I’ve been a music teacher for 17 years this august. Some private tutoring, some class work with public schools. I’ve been at a private studio for the last three years and the 70 year old owner wanted to sell it after a recent school-shooting in my home town.
I was approached about buying it. I told him I have no savings or retirement after sticking out the pandemic with him. I wrote up an offer, and it’s been months since we started this process. He wants far too much for it, and I have bank emails for him regarding why they won’t shell out a loan for it. He’s let it fail. He doesn’t advertise, the site hasn’t been updated since 2008, and more and more people grow concerned with his behavior. After telling me he’d work a deal WITH ME, he pitted my offer against another buyer who is coming in and gutting the place.
All of us are out jobs. He won’t even refund my students money for July. Better yet, he called me and told me I violated my employment agreement by telling my students I was leaving. He wants to take me to court for telling them I’m leaving. Turns out he wasn’t going to tell them, he was going to let them show up and find out on their own. Everyone is pissed and sick to death over his bullshit, and my kiddos are terrified I’m leaving them forever.
Bottom line, don’t ever trust an employer. They will never be loyal to us. Even after years of service.