Sick… and a hostage??

The latest episode in what has become a nightmare work scenario is unfolding. SSO is preparing a full production of Madame Butterfly with performances on July 24 and 25. This happens to be my last concert obligation with the SSO before my contract, which I’ve respectfully declined to renew, ends. So I’ve told the orchestra I’m not coming back, that I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work here as principal, and could I please have my plane ticket home and my August salary and bonus early so I could be on my way. It was all very quiet, very civil, with no drama. At first Nie Bing, the personnel manager, agreed with no strings whatsoever. He even allowed me to miss any engagements the orchestra might have between the last performance of Butterfly and the beginning of the August break so I could show Beijing and Xi’an to my girlfriend who is visiting me. It was a very cordial meeting.

Now, I had every intention of fulfilling my obligations with the orchestra to the end, so I didn’t really need my plane ticket or my money right then and there. That would have been unreasonable. Later however, when I asked about when I might receive said plane ticket, salary and bonus, a much different Nie Bing surfaced. To make a long story short, he still agrees to everything, but he made a big show of having people dig through piles of unorganized documents in a file cabinet in search of my contract, so he could verify that I wasn’t lying to him about the plane ticket (I suppose when you are in the habit of lying as frequently as he seems to be you begin to trust no one). He also informed me that I wouldn’t receive a cent until after the last opera performance, presumably after verifying that I was there. In other words, I’m a hostage until I play those two concerts.

In principle this would be troubling enough, but I suppose if you are afraid an employee is going to take the money and run then such a reaction wouldn’t sound so far-fetched. Actually, it says a lot about the quality of employment in an organization if the management is so afraid people are going to cut and run they have to hold their employees hostage in order to get them to fulfill their agreements. Like I said, I had no problem staying and participating in this final project of the season, even if it meant enduring more insults from the podium at the hands of the artistic director (more on this later).

As luck would have it, I have fallen ill. Somehow or other I’ve contracted a bad cold and what appears to be salmonella food-poisoning simultaneously. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact we’ve been rehearsing this opera about 5 or 6 hours a day for 8 days straight, with only one day off before that…

Salmonella poisoning is not pretty. Fortunately, I have the antibiotics I got from the local CVS back home for just such a purpose, and everything I’m eating is staying down, which means my body is getting the medicine it needs. But the intenstinal cramps are awful, and going to the bathroom has now become a hobby. I feel weak enough from both illnesses that I can barely move. I can type, but I can’t imagine sitting for 3 hours, playing music that is quite difficult and aerobic at a heightened level of concentration, in my current condition.

I’ve asked the advice of some Chinese friends, and the consensus seems to be that Yu Feng, the artistic director, won’t care in the least, and if you know the man this is not surprising. Seems to me he’d just as soon fire me and leave me without plane ticket, salary, or bonus than miss this “very important concert”. The contract says the orchestra is responsible for providing my way home if they do fire me, but they have a poor record of adhering to contract points in the best of times so I’m not holding my breath.

Theoretically I should be able to go the doctor, get a note that excuses me from any work for the next few days, and the orchestra would have to comply… or would they? I’m certain that if I did a series of unexplained occurences would delay delivery of my plane ticket, bonus, and salary. As it is I’m worried that someone is going to forget to bring the ticket and the money on the 25th even if I do play tonight and tomorrow. The orchestra and orchestra management offices go on break beginning on the 26th for a month.

Fortunately for me, the orchestra made the mistake of showing me the itinerary sheet for my flight, and it happens to be an eticket. So I memorized the reservation number so at least I can get home even if they decide not to give me the ticket. It’s paid for, and it’s in my name. I’ve verified this with the airline; my itinerary exists and is reachable with the code I obtained from the itinerary sheet.

So I’m a hostage. Either I play tonight and tomorrow, sick as I am, or I’m out nearly US$3000.

Nice job this turned out to be.