Job Discussion Forums

[haleynicole14]

Leaving schools early gets brought up fairly often on these forums, and I'm interested in how often it happens in China. How common do you think it is? (I'm adding the poll for anonymity.)

[Non Sequitur]

Had to walk away from all of my airfare refund, but I got a clean release letter which is all I really wanted.

[ecubyrd]

I left my first contract early (after a few of months) here. A much better offer came along and I put in proper notice to leave. I've worked through 2 contracts at my current school and 5 contracts in K-land with no thought of leaving early.

[Shroob]

None of the options really apply to me. I'm still new to China (15 months) and have only been with one employer, which I like.

That said, I would have no qualms about leaving an employer if they strayed from the contract too frequently or in a big way. For example not paying airfare, more hours than stated, living conditions less than stated etc.

A contract works both ways. The teacher should be aware of what they are signing up for and be prepared to honour that, as should the employer. That's why it's vital to get things in writing, in the contract, before you sign.

[johntpartee]

Good topic. You see stories on here all the time about unscrupulous employers, terrible accomodations, unsatisfactory working conditions, etc. Be nice to find out how many actually bail. Non Sequitur and ecubyrd, your replies don't really address the topic; you left by mutual consent.

[wonderingjoesmith]

I guess "mutual consent" is about leaving your employment agreement early too. I believe that that also covers this topic.

One of my coworkers left in an agreement with the employer, one a midnight runner. I ended up with a hundred teaching hours one month.

As for contracts, they sometimes don't describe what the terms and conditions really are. My coworker that disappeared in a hurry was not told about a few things and the one that harmoniously left had visa issue which was the result of poor employer communication.

[johntpartee]

The last option clearly does not address "mutual consent". I was assuming that the OP was asking about runners.

[roadwalker]

As I've found personally, writing poll questions requires a lot of thought. None of these options apply to me. I've never left or seriously thought about it except in hypothetical. However, I would leave early under certain conditions. So far as I know, I haven't been teaching in a school where someone has left early ( I have only taught in universities in China.)

[johntpartee]

[rogerwilco]

I selected "No, but I've seriously considered it".

Several years ago I worked at a school where 3 of the 5 foreign teachers left the school before the contract ended.
All 3 of them were newbies with no teaching or China experience.
The conditions at the school were pretty bad, so I could understand why they left.
Because of the other teachers leaving, I did end up with a few classes of about 100 students. I was not happy about that.






.

[doogsville]

I left my first ever job in China in 2009 early because they lied about the visa, and I didn't want to work illegally on a tourist visa any more.

[sistercream]

I'm a "Yes, once." Not a runner, but with the school's consent. As good Confucians they knew that a single woman whose mother was seriously ill had a 1st commandment-style obligation to return to her home country to care for her.

Unfortunately that school fell into a guanxi black hole in the two years I was away, or I would have been happy to return there

[Denim-Maniac]

I have once.

I signed a one year contract on arrival and was pretty certain I wouldnt be able to complete it. When I arrived my employer seemed to be trying to sign everyone to a full year. This was not always his standard practice as one of my close friends had worked a short contract in the same year, and other teachers had advised me of the flexibility over contracts prior to my arrival.

I left 6 months into a 12 month contract and gave about 6 weeks notice. We left on good terms and with an agreed severance package. I didnt have to pay any termination fee, and although I didnt receive any bonus / flight money ... we did reach an agreement that this money would be held 'in trust' if I was able to resume my contract within a 12 month time period.

I did return to this employer after 15 months, just outside the agreed time-frame. My employer did mention it and I said I have already broken that end of the agreement so I should forfeit.

I again knew I wouldnt be able to complete a full 12 month contract. This time we agreed an 8 month contract prior to signing, with a payrise after 6 months (6 months on first contract and 6 months on second contract equalled one years service, hence pay increase).

Very fair IMO

[Non Sequitur]

[haleynicole14]

Interesting replies It would have been good to have a "No, I haven't wanted to but I would be willing to" type of option, but I'm not seeing a way to edit the poll...