can put the employer name here ah? It's ThinkersBox (http://www.thinkersbox.com/), imagine people are
sending their kids to the place for education, and the very ones
who're educating these kids have such messed up values and
ethics.
I didn't let them deduct my salary, I was observing the contract
which stated that I have to forfeit every single cent I received as
my wages so long as I terminate during training period. To my
understanding the training was just a 3-day course period,
subsequently the OJT training phase was not applicable. They didn't
specify it clearly during contract signing as well that's why I was
quite unhappy over it. Besides, if I served the termination notice
of 2 weeks, I still have to return them back every single cent, so
serve or don't serve I'll still be rendered free labor. After the
termination, I returned every single cent + the salary in lieu (for
not serving termination notice), because I am quite sure their
contractual terms can be over-turn by MOM.
So subsequently I approached MOM, and based on their take on the
whole issue, the contractual terms for termination is null and void
because ThinkersBox only need to serve shorter termination notice
than me, which is unfavorable terms as mentioned in Employment Act.
Based on that, I am not liable to return every cent of wages
received so far since the contract is not valid. Consequently, the
notification period should follow the guidelines as set by MOM, in
my case it's only 1 day since I have only been on the job for a
month (which I already fulfilled by giving them half a week's
notice). So, with that, the salary I paid back to them, plus the
salary-in-lieu should not be given to them.
As I had started work (elsewhere) promptly after terminating, I
wasn't able to drop by to return them the money initially. The
director of ThinkersBox (Felicia Ho) was quite persistent, she even
said that "you don't work everyday, just drop by when you are
free". And at that point of time, I was actually working everyday,
and yet she was so uptight over me running away not paying that
meagre sum of money. Until I suggested internet banking. I had
earlier reminded them (following MOM's advice) that they have the
option to settle the dispute in private, otherwise MOM will
intervene. Yet all the meetups that was arranged they set it at
times which are inconvenient for me (I end work at 6pm on weekdays,
they say they won't wait). Then weekends they say got lessons going
on. Yesterday I went down, was slightly late, and I saw them
leaving the office through the building's backdoor, when I called
out to them they just disappear down the stairs and then sms me say
I'm late.
Then after that kept insisting I must resolve the dispute at
their office so there will be witness around (which they claim MOM
said so, and this is something I'm pretty sure is not true).
Anyway, if it's one of their staff filling in the witness role,
then Felicia can come to my place and solve it too, I have plenty
of witness at my house. In any case, Friday when Felicia suggested
that I go down to the office, she was not in office, and only one
other staff was there, isn't it easy to see the contradictions in
her words? But of course, after that she changed her mind, saying
that her staff need to leave early.
For me it's clear that now they are just trying to make things
difficult. I just want to resolve the dispute and get what is
rightfully mine back, since she want to make it so complicated,
then I think I shouldn't be nice and as well. Before I hand over
the dispute to MOM, I will want to make sure that such rude and
unethical practices by ThinkersBox will be made known to the
parents who paid so much for their kids to attend the lessons. They
ought to know the true colors of those who teach their
children!
You should not have paid them your salary and compensation.
Instead, let them come and chase you for payment and make things
difficult for them
