Job Discussion Forums

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Well, my first year in China is coming to an end. I have remained on good terms with my boss and naturally wants me to stay on another year.

Here is the kicker:

He wants me to work 7 days a week, and he will give me a 1000 yuan a month raise. I told him I need at LEAST one day off a week, preferably two. He said no.

Basically his idea is that he earns 8250 yuan a month while I get a 1000 yuan extra a month. Sound fair? Not!

Here is my logic:

Give me two days off. Failing that, I would be willing to work those two extra days for half of what you would lose if I left (I'd settle for 4000).

Here is his logic:

Give me a one thousand yuan raise and one day off, and cancel a class (which he then loses about 4000 yuan).

Why would he sacrifice 4000 yuan from a class but not pay me an extra 4000 yuan? It doesn't make any sense...

If he figures it will be easy for him to find a new teacher who is willing to work 7 days a week, I wish him all the best.

I'm going to stick to my guns on this one. I know how much money he makes, and I know he can afford it.

[Roger]

In every civilised country there is a labour law that restrictsa worker's weekly workload; as far as I know China protects your right to at least one, possibly even two, days, off a week.
There is a booklet with all those provisions available from the PSB (I didn't get it but I have seen it), even in English.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Thanks, Roger. I know of the Labour Code leaflet they have, but I really don't mind working 7 days a week if my pay can jump 4000 yuan more than what I am making now.

Besides, it's only 6 to 8 pm (Well, actually 6:15 to 7:00 and then 7:15 to 8:00). I have the whole day off basically.

I just don't understand why instead of cancelling the class he just gives me the money he would otherwise be wasting.

[7969]

i'v had two jobs in china so far. and with both of them i was off from thursday at noon until monday morning. i always try for at least three days a week off. my pay is less, just under 5,000 RMB but i have plenty of time to enjoy myself and do what i like in my free time. (i have income from another source, so money is not an issue with me, time off is).

why not just maintain the same contract you have? sounds ok to me. dont try to get into the mind of the chinese businessman. it wont work.....

[lagerlout2006]

I certainly agree with the title of the post. During one negotiation an FAO told me it would be better if I earned less than the other teachers as this would take pressure off me. EH? After meetings with an FAO I usually slam my head against a wall a few times .

As for 7 days I would do it for a while if I was trying to save,. Think it would get to me quickly though. Like 7969 some teachers here (a College) think I am overworked having classes Mon-Fri. Most of them have 4 periods a day with 3 days off. The 6-8 would suit me though.
Since it's 7 days it seems fair to ask for more than just regular overtime.

[oprah]

Don't forget to remind him that you are saving him a finders or agent's fee, so he could pay it to you/ You are your own agent. Some schools will need to use an agent to find another teacher.

[Chris_Crossley]

I once worked a period of 27 days without a break, but never for the same employer. This was during the summer vacation, so I meant that I was doing a punishing schedule, yet the flipside was a good amount of money at the end of it. It was worth the effort, even if it meant sacrificing a lot of free time.

Any attempt by any one employer to get you to work for seven days per week, without exactly saying how long it is going to be for, should be rejected out of hand. At least, public-sector employers do not normally operate for seven days a week for the normal classes. Any weekend classes would be "voluntary" (i.e., you are made to feel that you "must" do them, because, for instance, the parents pay for the students to come and do the extra classes!) and usually attract more money.

At present, I work Monday to Friday and Sunday mornings. The classes on the Sunday do attract extra pay. I can set aside any evening for extra work outside my school if I so desire, although, at the minute, all my evenings and all of Saturday are completely free. I am almost dreading the Spring Festival break, though, because I am expecting those offers of work, possibly involving working over seven days per week, to come in any time soon!

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

7969 wrote:

[writpetition]

Wow! You guys sure are doing great. Here I am, and having difficulty finding a job that pays anything more than 5000.
Does anyone around want to play good samaritan and help? I'll even sing and dance !

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[writpetition]

Thanks for the thought, Great Wall. I hope you find a job post-haste.
Talking about searches....I've done a lot and found those 10K plus listings....but I can't even begin to dream of reaching those rarefied heights...glass ceiling et al!
I was born unequal in an equal world...mother gave me brown skin (I promise I never asked for it ) but sent me to the best schools around. Apparently education counts for nothing in the world of esl education but colour does!
No wonder then I need to beg, degree-in-hand.

[c-way]

So great wall,
What's your secret. I'm a fresh young university grad and I want a contract that pays well, provides accomodations and travel allowance. I certainly don't want to undercut my fellow TEFL teachers, but once my TEFL diploma program is done, I'm going to need a job fast. Any advice on good ways to conduct a search, where to look etc.

[7969]

[Roger]

So I see this is another misleading thread about the high value FTs have for being white, native English speakers etc. and so on and ad nauseam, right?
It is about MONEY, not TEACHING, about earning bucvks not about having a life.

If you are so excellent at scanning the job offers on the web you better keep your insignificant worries to yourself; on the other hand why don't you tell the gullible that a lot of those supposedly well-remunerating jobs are bait-and-switch offers with half of the promises made and equally quickly broken?

There simply aren't that many GOOD jobs out there, not in China, and not for people who are underqualified and overeager to fill their empty purses.

[dazzaa26]