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RODHULLANDEMU/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS OUT FEATURES & COMMENT

OF THE
BOX

Challenge

inappropriate

behaviour

A policy on bullying and harassment
is not enough to protect employers
or their staff, warns Varinder Unlu
James Joyce taught English in Pula
and Trieste between 1904 and 1907
With all the recent high-profile organisations simply do not have.
events and cases of harassment The investigation must also be
well aware that my situation is one that many and bullying, both still remain impartial, which means no one
parents would love, allowing them to juggle significant issues. No one is involved should be a friend of
childrearing with enjoyable, part-time work. immune. Yet with so much help either party.
The problem with English teaching is that it available online to help both The victim should be kept
is extremely difficult to strike the right balance employers and employees, why informed at every stage, and
of hours. Either you work too much or too are we still struggling? the whole process should be
little. If you get lots of work, it might not last. The employers’ main dealt with in a reasonable time.
You cannot plan. Your pay doesn’t rise with responsibility is to have a clear, No victim should have to wait
experience and there is no regulation over pay. robust and well communicated several months for the whole
Nor are there any requirements for teachers policy on bullying and process to conclude.
to undergo professional development courses, harassment. Policies alone, Everyone in the company
you just have to work it out as you go along. however, are not enough. When has a responsibility to support
Better-qualified teachers don’t get paid an employee reports any issues, an inclusive, tolerant working
more. You don’t get paid for preparing class or they need to be taken seriously environment. They should all
corrections, as we are paid by the class hour. and dealt with promptly and play their part in making the
You are expected to arrive before class (again, discreetly. organisation’s policy a reality,
unpaid) and there are obligatory “breaks” Employers must ensure the and be prepared to challenge
which are spent doing photocopying. lessons are learned and a more inappropriate behaviour and
Despite all of this, students are learning positive and inclusive culture take action if needed After
to speak English. Some come out speaking is developed where individuals all, Employers and individuals
excellent English, most of them become are confident enough to bring can be ordered to pay
functional. The teaching methods are very complaints without fear of unlimited compensation where
progressive and other kinds of education ridicule or reprisal. discrimination-based harassment
could learn a lot from this industry. How are we dealing with it in has occurred.
The life of a teacher is peripatetic and lacks ELT? Where can we go for help?
progression. It is not viable as a career. People Not very well, unfortunately. ELTtoo was set up in January
stick it out for a few years and then when Every school has a policy hidden 2018 as a platform where people
life gets serious, they get a real job. English- deep within its staff handbook, in the industry can report
teaching is a hashtag shit job. with codes of conduct that people any incidents of bullying and
As for me, I could leave this industry and must adhere to. But in reality, harassment anonymously and
do something I don’t want to do as much. But bullying and harassment is often receive advice and support on
there is no reason why I should, nor should not dealt with appropriately, and how to deal with what they are
others. It is simply a matter of making sure the victim is left feeling helpless, experiencing.
that the cash is divided fairly so that everyone unsupported and sometimes
wins. This does not have to be an Us versus completely ignored. Contact:
Them situation. The main issue in this industry https://elttoo.wordpress.com/
seems to be lack of training and contact/
■ Dr Des Ryan has a PhD on the formation of English awareness among the people
spellings and is trying to develop a full-time career who are supposed to be helping. ■ Varinder Unlu is a senior EFL
teaching and writing about the English language. He is When an incident is reported, manager, co-ordinator of the Iatefl
interested in spelling, pronunciation, and makeyuppie it needs to be thoroughly and Inclusive Practices and SEN
words. For more, see a2dez.net where he writes investigated. This takes time Special Interest Group and founder of
about Spelling, Life, the Bantersmash and Everythink. and resources which most #elttoo https://elttoo.wordpress.com/

editorial@elgazette.com 37