Swift Justice and Compensation for Illegally Fired Teacher

A South African school counselor, whom we’ll refer to as Amanda for confidentiality, sought my assistance following a recommendation from one of my readers.

Amanda was employed by an international school in Shanghai and, as the semester was drawing to a close, received an offer for a more lucrative position. Adhering to the stipulations of her contract, Amanda provided a 60-day notice of resignation, formally notifying her headmaster via email of her intent to leave.

Regrettably, this turn of events took an unpleasant turn. The headmaster reacted with hostility, resorting to intimidation tactics. He threatened to report Amanda to the Shanghai Education Bureau and the “Visa Bureau”—likely referring to the Foreign Expert Bureau or the Exit-Entry Administration. He went so far as to explicitly state their intention to obstruct her visa transfer.

Despite Amanda’s attempts to handle the situation with civility, the headmaster’s demeanor only worsened. A subsequent email from him contained further threats, including potential legal action for a contractual penalty, and he summarily dismissed her on the spot.

Upon reviewing the email correspondence and Amanda’s contract, it became clear to me that the school’s actions were unquestionably unlawful. I decided to represent Amanda in the matter.

Given the illegality of the school’s conduct, their position in court would have been untenable. In an effort to expedite the acquisition of Amanda’s cancellation and release letters, we opted to compromise on the compensation amount. Ultimately, we reached a settlement with the school for 57,000 RMB.

Amanda was initially fraught with concern, aware that we were contending with one of Shanghai’s most prestigious schools, which wielded considerable influence. Despite her fears of a potential loss, Amanda was overjoyed with the outcome as we resolved her case swiftly and efficiently, resulting in a favorable settlement. She promptly secured employment with a new employer and is now thoroughly content in her new role.