some slight changes. Ultimately you are causing them some trouble and should show understanding for that. However you have acted according to norm and that means a lot. Hiding is bad though so do reply. Just tell them as is. Sincerely doubt they press charges and you have acted well enough.

[Asker]

I just emailed them straight to the point

[exitseven]

I had a supervisor that was really a micromanager. She used to send me at least a dozen e-mails every day about really unimportant things. As a result I rarely ever looked at any of them. She used to set the confirmation function so she would see when I opened the e-mail. Every couple of weeks I would select all the e-mails and delete them. She would get all the confirmations at the same time and would get mad at me.

[DryGermanGuy]

That’s the appropriate reply! 😁
Did she ever get the „message“?

[exitseven]

@DryGermanGuy No, she retired and nobody thought to fill the position again.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎