Job Discussion Forums

[struelle]

Anyone wanna share their stories?

Let me make my vote clear: No.

But I've sure thought about it lately (see other post)

From a professional view, no way. With only 3 months to go in my contract, I will stick this out. I'm here for the students, I get along well with the Chinese colleagues, the classes are successful, and I believe in loyalty, working through challenges, and seeing things through.

From a practical view, also no way. Being registered with a Z-visa and having a dorm provided by the school is a major problem solved. If I run, those things go, and it will be tough to register again with another employer.

From a purely economic view, a run makes sense. I'd lose my plane ticket money in June. But the way my boss is screwing me with vacations now, I have my doubts I'll actually see this money anyway. I could easily find another job.

Breaking the contract by the book is ruled out because my employer knows nothing about this procedure, and says I must pay a $2000 US breach penalty if I quit. OK, I'm held hostage. Help! Help!

But in the end, professionalism and reality win out, so I won't run.

Funny enough, a friend just called me and said his colleague is planning a midnight run this Friday. He wants me to talk the guy out of it, hence the reason for this post. I'll use the same reasoning to persuade the guy to stay.

But let's be honest. The shenanigans that Chinese employers play on the FTs is eeringly familiar with the crap that goes on in Korea. If you read that board, the midnight run originated there. I predict this issue will be a hot one in China soon. It's totally understandable *why* a FT would want to do a midnight run. It becomes a question of professional integrity, however, as to whether a person actually does it or not.

Steve

[Ger]

I think a midnight run is the best option IF the employer is screwing the FT to the point where the FT is so unhappy that his attitude turns bad and the students suffer as a result.

My point is that if the teaching environment and circumstances are having a negative effect on the FT then the FT has my vote to do a midnight run before the situation causes him to do something he would regret, or allow something to happen to himself that should be avoided.

I would say that negotiation and diplomacy should be the first option, but sometimes an unscrupulous boss can get too much delight from getting the FT wound up, for example, if the boss is screwing the FT and the FT gets angry and challenges the boss. The boss may stand there and grin with too much pleasure, or the boss may stop screwing the FT in one way (the FT thinks the negotiation worked) but start screwing the FT in a different way. Then leg it, you have my vote to leg it at midnight as fast as you can run and DON'T pay any breach of contract USA$8,000. Don't think about your "lost" flight money because that boss may have had no intention of giving it to you. Run rabbit run!!

[Cowboy Pete]

I absolutely adore the midnight run. Done it everytime. I think it is mainly because, left to their own devices, owners will usually try to screw you. The chinese business practices are not quite ethical. So, do what you must. I always liked making the run. It is kind of like a big F**k You!

[Burl Ives]

In principle, yes, inasmuch as your material contract is with the school and if the school is complicating your working environment, scoot.

There's immaterial contracts, though, like ones based on personal trust (as opposed to impersonal trust). They'd be in place if there really was some kind of relationship between you and the hirers. Furthermore, though unsigned, there's another kind of agreement with the kids that arises when you start teaching them. If you cut them off half way through, it seems like a significant breach of promise to people who generally won't be putting a gun to your head. Practically speaking, one can probably put up with a lot to get that done even with your eyes firmly on contract's end.

But in the environment we find ourselves in, altogether and on reflection, sometimes the only redress available is what's in our own two hands, as final and wasteful as it will be.

I've been in situations where I knew management would be bringing in heavies just because it was within their power to enforce a decision that way. By that time, only the letter of the contract remained. What do you do in a school that knows it can physically throw a foreigner out onto the street because it's done it before?

And on the other end of the score, this summer when I get a new contract at a new school, I'll probably have to house myself for several weeks because schools have begun learning that if you contract a foreigner at the beginning of summer, house him, pay him, and expect him to teach come September, he may have disappeared August 31. And airfare probably won't be reimbursed until at least one semester is up, for similar reasons. And what will midnight runs lead -- shall we call them "prudent"? -- schools to do to our future working environment?

[nolefan]

No..definitely no!

I have only been posting on these boards for a few months now but I have been reading the archives for almost a year. I have read many of your posts and none of them led me to believe that you were the kind of person that would run because of a couple of vacation days. You come across as one of the "wise" ones and give good advice most of the time.

so, with that in mind, are there other reasons why you consider the RUN? has the school been unfair to you in any other way? is it a build-up of pressure from many conflicts?


I am not in favor of the run in any way, shape or form. My wife and I are the first foreign experts at our university and let me tell you... we have more than our share of grievance against these folks but we won't ever run. We're doing it for us, for the people that will come after us and for the kids. The school reimbursed all of my airfare 5 weeks into the semester and we want it to stay that way. I have nothing to loose by running, but I won't do that unless I am being cheated or abused in a bad way, not over a misunderstanding....no way.. not worth it!

[struelle]

[Guest]

Struelle

I have an interest in this topic as three teachers have done a runner from my School in the past 6 weeks.

the first was a 40 year old guy from the U.S.A. who split at the end of the break just before we were due to commence classes on the Monday 8th Feb.

The other two were a couple, he was around 30 and from England and she was the same age and from the U.S.A. They had only been here since the middle of December. They just up and left on Sunday 21st March - although they did tell me they were going to do it the day before when I was on my way back to Hospital.

All three broke their contracts.

There are only three of us here now. A really lovely black guy from the U.S.A. who is 24, and a new guy who arrived here with me in the School car last night. He is also black, 25, and from Kenya. He has a really terrific British accent - puts my Aussie drawl to shame.

I am at a loss to say why the three did a runner. I know the first guy got fed up with the students as we have kids here from rich families and they are spoiled. They also tend to teach the foreign "teachers" as a bit of a joke and entertainment.

The other couple had just completed a TESOL Course or similar before arriving here and I think their expections of what they were going to be able to achieve (in the teaching line) may have been a bit high. They also had trouble with the kids.

I personally think that the more education YOU have, the less likely you are going to be happy or satisfied "teaching English" here. If you are like Roger, and have a well paying, respected job - okay, but if you are starting at the bottom like they were, you cannot expect too much.

Also, I do not think they had lived in an Asian country prior to this, so their expections there may have been a bit high also.

Personally, I do not think you could ever wish for a better school than this one and I have no intention of leaving - unless it is in a box.

[Guest]

Struelle

I almost forgot to mention the most important part. Although our Contract here states that we have to pay up to $ US. if we break the contract, when I asked the Deputy Principal if she was going to chase the "runners" she said that there was no law in place to do so.

So, that means the contract is not worth the paper it is written on and that would apply to other things in the contract also - surely.

Basically, I think that most Schools would think it a waste of time and further money to try and pursue someone who did not wish to stay.

[Roger]

Absconding has its own price. You forfeit your bonus (if any has been stipulated in your contract), and in most cases, your airfare.

I did a runner once, and I still don't regret it; however, I too paid the ultimate cost.

[Cowboy Pete]

Looks like those in favor of the midnight run are in the majority!!! Do it! Do it! do it! do it!

[nolefan]

[struelle]

[Dalian Veteran]

When it comes down to it, most management in China is totally screwy and is based on feudalistic attitudes. My wife is Chinese and will gladly agree with this viewpoint, defending it even more strongly than me. It all boils down to traditional Chinese management, unethical management, or both combined as one. Most Chinese managers can't manage Westerners. There is such a huge gulf in terms of cultural differences, ethics, attitudes towards human & labor rights, and the list goes on. The best management system in the ESL world is either one where you have Westerners managing Westerners, or one with more liberal Chinese with Western characteristics managing the Westerners.

If I were to lay out the requirements for a Chinese manager who manages Westerners, these would be the requirements:

1.) Must have an upper advanced English level, or at least be above most of the Chinese teaching assistants in the school.

2.) Must have at least a Bachelor's Degree.

3.) Understands Westerners and clicks well with Westerners. Preferrably, either has experience abroad or at a foreign/joint-venture company in China. Chinese teaching assistants who have worked with Westerners for a long time and that have even hanged out with Westerners are also good candidates, perhaps the best candidates since they also understand the teaching bit.

4.) Has a fairly good understanding of Western culture and Western management practices.

5.) Has more liberal attitudes compared to most people in Chinese society.

6.) Is not related to anyone at the school and is hired only because of his/her skills.

If the Chinese manager meets these 6 requirements, than I'd say he or she is qualified to manage Westerners. Otherwise, there is going to be continued conflicts between Chinese bosses and foreign teachers, leading to "midnight runs", high turn-over rates, and Chinese parents/students being pissed off about frequent changes of teachers during the term.

Some would say that as guests of China, we should accept the Chinese ways, and that demanding Western-style management is racist. But actually, it has nothing to do with race. It is all about making sure that the foreign teachers feel that their situation in China is bearable enough that they can teach well, finish their contracts, and return to their home countries with a positive impression of China. Also, many of the younger generations of Chinese themselves have a dislike of management in China and feel that this is something that should be changed. My wife and almost all of her Chinese friends would all endorse this whole-heartedly, as they have dealt with crappy management in their work units that make the management in the ESL world look like child's play. The Chinese management situation is a major contributing factor to why Chinese people want to go abroad. And for the time being, the Chinese job market is such that it is an employer's market, as far as Chinese job-seekers are concerned. But many Chinese bosses don't realize that for foreign teachers, the same type of management practices just won't work, as FT's have the freedom and mobility to leave if they aren't satisfied.

[Cowboy Pete]

Yeah, what he said......

[Ferne]

It's nothing I am proud about and it was not an easy decision to make, but I once ran from my employer (after I had to steal back my passport and other papers and tap my personal dollar reserve because I never saw a salary). At that point in time, I honestly saw no other way to escape an unbearable situation, after trying so many other ways first that were futile because no-one wanted to listen or do something...and I can only speak from that perspective. It broke my heart to leave behind the small, one-street village, the campus, and especially my students. But I had to get away from a very dubious employment agency and a school which for some reason was uncapable (or too intimidated) to free itself from them. I am usually not the type to run away like that...but things work differently in China. I would say, stick it out as well and long as possible as long as there is a chance that things might turn again and improve, even if it's not easy...but before it drains you (and everyone else around you) too much...go. Stratagem No 36: "Sometimes, retreat is the best option". It was a Chinese who came up with that one