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Markness
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 738
Location: Chengdu
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 Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 5:27 am Post subject: They tried to pull a fast one on me.. |
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Why, oh why, do you keep trying?
Note: I am never a late person, never missed a class in my life. Good rep from students and co-workers, very easy-going person who can handle the mud that is slung at me in China. Usually an upbeat person who doesn't complain nearly as much as my other co-workers, however...
I've worked for three companies who have tried to skimp money on me somehow. Was wondering if others have similar experiences..
First company tried to dock me money for not coming 15 minutes before a class, and instead coming in 5 minutes instead.. one time.. and there was no warning, just missing random amount of money on my paycheck.. needless to say I threatened to quit and the money re-appeared in my bank account the next day before lunch (those were my demands). There was no clause on the contract indicating that you could get deducted for this...
Second time (same company), tried to not pay me for my flight allowance because I left (contract was finished and I did not want to re-sign with those people). They kept "forgetting", and after month number 2 I threatened to call the police.. for some reason after doing this they paid the next day before lunch (same demands made as last time).
Third time (today), I was missing over 1000 yuan from my paycheck. No warning, no nothing. It must have been a mistake, right? Wrong. Apparently my co-workers "didn't see me", during a very quiet week at school, which just so happens to be a week where they don't show up because, well.. they don't have classes! Anywho, I stomped on down to the director's office and asked about my money, and then he gave me the story that I mentioned above. I asked him for proof, and he said that the proof was the other teachers not seeing me. I told him we don't live in the 1600s and that guilty before being proven innocent doesn't work here. No attendance sheet, no nothing, just he said/she said.
Needless to say, I got my money back, but now they have pissed me off. I have a good repertoire at my school, again, never late, never missed a class, and one of the few teachers (2 of 4), who gets good feedback from students. And this is how they treat me...
Just wanted to write this as a rant, and to share some information for those of you who are newer at the game. Know how to protect yourself. Because, even if you are a person like me who doesn't do bad things, they will still try and screw you. Be careful, look at the clauses in your contract, and don't back down if they are in the wrong.
Anyone else have similar experiences? |
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guobaoyobro
Joined: 10 Dec 2015
Posts: 73
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| That's all quite silly. Yikes. Maybe you're just having a run of bad luck. |
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Markness
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 738
Location: Chengdu
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:02 am Post subject: |
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| guobaoyobro wrote: |
| That's all quite silly. Yikes. Maybe you're just having a run of bad luck. |
Heh, maybe! It has all been in the same city, so maybe it has to do with that! Though I know shoddy stuff happened also when I was in Harbin, but the pay was considerably lower, so they probably couldn't be bothered with deductions. |
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adventious
Joined: 23 Nov 2015
Posts: 237
Location: In the wide
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: They tried to pull a fast one on me.. |
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| Markness wrote: |
| I have a good repertoire at my school... |
I maintain a balance between Shakespeare and the more popular operas, but finding a soubrette for my ingénue is really hard. Now, as for my rapport? If my rehearsals have been solid, I don't take bad reviews well and tend to move onto the next town. |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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kungfuman
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 1749
Location: In My Own Private Idaho
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| Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 2:34 am Post subject: |
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My first job in China tried to scam me as well. Never missed a class, last paycheck was 2000 short. Boss said sorry books were closed for the term.
I threatened him with going to the president of the school etc. Got my money,
Some Chinese are just thieves. Get used to it |
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Lack
Joined: 10 Aug 2011
Posts: 252
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| Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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Wait, you mean you actually expect to get fully paid for your work?!
Next thing you know you'll be telling me you think it's bad to be a dancing panda in the classroom.
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Markness
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 738
Location: Chengdu
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| Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:22 pm Post subject: Re: They tried to pull a fast one on me.. |
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| adventious wrote: |
| Markness wrote: |
| I have a good repertoire at my school... |
I maintain a balance between Shakespeare and the more popular operas, but finding a soubrette for my ingénue is really hard. Now, as for my rapport? If my rehearsals have been solid, I don't take bad reviews well and tend to move onto the next town. |
Woops! Sounds about right! |
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Markness
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 738
Location: Chengdu
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| Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Very likely! |
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Markness
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 738
Location: Chengdu
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| Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| kungfuman wrote: |
My first job in China tried to scam me as well. Never missed a class, last paycheck was 2000 short. Boss said sorry books were closed for the term.
I threatened him with going to the president of the school etc. Got my money,
Some Chinese are just thieves. Get used to it |
Lol, yeah. I have seen it way too many times, just like to share my experiences because they obviously keep trying to do it because it must work on some people. I know a ton of other westerners who just bend-over when they get screwed. |
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Markness
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 738
Location: Chengdu
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| Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Lack wrote: |
Wait, you mean you actually expect to get fully paid for your work?!
Next thing you know you'll be telling me you think it's bad to be a dancing panda in the classroom.
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I know! It is totally crazy.. right? 
I think they're just trying to test people out/push their buttons to see what they can get away with. I am all over them like a fly on stink when they try and put the screws to me. Just want other people to make sure they stand up for themselves/pick their battles wisely so that the general consensus is to not try and screw the foreign expert(s) at their school. |
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Aristede
Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:57 am Post subject: |
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| Markness wrote: |
| Lack wrote: |
Wait, you mean you actually expect to get fully paid for your work?!
Next thing you know you'll be telling me you think it's bad to be a dancing panda in the classroom.
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I know! It is totally crazy.. right?
I think they're just trying to test people out/push their buttons to see what they can get away with. I am all over them like a fly on stink when they try and put the screws to me. Just want other people to make sure they stand up for themselves/pick their battles wisely so that the general consensus is to not try and screw the foreign expert(s) at their school. |
It is a sad thing if one goes to China with any sense of honor and expect it to be reciprocated. Sometimes you can almost hear the "buttons" being pressed when they try this stuff. It might be shorting you on expenses, trying to pass a visa/permit cost onto you, or just general laziness & abandonment of responsibility--in which case the foreigner is expected to pick up their slack. It gets exhausting after a while to be constantly vigilant and ready to battle for what's rightfully yours. And when you win, the explanation is usually misunderstanding, "communication problem," etc.
It seems to me that many Chinese are just trained from birth to do this. Standard practice is always try to get the edge by way of deceit. They regard people who deal fairly with others without trying to cheat them first as fools. |
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jimpellow
Joined: 12 Oct 2007
Posts: 913
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| Aristede wrote: |
| Markness wrote: |
| Lack wrote: |
Wait, you mean you actually expect to get fully paid for your work?!
Next thing you know you'll be telling me you think it's bad to be a dancing panda in the classroom.
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I know! It is totally crazy.. right?
I think they're just trying to test people out/push their buttons to see what they can get away with. I am all over them like a fly on stink when they try and put the screws to me. Just want other people to make sure they stand up for themselves/pick their battles wisely so that the general consensus is to not try and screw the foreign expert(s) at their school. |
It is a sad thing if one goes to China with any sense of honor and expect it to be reciprocated. Sometimes you can almost hear the "buttons" being pressed when they try this stuff. It might be shorting you on expenses, trying to pass a visa/permit cost onto you, or just general laziness & abandonment of responsibility--in which case the foreigner is expected to pick up their slack. It gets exhausting after a while to be constantly vigilant and ready to battle for what's rightfully yours. And when you win, the explanation is usually misunderstanding, "communication problem," etc.
It seems to me that many Chinese are just trained from birth to do this. Standard practice is always try to get the edge by way of deceit. They regard people who deal fairly with others without trying to cheat them first as fools. |
I think this response is pretty head on though I would make the distinction that it is mainland Chinese. As one Singapore businessman shared with me wryly, "I won't do business with mainland Chinese as they are too clever." I imagine you assumed this.
I have to agree that it is deeply engrained in the culture. I would also have to applaud Markness for getting all over them whenever it happens.
Yet when I hear abuse happening to certain folks time and time again it is not coincidence. I strongly believe it is the frame they have set on the relationship, and what buttons they have lurking in their subconscious minds that allow for the constant testing and abuse.
Some ESL teachers are sort of like Elizabeth Taylor. After her seventh divorce she claimed that all men are jerks. Really Elizabeth? Or are you just on a subconscious program to find them, and to allow them to push as many buttons as they see fit? The subsequent threat of divorce is really no different than the threat of quitting after getting one's pigu plugged Sino style.
They are reactive to the situation due to an internal model one holds which fares poorly when interacting with among other things, Chinese management. |
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