Job Discussion Forums

Gold Rush · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 86

Urgent - What to do when English school doesn't want to pay you before you have to leave the country??

I worked only a few hours at a western-managed English school in Shanghai this month. I told them I had to leave China by the end of August and that my train was already booked. They gave me the classes and now It's time for them to pay.

They seem like they are going to, but they keep forgeting about my visa expiry date. I told them I can't wait around until the 10th of the moneth to pick up my pay, because I have to leave the country before the 1st.

My question is what are my options if this school refuses to pay me before I must leave the country?

The school is western-managed and not dodgy. Actually, pretty good relations (with teachers) aside from this pay date nonsense. Also, there was no contract, only a signed sheet saying I would teach a few classes. I don't have a Z visa.

What can I do if things get ugly?

tofuman · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 937

Western managed and not dodgy? LOL.

Take your losses, redefine the meaning of "dodgy," and move on.

Dude, "Good relations" are simply the Chinese way of setting you up for the "rip off."

no_exit · Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 565 Location: Kunming

Wait and see? Hope for the best? Since you weren't legally employed there's not much you can do legally without incriminating yourself. If you get nasty with them they'll be even less likely to pay you. But then again, are they acting dodgy? Do you have any reason to think they won't pay you before the 10th? Have you always been paid on time before? If they've been fairly reliable in the past then it is probably safe to assume they won't screw you over at the last minute, but you never know.

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

Keep asking, ask, ask and ask. Ring or go and see them. Explain the situation, explain as many times until they get the point.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

and remember ..it is best to deal with the man who writes the check...if you can't get next to him ...get next to the person who is next to him...

WordUp · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 131

If you are still teaching, stop teaching until they pay you.. If your stint is over.. Good luck with that! Without leverage, your salary is going to buy one of the admins kids English lessons at the competing school down the street.. I like the advice of walking into the office and refusing to leave until they pay you.. Of course if you need to remove a few limbs to get what you want make sure you have adequate demembering music..

BlakeS · Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 87 Location: Xian

Hopefully you have good relations with other staff members because your only real course of action is to take something away from them if they try to take something away from you.

At my old school, the staff (as a whole) would have to threaten to quit to make sure someone received their last pay or flight reimbursement, etc.

You always hope it won't come to that - but it always seems to. Everytime you start at a new school, start working on ways to ensure your best interests will be taken care of.

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

dragon777 · Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 163 Location: Christmas Island

In this situation make a final stand. Ask them on your second last day possible for the money owed. If not payed...look and see for something valuable?? Come in and adjust to the situation. Sorry, but we all learn the hard way.

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

Had the same happen to me once some years back. I chased and begged and pleaded and got nothing. After several months I gave up and wrote off the almost 11,000 yuan owed. This week however, one of the Chinese instructors at the school (I've stayed on friendly terms with most CTs I've worked with over the years) called me and asked if I'd be interested in working at that school again. Or if I could tell them of another FT who'd be interested in working for them. Now this is a nice person, she's being used and I don't want to put her in the middle of something messy.
"Sorry, I'm working in the far end of town, most of my friends have left the city, and I won't know for at least 2 weeks which new FTs are interested. (Somehow I didn't add, "in getting ripped off") If you and the guys want to get together some time, my wife and I would love to join you, but I can't help you right now."
Amazing how what goes around comes back around. If you stick around long enough to see it.

Kilroy · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Dalian

But did you get the 11,000 RMB back they owed you.....? What's the moral of the story here... in the context of getting money owed from the Chinese?

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

That if a school screws over enough FTs, sooner or later word will filter out and they'll find it difficult to hire more. Even in Dalian.

mikanada · Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Chelsea

latefordinner

Can you divulge the name of that school?! Thanks.

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

The school was called Outstanding English Academy. I wrote a short message about them almost 2 years ago, "Teaching is one thing..." (getting paid is another). Their main branch is on Xi An Lu at Xing Gong Jie, right around the corner from the dental hospital. They're still in business, but I think they may be using another name now. I'll have to check that.
I left there with a bad taste in my mouth (that's a lot of money for me), but there is only so much you can do and life is too short to spend gnashing teeth and wringing your hands. I've kept friends, but I've moved on.