Job Discussion Forums

ElizavetaPetrovna · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Saint Petersburg

I was just wondering if it is usually customary to take gifts to the director and/or visa support person when you begin a job in a new school in Russia. I know that in Korea, for example, teachers often take small gifts. If there is such a custom in Russian schools, what are common gifts?

canucktechie · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 343 Location: Moscow

You're giving them a gift just by working for them. Seriously, it's obvious to any teacher in Russia that the school is making a lot more money from your teaching than you are. That's thanks enough.

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

When I went on leave,I brought back some Cyprus confectionary for the admin staff who were always very helpful to me but I was glad I didn't bring anything for the director because I discovered the firm had lost most of their contracts,resulting in me having only 8 academic hours per week in comparison to the 28 I did previously,despite the directors pleas with me before I went away that she desperately needed me and that they would have plenty of work after my holiday etc!!To cap it all she did not even bother to speak to me in person to explain the situation,let alone apologise or ask how I would be able to live etc!
But I hear this is quite common practice with some Russian employers and when they don't need you for some reason or another they just avoid or ignore you....