Signed a contract for a 1 year long internship -- they now say "only summer"

[GradHooting]

The written contract that I had signed stated that I would have the internship for a length of 1 year. Given that I had already graduated from college, and was tutoring and researching at the university, and didn't really have firm roots, I cancelled all the appropriate stuff to move out to this place. The idea is that I would spend my 1 year here, make all the necessary connections, and either become employed here, somewhere else, or go to grad school around here once the year is up.

The problem is, now my supervisors are saying that they only intended me to be here for the summer, and the manager for the internship program stated that my contract was for a year. Now, they can't communicate with each other because my supervisors are always in meetings and too busy to talk to them directly. My supervisors insist that I must talk to the manager of the internships, which I did. However, they need to talk with each other to iron out miscommunications, and they can't.

So, my question is: What can I do? I have a written contract promising an internship with a length of 1 year, and I have uprooted myself in such a way that I have nowhere to go back to once the summer is over, because I had planned to be here for a year. They insist that promissory estoppel only applies in cases of employment, and this is not employment, but "education enrichment."

[robot_hamster]

What does the contract say? Is there a clause giving them an "out"?

I'm also a little confused. Who exactly promised you a year? The people who you would be working under? Did they actually say it would be 1 year in the interview?

[michigan girl]

This sounds horrible. We need to know what does the contract state about your employment and wages before we can make solid suggestions.

[GradHooting]

My funders, upon "winning" this internship, told me that I would be working here for a year. They seriously thought I would be working for a year, but some kind of miscommunication with my direct supervisor means that my supervisor only wants me around for the summer, and now the internship program needs to find out what to do with me. They suggested I reapply, but wouldn't that just be resubmitting into an application pool, turning my definite 1 year promise into a mere possibility? I can't haul my stuff back to a place where I have no home. I left there. I don't plan on going back. All my business there has ended. The contract does not have any legalese that I saw that allows them for some kind of out. All contracts that I agreed to before I actually took the effort to move there didn't seem to have any sort of clause in it that would allow them to terminate it. It basically consisted of web forms and a web signature that I signed. The contract stated exactly what I would be doing, the start and end dates of the internship, and the monthly stipend amount.

Here's the initial statement I was given:

On behalf of [program], [funders] is pleased to offer you an internship at [location]. Your internship becomes effective on 6-1-2012 and ends 5-31-2013. This internship is contingent on continuing funding and, where necessary, obtaining [organization] clearances and approvals.

Your stipend amount will be [$] per month, based on [%] FTE. Stipend payments will be made on or about the 25th of each month. If you are staying longer than 60 days, we would encourage you to have your pay check direct deposited. You will be able to complete the direct deposit paperwork during your in-processing on your first day on-site. Travel expenses to [place] will not be paid by the program unless specified by your [organization] sponsor. If you have questions about the details of the offer, please contact undersigned at [#].

The contract I directly signed stated:

If the offer start and end dates do not coincide with your availability, please contact the mentor listed above to negotiate new dates. Please DO NOT accept the offer until the dates are firm. Once an offer is accepted, dates cannot be changed. If new dates are negotiated, please inform the mentor he/she should send an email to [name] (email) with the new dates and a new offer will be made.

There was no vast amount of paperwork that I signed for this. I file taxes as a self employed person, since it's not "technically" employment, but an education enrichment program.

[robot_hamster]

I'm focusing in on the word contingent.

[GradHooting]

... ok? So, I'm screwed? I'd love more help here. That's just worrying me.

Edited June 10, 2012 by GradHooting

[emmm]

That was the same thing that jumped out at me. Who's paying? If it's your supervisor, and he's not willing to fund you anymore -- I think you're out of luck. It certainly looks like a convenient out for them. It is pretty lousy, though.

[Dal PhDer]

Yeah...the contingent is worrisome. It seems strange that they would know your all your pay without knowing the funding amount...hmmm...I might be a bit worried, and actually take this to someone that might know a bit more about contracts and such. Does the contract you signed have anything about there being contingency based on funding?

[robot_hamster]

To me, it looks like an out. The way I read it, the internship is contingent on funding being available for the entire duration of the timeframe specified. If for some reason there is no longer funding available, then it seems they can let you go early.

[GradHooting]

*edits*

The word "Contingent" does not appear in the web document that I accepted and signed. It was just in the email that I was given announcing that I received the internship. I think they were actually referring to "You can accept this internship, but we'll only start it for you if you pass the necessary preliminary checks, such as obtaining a green card/social security and tax ID number/etc" Because that's what is mentioned with "contingent" as well. I don't think they mean "It can expire before the promised dates." It just means "You might not get the internship approved until these things are sorted out."

The document that I signed is completely devoid of anything saying contingent, and emphasizes that the dates cannot be changed.

"Once an offer is accepted, dates cannot be changed." <-- that's the only thing mentioning dates in the thing I signed.

Edited June 10, 2012 by GradHooting

[lewin]

This is terribly unprofessional on their part. You could try emailing the Evil HR Lady. She often has great advice and is well-versed in employment law and etiquette. Usually a contract is a contract and I think you have the right to insist on a year's employment.

All that said.... it's important to consider the political/professional angle. Are you depending on your supervisor for references? If so you might want to just suck it up. I know that's terrible because this is completely their fault (and the power imbalance is crappy) but it might be the pragmatic decision.

Edited June 29, 2012 by lewin00