Is a principal of a school allowed to keep you after school past your contract time? Also, what are my rights if I have been threatened by my principal?
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Is a principal of a school allowed to keep you after school past your contract time? Also, what are my rights if I have been threatened by my principal?
My contract school times are 740-340. However for our staff meetings she is
keeping us past 430. I leave before that and have gotten reprimanded. She has
threatened me that I will need to get a new job if this continues. I have a
special needs child that I need to provide evening time for therapies and she has
apologized for my ‘burden’ but clearly doesn’t understand.
Asked on April 16, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
If there were no contract, just usual or common hours, your employer could clearly have you stay late, regardless of how inconvenient it was for you, and fire you if you won't. But you write that there us a contract; a contract binds both parties, and defines their obligations. If the contract sets your hours, you can't be made to stay past that, unless the contract has some provision or exception to the hours allowing her to keep you late under these circumstances. If not, you should be able to leave when the contract says you can; and if she takes action against you in violation of the contract's terms, you could sue for breach of vontract.
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