Job Discussion Forums

jo23 · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 6

Just wondering if it is common in ESL jobs to be paid late, and have to ask for wages before you actually receive them.
This is my third job, in the last two I had no problems with pay, but it is now the 10th February and I still haven't been paid for January! What would you do?

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

May depend on where you live and what kind of school you are teaching at.

vre · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 371

Have you asked for your money?

Which country are you in?

I don't know if it is very common but it certainly happens! You may have to stand your ground a little. If you are the only native speaker there and if it is a private language school - you may have to speak a little louder or threaten to leave because you can't survive on no money?

These school owners really make me angry!!!

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

I'd say it's not common. At least, I've never had this problem.

I'd recommend that you speak rationally with the person in charge of payments and try to find out the reason that you have not been paid and when you will get paid. Some schools actually pay on the 15th of the month after the month you have worked. Have you checked your school's payment policy??

If it seems that they're just never going to pay you, you should investigate what kind of recourse you can take against the school. Some countries have a labor board/court that may help or some other body that oversees schools. If that doesn't seem like an option you should obviously look for a new job and let everyone know the name of the school. Don't teach there another day.

And, I wouldn't recommend this, but I remember hearing about a guy I used to teach with who went to another school and had this sort of trouble. Apparently he stood up, picked up a TV from the school's reception area and walked out the door. Laughing

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

I can't speak for everyone but this is what usually works for me in China: I double check the pay day date and warn them that salary should be ready for pick-up that day in before noon. I show up at 2p.m. to pick it up and if it is not there, I ask to speak to whomever is in charge and explain to them that I'm going home and I'll be back to teach whenever they come over and bring me my paycheck....

I take my job seriously and I expect them to do the same. I remember one month when the "money lady" had to pay half of my salary out of her own pocket because the dean went out of town and she forgot to ask him to sign the stub.

That is just my rule... they respect it now but still try to pull a fast one every so often at which point they always loose because I never make up the dates missed due to their negligence....

jo23 · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 6

I have asked for the money a few times, the answer is always "in a few days", today, I was told later this afternoon, but now it won't be until at least Saturday.
It is a small private language school in France, with only a few teachers. Pay day should be the 1st of the month. I am now going to have to explain to the landlord that I still can't pay the rent, which is embarassing. I know that lots of people will just say leave, but apart from the money issue the boss is nice, and it is good experience. Its a difficult situation!!!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Seems they really have you over a barrel. Like some of the previous posters have stated, tell them you will not work until you are paid. You may be surprised how quickly you see your money. Very simple in French or English. You need to separate business from "nice". The longer you go, the less chance you will have of ever seeing any money. Your boss may think that if you quit, he will be saving himself 6 or 7 weeks of your wages. Don't let it continue.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

bluffer · Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 9:57 am Post subject:

go in ask for the money and dont leave until you get it

go to the labour office or whatever it is called in france

leave and sue them

dont work until you get paid

etc

until you stand up for yourself they will continue this BS.

Forgot to add. its only usual to be paid late if its a dodgy/small/cash flow poor place. If it was decent they would pay on time. My agency may be deficient in many ways but they do pay on time.

hobo · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 91

Are you working legally? As far as I know, France has some of the best protection for workers. You might want to see if there is somewhere you can get legal advice and/or let your employer know that you are getting advice.
Good luck.

vre · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 371

They could at least offer you a 'sub' so you can pay your rent and buy a few groceries and tide you over the weekend. You could ask for that as a way to slip in that you are embarrassed to deal with the landlord like that and that your food cupboards are bare. It may give the message without any bad feelings.

I know that ideally this is not what we should have to resort to but as the OP said - she likes her job and her boss is a 'nice' man and maybe they are going through a 'rough' patch (although I'm sure based on experience of language school owners that his family is not going to eat just cabbage soup and his wife will be able to go to the hairdresser's this weekend and his bank manager is not going to be sending him any red statements!!!!)

But it may be a way to communicate some kind of message.