Job Discussion Forums

[C&N]

At the moment we suspect they may just flip out for a bit, my girlfriend will turn on the water works and we'll get away with just paying them back for our Residence Permits, Medical exam, etc. We're pretty friendly with the head Foreign Affairs here, which makes it even trickier, but hopefully she'll go light on us.
We shall find out...we plan on telling them late next week after we get paid, so I'll keep everybody updated on what happens, and I can add my story to the growing list of "dodgy departings" from rubbish schools in China.

[Spiderman Too]

C&N

Notwithstanding what was discussed between you, and your girlfriend, and the school, it sounds like the SAFEA contract has been registered with the PSB (in order for you to have a foreigners residence permit and a FEC) and so that contract will probably be considered to be binding.

You can see for yourself that the contract has a breach of contract penalty clause of US$500.00 to US$2,000.00!

As for the appendix (probationary period), what is the actual wording?

I don't think probationary periods are a bad things as long as they are a two-way street. If the employer wants the option to terminate the contract during and up to 3 months because the employee does not meet expectations (as opposed to breaching contract conditions) then the employee should also have the right to terminate if the school does not meet his/her expectations.

Anyway, does the 3 month probationary period agreement that you signed allow you to leave?

[C&N]

The three month probationary preiod was just drafted up by ourselves, and signed by the head of foreign affairs and ourselves, so not sure how it would hold up officially, however it made us feel more secure at the time and it kind of just commits the University to their word (which was that we could leave before the end of the contract). We do have one advantage over the University which is that they are trying to form a link with our University in the UK, so any hostile activity towards us will reflect badly on them if we report back to our University in the UK (sorry if that sounds vindictive...dog eat dog and all that!)
AAAANYWAY, the events of the past few hours have changed things somewhat. We have secured a job for my girlfriend, but it doesn't start until the new semester in February. So, looks like we'll be doing our best here until then...I'm sure we can do two more months here, especially if the only other option was to leave China altogether. And I'm sure the School here will be more reasonable if we stay until the end of the semester. We have become quite commited to some of the students with the development of an English Corner on campus, etc. so will be good to see that come together.
Cheers for all the advice guys.
C&N

[checkmate]

Hi C&N,
Having taught in Sichuan for almost a year under contract I was able to leave without too much fuss. I was unhappy with the university I taught at in Leshan and as a result the school allowed me to leave. The schools actually have little to say about teachers leaving if they are unhappy. It promotes bad publicity. As a kiwi we dont seem to face nearly as many problems here as with other nationalities. we can do visa's and FEC's, Z visa's all from within China.
Anyway your Z visa is only good for the place you work at and as soon as you leave for whatever reason it is no good. your FEC is a red book and it remains current until its expiry date regardless of where you go. Again at least for us kiwi's.
however to take up employment at another place you need to apply for a new residence permit which is a green book in Sichuan. Usually you just keep it and if you apply to another school you give them that book and they include it with your new application. a release letter is important from the school because you cannot apply for another position where you need a residence permit unless you are released from your previous job.
As far as just leaving, at my school 2 teachers just packed up one night and left. No one stopped them or arrested them and now they work in another place in China.
When I left the school I just went to the border at huanggang and 20 minutes later I had another F visa for 6 months costing 600RMB multi entry. Then when I went to teach at Tsinghua Experimental School in Baoan they applied for a residency permit for me to teach there and it was only for 3 months.
I suppose if you want to leave tell the school they suck(Thats what I did)
and pretty much they couldnt wait for me to go and assisted me greatly including a very nice release letter. A pissed off kiwi is something they didnt want around. Who could blame them.
The PSB cordinator in Leshan is a great mate of mine if that will help I can hook you up.
anyway hope you get something useful out of this