Hello,

I am a Grade 1 teacher and left my position at a school last week. I left on a good note with the principal still wanting me to come back next year.  

Today, I get a whatsapp from another teacher in grade 1 and ask me to email her the remaining term planning as she needs it urgently.

I explain to her that I no longer work at the school and she gets all upset and rude with me, she even swore me in her message.

Is there anything I can do legally against her? As firstly she is not the person who employed me and has no right to dictate what I should be supplying the teachers despite me not working there no longer.  And secondly she has no right to swear me. 

Please advise.

Thanks 

Hi there and thank you for your question,

If this other teacher's interactions with you were made only to you, and not made to other people (e.g. her shouting at you and swearing at you in public) then no, there is not a lot that you can do about this legally. People swear at each other all the time - it is all part of being able to express yourself and is actually protected speech in terms of the Bill of Rights.

If this other teacher was racist then that is a different story and that can be reported - but you didn't say this was the case.

In my opinion there is nothing that you can do legally against this other teacher. My advice is that you delete the message and simply block her on WhatsApp. Move on with your career and don't look back. There is no point in remaining upset with this other teacher.

It makes no difference that she didn't employ you. There is no obligation on you to provide her with any documentation. As you said, you don't work there anymore.

Finally, if you do have the requested term planner then you should return a copy thereof to the school as it forms part of your work product.

If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.

Att. Patrick

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