Job Discussion Forums

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

Hi guys,

I need some advice. I am currently working for Hess and am about 6 months through my one year contract. I am completely fucking fed up with this place and want to quit. However some of my mates have told me that Hess really fucks with you for breaking a contract. Anyone have any experience in this before?

Cheers

Okami · Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 121 Location: Sunny Sanxia

I think you have bit of culture shock and stress. Unless you can give us some concrete reasons for quitting, it would seem to me to be an irrational choice.

I'm not judging you, and I want to help, but you are at the 6 month point and this is the roughest part of the culture shock to get over. Talk it out on the board and fill in details, as your posts have been vague on the general problems of the past. Talk it out and lets see what your options are. You can and will work this out.

Take care,
Okami

cabbagehead · Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 46 Location: Japan

In ten points or less, tell us what makes you want to quit the company (not the country though I'm not sure that's relevant)

Then I'm sure you'll get some advice that's on the nail

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

hey guys,

here goes.

1. I don't get on well with some of the staff. They seem perpetually peeved that I get paid more than them.

2. I spend about two hours grading and prepping lesson plans on top of my four teaching hours.

3. The kids are little pissants. I teach one group of spoiled junior high age students that seem perpetually pissed off that I am not a stand up comedian.

4. I hate working at nights.

5. The pay sucks

6. I hate working weekends.

There ya go mates. Thanks for your input ahead of time. I know some of you are probably putting up with 10x's more shit than me, but well, let's face it, I'm a bit soft. I've made up my mind that I want to quit, so if you can give me some advice ahead of time on what to do to break my contract then I'd be much oblidged.

Okami · Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 121 Location: Sunny Sanxia

Here's what I would do after I comment on your points.

1. You need to speak their language or make the appearance of attempting to do so. They will always be pissed off about something, but if you can pidgen speak your way through it. It will get better. Chinese love to argue, gossip, and moan about everything. It's their culture.

2. Get a system to cut that down. Is that 2 hours a day or 2 hours a week? I generally fake such things and put a lot of happy but bland comments.

3. Always stay away from that waste of humanity known as Junior high or senior high school students. They are a total drain on your energy as their life truly sucks and they want you to feel the same. How would you feel if you were stuck in a multi year trail and error system known as Taiwanese education. Really, you need to talk to some Taiwanese to fully understand what is all going on.

4. I did too. I now work 9-12 and 2-5 at an hourly rate. It took me 3 years, language ability, ability to communicate effectively and a wealth of connections. You can have the same schedule but at salary it sucks. I can assure you as I did my current hours on salary and was surprised at the amount of wqork I had.

5. How much were you making back home? What are your expenses and hobbies? It's all relative. Set a target income, then make it. Mind is $70,000/month.

6. I can't argue with that

What I would do is offer to teach kindergarten for Hess from say 9ish to 12ish. This gives you an ARC and the ability to find better paid afternoon and evening jobs in situations that don't suck(teaching junior high schoolers=suck). By asking for a transfer, you let them know that you're not happy and you're willing to give them a chance to work with you. Don't complain and don't make snide remarks, just say that you want to be in a different enviroment because you don't think you're the appropriate(nothing about not being able to handle them, appear confident, but not a slouch) person for the classes you have. You want to keep your options open as visa runs do suck.

Try this tack and see how it works. Don't act to rashly and remember, whiskey solves all problems. Also find a good friend to vent to. I find this helps me immeasurably. Now if I can just get my stupid manager to turn in all my paperwork so I can finally get my damn ARC.

CYA
Okami

Capergirl · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2003 10:49 pm Post subject:

@Mozilla...I taught at a language school in Taiwan for a year. It was not Hess, but a similar chain (although I know people who worked for Hess). My thoughts are as follows:

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

thanks for all the support guys. I really appreciate it.

but the reality is that it just isn't that easy to do a runner in Taiwan, especially not with a company like Hess. If you try to break the contract, they will prevent you from leaving the country (yes, they can do this...you are Hess property now, whether you realize it or not).

What exactly do you mean. How can they prevent me from leaving the country? If I said I am miserable and refuse to work anymore, I'm sure there is something I can do to get out of this.[/i]

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

Oh, let me be perfectly clear. I am dead set on quitting hess and want advice as to some of the legal ramifications and how to deal with them. Any advice is warmly appreciated.

wix · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 250 Location: Earth

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

What does it mean to be a 'runner'?

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

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jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

Hess cannot stop you from leaving the country just for breaking your contract. They would have to prove that you have committed a crime and get a prosecutor to sign the complaint. It could be done but it is very expensive.
You will be barred from obtaining another ARC and will have a very hard time getting anything but a landing visa. There are ways around this but it takes a lot of know how and a little luck.
My best advice is for a close non-existent relative to suddenly pass away. Ask for an advance and leave at a time when the school is holding as little of your money as possible.
Make a detailed student name list of all your students, you can sell that with a letter of recommendation to competing schools to make up some, if not all of your lost pay. You could also call some of the better students and offer them one on one teaching to fill up your hours. Make sure you have a good relationship with the parents before you walk.
If you have any trouble and you probably will contact me. We have been working for several years to put in place an extensive network to help people in your kind of situation.
Also please note that only the police can take your ARC away. If the school has it you need to write a formal complaint about it being stolen and send it registered mail to the FAP in Taipei. The take a copy of the report and the slip showing that you have registered it with the post office to the local FAP.

Good Luck
A.
[email protected]

Mozilla · Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 90

Wow. You guys rock!

As for Hess, I actually HAVE my ARC on my person. I still would like some first hand account of people who have actually quit Hess and succeeded. There is a 20,000 NT fine for breaking the contract. I am wondering if I pay this, will they let me transfer my ARC or will they refuse to transfer it, in which case I will just not pay the fine.

Also, what is this black list thing? Do all schools have a list of shitty employees?

thanks!