Job Discussion Forums

[summerheaven]

My contract is an 11 month contract (well, it starts on March 1st, ends on January 20th). On the contract, all the benefits only apply for teachers working a year (since they also hire people for one semester). So I asked about that and by one year, they meant 1 teaching year. But it doesn't state teaching year on the contract. Is that normal?

I want to ask them to specify that those 11 months is considered a teaching year just in case.

This university seems trustworthy from speaking to the people currently working there and they have already discussed some of the benefits I would be getting which they wouldn't bother to if they were to screw me over.

This is premature but if I were to renew would it be more complicated because of those 11 months? I would have a month gap inbetween if I renew. I don't know if I'd have to redo all my documents and do a visa run or if they can extend my work permit.

[hz88]

The term 'teaching year' generally means academic year and is geared to September to the end of June / early July. Contracts are generally set to this in terms of benefits and bonuses and it is always a source of contention for those who join outside these times.

We issue academic year contracts, 1st September to 1st July. Our school is not open in July and August and it would be pointless to do otherwise.

Regarding benefits etc mentioned by previous posters, our pay day is 15th of the month for the previous month (not because of the worry of runners but because all employees are paid that day and that is when the accounts department do the pay run).

New starters will receive pay for September on October 15th.
On 1st July, the completion bonus is paid plus all owed salaries for June so the fifteen days automatically catch up.

If contracts are renewed then we are paid in full for July and August but we receive that on October 15th together with our September salary. We are also offered free accommodation during the summer should we need it.

I would ask them to be more specific about start and end dates and list clearly what you will be paid when. You should expect full pay for February (Spring Festival, but as you are commencing at the beginning of the second semester you will miss this at both ends of the stick unless you renew) and be clear about whether they pay for July and August, most Universities don't pay this unless you renew and that won't apply to you as you are mid contract. Also ask when you will receive your end of contract payments etc.

Regarding renewals, it depends on when the University has your Foreign Experts Certificate issued until, generally its 30 days past your contract expiry date so that would give you time to renew elsewhere or for them to do it.

Also just an educated guess but the end of contract date would coincide with the end of the semester, one full year would be slap bang in the middle of Spring Festival and of no use to them or you as nobody would be around to renew anything. This is also something you need to keep an eye on if you are renewing, make sure they have everything in process well before the holiday otherwise you will find the University locked shut and possibly your passport locked in a safe at the local PSB and you marooned in your lonely apartment.

[Non Sequitur]

Not to mention no heat!

[JRJohn]

It's not so bad if the university gives you free accommodation. Otherwise, it's a nightmare.
I went to China a few years ago, knowing that the university would pay late, but came largely because I had a very detailed description of the school from an American guy there at the time. A lot of teachers were on their second contract.
What we did, all 25 of us, was come to the office, and complain about late payment. We did this until we got paid. It worked. You don't have to lose your temper or be destructive, but if all the western teachers have this problem they should complain-together.

[hz88]

Not taking sides but I didn't really see anyone in this thread complaining about late payments per se.

The thread mentioned the varying times of which schools pay.

I personally don't think that its entirely unreasonable to be paid on the 15th of the month for the previous month. Certainly in England this is widespread and just as I mentioned you will get back what you are owed when your contract ends or you resign.

Anyone coming to China should have enough cash to last them at least two months without relying on others, anything could happen. Whilst this may not always be possible it is certainly advised.