Job Discussion Forums

[caicha222]

So, I just got offered a pretty good summer job, and summer-only jobs (my only option right now) are hard to come by. However, part of the contract states that:

Teachers will have 110 rmb deducted from their monthly salary for every hour of class missed on a sick day.

I did the calculations, and this job is actually paying 83 RMB per hour. So, that means that if there is class for four hours on a sick day, the teacher will actually GIVE the school 108 rmb, on top of not making any money.

I'm kind of protesting it a bit with the employer, who is western and owns a franchise of this school, so he's not the one calling the shots, but I think he's tired of me asking a million questions. The contract as a whole does not have anything in it which is meant to protect the teacher is the school treats them badly, but has all sorts of penalties if the school is unhappy with the teacher for any reason. Maybe that's normal, I'm not sure. Do you guys usually get contracts that protect the teacher, too, or just the school?

More importantly, though, is it appropriate for me to be protesting this sick day charge? Is that normal? Has anyone else ever heard of that before?

Furthermore, how likely is it that as a foreigner who has never visited China, I will get some kinda weird stomach bug (not travelers diarrhea, I mean like e coli or histoylica or parasites or something)?

Any answers are appreciated! Thanks!

[Non Sequitur]

Suck it up mate.
These clauses are there to protect against the lazy and the hungover.
There is risk in EVERYTHING in PRC.

[roadwalker]

Who teaches the classes if you can't? One of the administrators maybe, or they ask another foreign teacher. Perhaps they have to pay the other foreign teacher overtime to take over your class. I'm not sure if I agree with the school here, but I can understand why they would charge a higher rate than your projected hourly rate. If it was for a yearly contract, I would definitely give the school a pass if they insisted on this clause.

[choudoufu]

package. what is the total amount the school is paying you?

include airfare and bonuses and lodging and meals and overhead
and visa paperwork, and so on.

[caicha222]

[creeper1]

[Andrew Jordan]

My school has a similar policy. But for us, the money goes directly to the teacher who covers the class. I like it, because it discourages from taking frivolous days off and makes covering a class at the last moment a little less painful.

As far as getting sick, I have found that traveler's bugs are stronger here, or maybe I just had bad luck when I came. but anything more serious is no more of a worry than other places.

I have never seen a contract in China or anywhere else that protects the teacher. But if one is full of clauses that only benefit the school, it is a warning sign that teachers aren't respected or they have had problems with teachers in the past. But that's not always the schools fault.

[hilena_westb]

Why should you get paid for work not performed?

However, if you're smart enough in advance to make sure your employer lists you as a "salaried" employee, then you should get paid regardless. Salary, of course, is a fixed payment, for a maximum amount of work - regardless of performing that work. In addition, if you sign any statement that they can take money away under these conditions, then you, again, signed it away and they can take what they want despite being salaried.

It's basic business practice.

[Kysorb]

I hate to say this but, don't call in sick.

Calling in sick probably wont cancel your classes instead the school will usually have another teacher cover them, which just inconveniences your friends.

Unless you can't get off the pot, be a trooper.

[teachingld2004]

I'd like to know how you can get a visa in Hong Kong. I got mine in NY, but my friend has to go back to the USA for her visa

[tangal]

Yes, it's fair.

Protesting the terms of the school's contract isn't a matter of being appropriate or inappropriate, it's a matter of negotiating a business deal.

Find out if there's a sick-day penalty even with a doctor's visit and note, i.e. legitimate illnesses and injuries as opposed to hangovers.

It sounds like the school is familiar with the drinking and partying habits of many younger expats and fines are their way of controlling the number of hangover days taken by teachers during the camp.

If that's the case, it could be a summer camp a free-for-all (lots of partyers having fun and making a little $ at the same time).

My advice is to enjoy your sick days as much as possible and don't worry too much about covering for your hung-over friends or a few RMB in lost wages.

[wangdaning]

I know this is an old thread and talking about summer work, but I am really glad my school does not have such a ridiculous policy. They are called sick days, and most people get sick occasionally (especially when going into another country).

Makes no sense to even take away that days pay from the teacher. I could see a limit on sick days with this sort of policy covering days exceeding the limit.

[Denim-Maniac]

I work in a place that operates a summer school, which has now been going for 3, or maybe 4 weeks. Already I can see shifts changing and teachers covering each other as summer staff go sick and recover from hangovers.

TBH, it never happens with the regular staff, or it happens rarely.

Clauses designed to limit such behaviour seems OK to me!

[chinatimes]

[wangdaning]