Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

A teacher friend mentioned that he has been working at a language school for the past month, as a second gig. He works 2 hours every Saturday and agreed to a salary of 110 rmb per hour, with two hours every Saturday.

He worked on April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2nd, and then was paid on May 2nd, a total of just 440 rmb, (4 hours of work, over two Saturdays) but expected to be paid for at least 8 hours of work as he had taught 2 hours for the past 5 Saturdays, which logically should have given him 880 rmb for four Saturdays, or 1100 for 5 Saturdays (taking him up to and including May 2nd). His pay packet showed he was only paid for April 4 and April 11 - but was not paid (yet) for April 18, April 25 and May 2.

The school assistant explained to the teacher, that the salaries are only paid for the window of the middle of the month - i.e. - March 15 to April 16 - anything outside that window is not paid for. The teacher was then told that he could expect his next payday at the end of May - so in effect, he will have worked for 9 weeks, with only 2 weeks being paid up till then. This is because of this middle of the month to middle of the month pay scheme.

In my opinion, I think that as a minimal expectation, teachers should be paid for every month they work, as a minimum. Any delay in paying the full month, I feel, is unreasonable on the part of the school.

Do you think the teacher is worrying unnecessarily, or is this a normal practice in some language school gigs in China?

Ghost in China

[mysterytrain]

If the "salary month" (or "payroll month") is from the middle of one month to the middle of the next, and salary is paid at the end of the month, I don't see anything particularly unusual about that.

So within the payroll month from March 15 to April 15, your friend worked two days at two hours each day, and was paid for those four hours on the 2nd of May. He should then be paid for the hours worked on April 18th, 25th, and May 2nd, in the next payroll at the end of May or beginning of June.

What's the problem, again?

[kungfuman]

An intelligent person quantifies important factors of his agreement before starting to teach, don't they?

So instead of asking important questions they - you - publicly gripe about them?

Perhaps these gripes should have been aimed at the employer.

[ghost]

The teacher in question has been informed by a veteran, that some schools, indeed, have middle of the month pay schemes. So if the teacher in question is patient enough, he/she should be paid, either in the middle of May or the end of May for the remaining weeks in which she/he worked.

Thank you.

Ghost in China

[zacharybilton]

What's the complaint and problem? You don't like the school's policy on payment periods? Ever hear of budget, accounting, and so on? If I work today you think I should get paid 9 months ago or 9 months in the future.

If you don't know what the contract says then don't sign it. My first check of the new term is usually only for 4 days of teaching and have to wait another month for a full-month work.

It's common sense.

[asiannationmc]