Job Discussion Forums

[patsy]

Being "visibally angry" or just keeping it in gets the very same results as far as I can see. Nothing. They will still do what they want and you WILL do it their way. Maybe it just makes a difference what they say behind your back, i don't know.

[Brian Caulfield]

I have worked in language mills in Taiwan and the same situation occurred with my employer . I blew up over something , I was just stressed from putting in many hours and they were stressed over the heat coming from up above. I went the next day and said " I guess I shot myself in the foot yesterday , I'm sorry " The next thing the guy said that he had a hot temper and he felt bad also . I got the best reference in my life from that person . Sometimes you got to back off . It is like watching Yao Ming three years back . He would get a bad call and explode . The next close call would go against him . Now he knows to keep calm . He realizes the referee might know themselves they made a bad call and when the call is close again Yoa gets the break. Never talk about your clients infront of them . It is like two doctors arguing infront of a patient whether they should amputate the leg . Bad for business

[cj750]

[Brian Caulfield]

Ya cj750 it's easy to get another gig in China but I think he has some attachment here . This is the rub with these mills . It is hard to get a gig in the same town unless it is big city . These buxibans are all friends with each other . Here you must change provinces when you jump ship.

[Shan-Shan]

OP:

Please show some dignity towards yourself, and immediately leave this position. You might just be "fined" again for not kowtowing deep enough when His Majesty makes another entrance in the classroom.

Really, it's just an ESL job -- why pop sugarcubes into all the shiiit you're being given? Would you accept a fine and reduction in hours back home?

[cj750]

[TravellingAround]

For them to actually FINE you over a situation THEY created or even for teaching something they didn't agree with in your class is scandalous.

I'd forget the contract as they obviously don't hold it in high regard if they are so pleased with randomly stealing money from their staff and re-branding it as a fine.

Their actions also suggest you need not hand in a notice either. They have been so completely unreasonable I would just leave. Oh and usually in this circumstance I would say don't think of your students as the school/mill owners can often use the thought of leaving them in the lurch to emotionally blackmail the teacher. However as you only have one that might be a moot point in this case...

The only problem is that you need to be careful regarding the visa. They can most likely cause problems in that same city most certainly with their contacts.

[tw]

I second what Shan-Shan says, show yourself some dignity and get the bleep outta there. The longer you stay, the more harm you'd do to those who come after you by making the employer think that he can push us around. Is your wife from Harbin? Come to Changchun, it's only about 4 hours away from Harbin. There are plenty of positions here. Heck, one of my current colleagues worked at the EF here and he actually didn't have anything bad to say about the branch.

[Margot73]

I think there is a much bigger problem than the fine. His wife is friends with the manager of his school and seems to be taking the school's side. This makes the situation very complicated. I really have no idea what the OP should do. Sounds like a bad scene all around.

[upchuckles]

Open your eyes.. This school has recruiting issues and NEEDS MONEY! So, they cant afford to pay you the contract hours (Which THEY are required to) So they're trying to get money from the perceived rich foreigner!

I'd thump your finger at your supervisor and make a clear threat that if they dont pay you the salary they owe you'll contact your embassy. They don't know that the embassy cant help but the threat of getting a government involved should move them in the right direction.

Unfortunately for you, this school doesnt have money. They'd rather have you quit and leave no matter what face they put on it in front of you. They can't afford to keep you, so they might as well try to blame you and exploit some money from you..

This situation is not your fault.. Part of the learning experience includes the kind of interaction you described.

Next time they ask you for money laugh in their face and tell them they are a disgrace to Chinese everywhere and if they don't behave themselves you are going to call their mother and insult her for having raised such a person.

Oh, and if your wife takes this persons side, then its time to show her who wears the pants in your relationship..

[mlomker]

[no_exit]

I'd second the advice to quit. It is one thing for them to reprimand you for disagreeing with the administrator, or to call you out for not following the curriculum, however, does their contract actually allow them to fine you for stuff like this without first a written, or even a verbal warning? To cut your hours back from full time to part time at a whim? Don't take stuff like that. You don't get fined thousands of RMB for making a mistake, that's ridiculous.

I wouldn't bother with the UN, your Embassy, Amnesty International, or any other groups. It would be a waste of time and energy. I'd simply give notice and find a new job. While China is full of bad employers, you, having now identified one, have the choice whether to stay there or not.

And one thing about Chinese spouses (and I have one too) is that, while they definitely mean well, they often don't understand (at least at first) that there are two completely different standards for Chinese employees and foreigner teachers. While Chinese workers might have to take all sorts of crap from their employers for fear of losing their jobs, and Chinese wives/husbands might encourage you to cooperate, give face, and admit your wrongdoing all for the sake of your job, foreigner teachers do have the market working to their advantage. Don't get fooled into thinking you can't do better than an employer who cuts your hours and fines you over nothing. It is unfortunate that you got this job through your wife's friend, because that means that if you leave, your wife also stands to lose some face. In the future I'd avoid using your wive's connections to get you a job, simply because if it does go bad then you and your wife are both put in an awkward position. There are so many jobs in China, there's no reason not to branch out and find yourself the best one out there.

[vikdk]

The wife can't be that close a friend with the manager - after all having gaunxi within a company should help in these kind of situations and certainly not result in such insulting treatment!!!! I know if my Chinese wife's "friends" treated me in a similar way - then I really would feel a loss of face - even as a Lao wai (I don't think the misses would be too happy either)!!!!!
Leave and don't look back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lobster]

Lots of advice pointing in the same direction...the exit. I'd agree with no_exit except for one detail, give notice and find another job. I'd say find another job and quit on payday. If you give notice they'll just rip you off even more and cause further hassles.

RED

[Zeus_in_China]

I would like to know where you are from mlomker

Because I am sure in many ways China doesn't have the resources to "Squash" the resoucres my country has. Well, except having a completed brainless mass of population.

For the man writing the post. Get used to some forms of brainless Chairman Mao control overlayed by a society filled with lies and deception.

China doesn't want to change, they are happy being the backwards back stabbing, deceiving society that is controled by a group of people that show deception throughout the world.

You have two choices go with the flow for the money and position and secure a mentallity of "Not caring "

or quit your job and find a place that is more prepared to adapt and work with foreigners as a two way street.