by Bong Burgundy » Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:25 am
Did the KT drop their 'anonymous' source in the shit?
Zion International School in the capital’s Tuol Tom Poung commune, Chamkar Mon district undertook its second round of layoffs yesterday.
Khmer Times reached out to Philip White, its vice-director, for a comment upon hearing the news via WhatsApp with a message that read: “Phil. Working on a story about the state of English schools in Phnom Penh. Having heard that [a teacher] was laid off today, Zion will be in the article. This is your opportunity to answer questions and make a statement before it goes to print tomorrow.”
In response, he said: “Please do not include our school or mention our layoffs. It is private and confidential. Thank you.”
White warned that any publication of the layoffs would result in “repercussions”.
“We will take legal action against [the teacher] if our school is mentioned in the article as per her contract. We are also consulting lawyers regarding, you [and] the paper now. This would be a lot easier and better for all of you just leave us out and move on,” White said.
“We will contact lawyers and your boss if necessary. I do not consent to any of my comments here or elsewhere being used in any publication.”
The employee laid off has a close relationship with the author of this article.
She alleged that White had approached her when she was alone preparing worksheets for future lessons after being laid off.
White is said to have cursed at the 23-year-old teacher, belittled her, threatened her with legal action and told her that her severance pay would be cut – in defiance of Ministry of Labour laws – if Khmer Times printed an article naming Zion International School in any way, shape or form.
She said that she felt threatened, belittled and bullied. At one point she told White that she was shaking because she felt “intimidated and scared” upon being approached by White, who is in his 40s.
Okhna Dr Mengly Quach, founder of Aii Language Centers (Aii) and American Intercon Schools (AIS) said that the idea of silencing an employee to be laid off and threatening anyone with litigation was “ridiculous”.
“It is the individual’s right to say what they need to say. If I am being laid off, I have to tell people that I am being laid off and no one can stop me. In reality, a lot of people have already been laid off or are going to be laid off. For staff to say that [not] mentioning it in public is ridiculous. It is within everyone’s rights and the freedom of speech to say what they need to say,” said Mengly, who received his doctorate from Berkeley University in California.
Did the KT drop their 'anonymous' source in the shit?
Zion International School in the capital’s Tuol Tom Poung commune, Chamkar Mon district undertook its second round of layoffs yesterday.
Khmer Times reached out to Philip White, its vice-director, for a comment upon hearing the news via WhatsApp with a message that read: “Phil. Working on a story about the state of English schools in Phnom Penh. Having heard that [a teacher] was laid off today, Zion will be in the article. This is your opportunity to answer questions and make a statement before it goes to print tomorrow.”
In response, he said: “Please do not include our school or mention our layoffs. It is private and confidential. Thank you.”
White warned that any publication of the layoffs would result in “repercussions”.
“We will take legal action against [the teacher] if our school is mentioned in the article as per her contract. We are also consulting lawyers regarding, you [and] the paper now. This would be a lot easier and better for all of you just leave us out and move on,” White said.
“We will contact lawyers and your boss if necessary. I do not consent to any of my comments here or elsewhere being used in any publication.”
The employee laid off has a close relationship with the author of this article.
She alleged that White had approached her when she was alone preparing worksheets for future lessons after being laid off.
White is said to have cursed at the 23-year-old teacher, belittled her, threatened her with legal action and told her that her severance pay would be cut – in defiance of Ministry of Labour laws – if Khmer Times printed an article naming Zion International School in any way, shape or form.
She said that she felt threatened, belittled and bullied. At one point she told White that she was shaking because she felt “intimidated and scared” upon being approached by White, who is in his 40s.
Okhna Dr Mengly Quach, founder of Aii Language Centers (Aii) and American Intercon Schools (AIS) said that the idea of silencing an employee to be laid off and threatening anyone with litigation was “ridiculous”.
“It is the individual’s right to say what they need to say. If I am being laid off, I have to tell people that I am being laid off and no one can stop me. In reality, a lot of people have already been laid off or are going to be laid off. For staff to say that [not] mentioning it in public is ridiculous. It is within everyone’s rights and the freedom of speech to say what they need to say,” said Mengly, who received his doctorate from Berkeley University in California.