Job Discussion Forums

[rdobbs98]

I went through an interview, got an offer, and now received the contract to review for a position in Shanghai. In an email I and during the phone interview I was told I would be placed in two districts which allow the teacher to receive a housing allowance.

But when I got the contract it is not there and when questioning, they told me "The special rental allowance doesn't apply to all the teachers at our academy. Only teachers teaching in ***** or ***** district are entitled to have it. That's why we didn't include it into our official contract. But it's guaranteed that you will have this monthly rental allowance as long as you accept our offer and work in ***** district."

Is this a red flag or my overreaction? What if they don't place me in the districts and thereby are not obliged to give the reimbursement.

Also flight reimbursement in email offer had no limit, contract has $1,500 limit.

Any input is appreciated, my first time in China.

1) Monthly salary of RMB12,000 (before tax) for a weekly teaching load of 26 periods of classes, salary increases in proportion to the increase of teaching load;
2) Reimbursement of two-way economy-class airfare between the teacher�s home country and Shanghai for one-year-long contract;
3) Reimbursement of the teacher�s tourist visa (one-entry for coming to Shanghai), work permit in China which allows the teacher to leave/re-enter the country multiple times, and one medical examination in Shanghai;
4) Foreign Expert Certificate (the only official document which legally authorizes a foreigner to be a qualified teacher in China);
5) Free Comprehensive Accident Insurance for the teacher under the age of 60 for the entire contract period, which covers major expenses for hospitalization;
6) Monthly commute allowance of RMB150;
7) Paid sick leave and statutory holidays in China;
Performance-based bonus at the end of every semester (maximum RMB3,000 for each semester);
9) Completion bonus at the end of the contract;
10) Free airport pickup;
11) Free temporary residence (up to one week) when the teacher arrives in Shanghai for the first time;
12) Parties, get-togethers and tourist trips in-and outside of Shanghai.

[choudoufu]

[johntpartee]

$1500 will probably cover the flight. The rest of it? LOTSA hours. 150 RMB commute allowance? I'm not talking about the amount, I'm talking about commuting. You're gonna be really tired.

[roadwalker]

I wouldn't trust these folks. OP you should pass. First you are right to be worried about the change in the housing allowance explained in the email and then not offered in the contract. Housing should be clearly spelled out in the contract. Most schools in China provide housing in the form of an apartment. In Shanghai it seems to be more common to offer a housing allowance and have the teacher find their own place. 12,000 RMB salary and no additional housing allowance in Shanghai for 26 teaching hours a week is a terrible contract. You'd be very lucky to find anything decent in the form of an apartment for less than 3000 in Shanghai that wouldn't involve a very long daily commute and return. So really that is 26 teaching hours for 8 or 9000 RMB. Shanghai is expensive. There are more interesting places to spend money too. The upside is you'll likely be too tired from your teaching load to spend money too casually.

Choudoufu is right about the tourist visa reimbursement as well. If they are legitimate, they should send you an invitation letter that you could use to procure a z-visa (work visa) in your country's Chinese consulate. Asking you to come over on a tourist visa puts all of the risk on you and none on the school. They don't like your face, or they hire someone they like more in the meantime, and you are out. The contracts signed outside of China are not enforceable, especially since most of the time they have you sign first and they sign later. Perhaps they don't have the permits to hire foreigners legally. They could get in trouble for that but it will have no bearing on your guilt, in the eyes of the law, for teaching on a tourist visa. You could face deportation and a heavy fine. Pass on these guys.

[Lobster]

Sounds like a Pacican contract. If so, they are one of the few Shanghai outfits that can legitimately transfer a tourist visa to an RP. If you're worried about getting the housing allowance, respectfully request the contract appendix be amended to indicate that you will work in a certain district and receive the housing allowance. Verbal agreements may cause problems later on.

And yes, the commuting is a pain.

RED

[therock]

[Lobster]

Yes, they can do it.
Yes, they have guanxi up the yingyang.
Yes, they pay through the nose for it.

RED

[choudoufu]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Please meet flag.

Flag is red.

See red flag.

Red flag, red.

[rdobbs98]

Thank you everyone for the input. I went back at them about the rental reimbursement and they put it in the contract. It is Pacican.

Should I go back at them about pay and see if they will give a bump, just to see if it works. Otherwise I see everyone is saying to keep looking, if I am reading into the comments correctly.

[rogerwilco]

It is often said that Chinese companies consider the signing of a contract to be the beginning of negotiations, not the end.
If they are playing games with you now, what do you think they may do to you after you have started working for them ?

[Lobster]

This company, which I have lots of experience with (5 years), does not see the signing of a contract as the beginning of negotiations but rather the opposite. Once you sign off, they will follow the contract closely and expect you to do the same. Because they hire so many FTs, they have little time to play games with their teachers. They just want you to go out and do your job and be as invisible as possible.

I wouldn't suggest asking for a pay raise for the first contract. They're pretty standard about it and know that since the FTs will discuss pay, don't want the friction that would result from having one person making more than the rest for doing the same work. After you complete your first year with them, if you want to stay you can ask for a raise.

There are pros and cons to this job. Among the pros are getting paid in full and on time and legit working papers. Among the cons are travelling between schools and materials (not up to date on this one) and being basically a faceless cog for the first year. Also be prepared to work every Saturday. I think it's not a bad job for a first timer in Shanghai. Just stay out of the office as much as you can. If I didn't live on the outskirts of Shanghai, I'd probably still work for them.

I suppose one thing that has really changed is the cost of living in Shanghai as compared with earnings. They've upped their starting salary by 1k, but from what I hear, rent in Shanghai has gone through the roof.

As for comments that you'll be hooped if you get into a disagreement with them, that's true. But it also applies to almost any job you find here.

RED

[rdobbs98]

Thank you Lobster, sounds like pretty sound advice. That's why this board is so important.

[BillyHoyle]

How much money are you looking for for the plane tickets? I thought $1500 would be enough. What area are you flying in from? How much are flights from that area?

[rdobbs98]

Air China has tickets through a discount site for $1845, Korean Air is $1685, everyone is over $1500 for round trip. Disney English pays for the flight and I have seen other advertisements for full reimbursement.

I feel I shouldn't have to pay out of pocket, without reimbursement, to fly to China.