It’s tricky. My “original” contract ends at the end of March which is today. A couple of weeks ago, they, actually “he”, decided to extend my contract for three weeks and said he would probably extend extension. I had been quite busy until a couple of weeks ago and did not have time to prepare for job hunting, and my plan was to look for a job during the extension period. A week ago, a day after I signed a new contract, he suddenly decided to cancel the new contract. Why? Because the project is way behind the schedule because of his mismanagement and he decided to send back most of the Japanese workers, which dis-necessitates interpreters. Technically speaking, I am not “fired”. He has the right to cancel the contract by notifying a week before, which is clarified on the contract. From a legal point of view, it is acceptable. But from a humanitarian point of view, is it? It could have been avoided, but he chose to cut disposable temporary workers.
He said he would ask me to work for them again two weeks later when they are ready to restart the project. Do I trust him? No. What happens if it takes three weeks, or four weeks… which is easily predicted based on their past management. I should look for a new job right now, but the problem is many of the others, mostly Canadians, expect me to come back. He brutally “fired” me, but now, for others, I generously wait. Am I stupid? Yes, definitely. But I don’t want to be like him. I don’t want to betray other people’s expectation. OK, I will wait for one week.
Using disposable workers is a “good” business strategy. Well, he expects me to come back, so I am a “reusable” worker. Anyways. But is it, I mean, is using disposable workers sustainable? The three pillars of sustainable development are environmental responsibility, economic security, and social well-being. Theoretically, the “good” business strategy misses the last pillar. However, in fact, sadly, many companies use the strategy and they survive or even prevail, like the Japanese car companies that “fired” thousands of temporary workers to make them homeless a few years ago. This is the reality.
So, now what? Even if they ask me to work for them again, I will need to look for a new job later. Now I am thinking of two options: one is to look for a full-time job, and the other one is to look for a part-time job and prepare for starting a small business. I am tired of fooling my time and talent because of someone else’s mismanagement. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have time to think of my future plan.
As I wrote in a previous post, let’s see how the looser will fail.