Job Discussion Forums

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

And his is why, as soon as I've got to know my students, I offer to discuss things with the moderator of the class.

Because it helps everyone if you talk directly to them about cancelling class as opposed to your employers.

So, explain that if you tell them directly that something is needed to be cancelled, everyone can take a break, but if you go via your staff FAO then the school will try to find another teacher, or insist they make up.

They learn pretty quickly in these instances to enjoy the extra time in bed and not snitch.

So, this holiday I will simply tell the class that it's an informal reading week on those weekend days.

Done, and I'll enjoy 5 straight days off.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

It doesn't have to be applied uniformly to be valid.
In my country there is a move to Mondayise some holidays so people can use the 3-day weekend as they see fit.
There is resistance to Mondayising very significant days like our National Day and the equivalent of Memorial Day.

Lobster · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:38 am Post subject:

1. If a contract states that you will work a maximum of days per week and 22 hours with anything beyond that as OT, and they ask you to work 7 days and 30 hours in one week, that would be overtime (at least according to my contract). If it wasn't, there'd be nothing to stop them from shifting hours and days from one week to the next as they saw fit. That they're giving days off in the following week is irrelevant. The 7-day week is still a burnout and requires OT pay. I'll happily accept the extra days off next week and the OT rate this week TYVM.

2. The only mandatory holiday is the Wednesday. Places can choose to give the one day off and not fudge the schedule to include Mon and Tues, but they're expected to make it a 3-day holiday.

What makes me so special? My contract. The one I made an effort to negotiate with just this kind of situation in mind. Are you suggesting I forego the terms of my contract to suit those who didn't think of including them? That strikes me as absurd. Many teachers get housing, but I don't. They get meal cards. I don't. They get 2 months' paid holidays. I don't. What makes them so special?

RED

igorG · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 1473 Location: asia

If OT is paid isn't the issue really. It's the fact we cannot refuse and that we must accept to get paid OT. Smile

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Lobster · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:41 pm Post subject:

If your contract states that OT can only be given if the teacher agrees (as my contract does) then it's not mandatory. I can refuse if I want to.

Hard to say what some people would put up with. If you're talking about CTs and students, well they probably would. The teachers because they don't want to lose their jobs or be demoted, and the students because they have no choice.

Comparing FTs with either of these groups is not really valid.

RED

peewee1979 · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:25 pm Post subject:

Why whine or complain over something YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.

I found out 3 days ago that I have to work 7 days straight this week - including Sat and Sun.

TODAY the school called me to say the senior class petitioned the office to change their next Thursday class to THIS Saturday - so they can have 7 days off.

For me it means I need to teach 3 extra classes this weekend BUT I get 4 days off in a row instead of only 3.

YES I could have said no... but we all need to pick our battles.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Peewee - As mentioned elsewhere be proactive.
Get the Chinese calendar off timeanddate.com and when you see a red day, start talking to your students.
Lobster I guess the only connection between CTs FTs and students is that we attend the same organisations.
A small connection but hey there it is.

Old Surrender · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 11:18 am Post subject:

Starting on March 26,
-- I have four days of class,
-- Friday off,
-- two days of class,
-- three days off,
-- class on Thursday,
-- three days off,
-- three days of class,
-- four days off,
-- three days off,
-- AND THEN ... back till normal till May Day.

If it wasn't for that frickin' Thursday I wouldn't mind this so much. How to ruin a week off? ONE DAY IN THE MIDDLE WHEN I HAVE TO TEACH 2 CLASSES! Evil or Very Mad

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

I am off Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Then I will teach Thursday, Fri, Saturday, Sunday, and all five weekdays the next week, for 9 days in a row. Not complaining.

peewee1979 · Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 5:02 am Post subject:

I have monday through thursday off, then 2 classes friday, then 2 days off. In hindsight I should have lobbied for friday off.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

mike w wrote:

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

I'll repeat again.

If you cancel DIRECTLY with the students, [you can even be very Chinese and not just say 'I don't want to', but say something like 'I'm travelling' [they'll love that!] or 'I'm going for surgery] without mentioning to your FAO you are GOLDEN.

The student's will enjoy the time off[the Chinese will have cancelled too], you don't have to make up and no one is the wiser.

I will have Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues/Weds off, and since my parent's arrive I have a week of paid leave from my university too, so I'm clear for the next...10 days and I had the weekend off :D

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Didn't Churchill say Russia was a mystery, inside and enigma inside a contradiction?
Something like that anyway.
I wonder what he would have said about China.