Job Discussion Forums

[wesharris]

My school recently changed my schedule from 28 - 30 hours per week
to 35-38 hours per week, starting as of yesterday.
I talked with the school manager about the situation, concerning the hours
and such, she attempted to argue that prep time isn't included in the 30 hours
per week.
I told her quite honestly, if she didn't fix this, that she'd soon find me to be VERY unhappy, I haven't asked for anything extra, I show up to work early, and do quite a bit of lesson plan prep and the like, even creating programs
for her, that she's decided not to use.
Now, I have no time for prep, I told her that. And, I won't be able to do quite as many advertisements as she'd like, sense I have no extra time beyond the 30 hours a week.

.... Venting over with.....
Now tell me, why in the world would I work extra, without any increase in
pay, when it is OUTSIDE of the contract? I have yet to understand this very Chinese aspect to the ESL market.

[dean_a_jones]

Edit--I think actually you know exactly what to do here, so don't want the response to sound patronising. But if you were 1 month in the country, this is what I would suggest, in case it is useful to others.

Sounds like you, your superiors and your contract all need to sit down together. Clearly they are breakig your contract in terms of hours (I wouldn't include prep in these, however). What does your contract say about overtime? Is it mandatory, is there a pay rate? Are you at a public or a private school (assume private due to time or year)? Do you have 'office hours'? Are there other foreign teachers, and have they been asked to do the same?

The situation is clearly not right. Sometimes I am asked to do extra hours, but if ongoing that is on a voluntary basis (i.e. agree to an extra class for a semester or not) and is paid by the hour as per my contract. On occasion I have to work more hours in a week, but that is usually due to a make-up or rearranged class, so over two weeks the hours balance out. If you contract is clear on all of this, then it sounds like you are in a good position to sit down and be firm on the issues and your refusal to do any unpaid additional hours. It sounds like you were pretty helpful and went above and beyond in your role before. They might just be seeing how far you can be pushed in terms of this kind of thing.

As I said, I would be polite but very firm about this in a formal meeting, and have your contract in your hand. Put a request for this meeting to be held ASAP, with your concerns, in writing. Putting things on paper seems to be something that suggest you are serious.

[wesharris]

I've been here for five months now. Not to much of a problem. I helped to create the contract, prep hours ARE included in total hours. This was per discussions via email before coming to this school.
I did have a discussion with her, I pretty much have the contract memorized, yet they still haven't fixed certain issues. They have to honor 5 points, so far they've only honored 2 of those five. Pay and housing being on time and acceptable.

---- Point of order here also, the other three points include screwing around and dragging butt concerning my Visa. It's complicated, because my wife is with me.

[igorG]

OP, there are more than a billion locals that work overtime for free. Employers have found ways to abuse them well enough. How? Well, if any of them voice their dissatisfaction, they are out. Repercussions are in place then. Few of those can find suitable positions after such "dissatisfation" with the previous employer.

So, why does the above matter here? In recent years on mainland China, foreign employees have gotten much closer to the local ones in a few ways. Abuse of clear or unclear contractual clauses is one thing, the repercussions is another. In my professional opinion, you are in a difficult situation there. The only possible way out of it is that if your foreign coworkers support you there. Trying for any support with fellow staff members, you must be very careful. Locals smell such, to them revolutions, and some FTs, honestly, do not have interests in supporting their peers anymore. They've got their contracts, their support, their social network and even other part time gigs in the area, and so on and on. What i am saying is that, in this jungle, you need to act wisely if you want to survive. If you want to stay, try that. If not, you may have issues finding another job in the country, given the fact that you have a legal work permit.

I hope i have helped, but if not i am sorry. I have just tried 'cause i know what it feels to be isolated.

Sincerely yours,
Internet Mercenary Igor

[wesharris]

I'm the only F/T. It took them three months to find one, after the previous teacher quit. Although, in their defense, the previous teacher WAS a douche-bag.

[Silent Shadow]

[wesharris]

[Mister Al]

Anyone who teaches 35-38 hours a week will be completely knackered after a month. 25 hours a week should be the maximum contact hours with students Tell them to go and take a f**k to themselves.

[wesharris]

[dean_a_jones]

Wow, that is pretty bad. When does your contract end? I think you need to sit down and state your terms, and not compromise. I would also refuse to do anything short notice, such as your example. They seem to be taking complete advantage of you. As you are the only foreign teacher, and are doing some important work for them (including marketing which ties in with being the foreign teacher), you might find throwing down the gauntlet works in your favour.

In regards to the bigger picture, while I do think that flexibility is important for any foreign teacher, as often those with rigid ideas are their own worst enemies, exercise extreme caution, especially in doing anything 'extra'. Being able to touch your toes is great, but don't let them convince you to grab your ankles.

[wesharris]

[Lobster]

I don't know what you agreed to in your contract, but it doesn't sound good. They sound like vampires. You need to dig in your heels immediately and tell them you will only work the hours and days specified in your contract, and that you're not taking any overtime paid or otherwise. Being pushed to extremes is often the fate of a cooperative, easy-going, happy-go-lucky teacher. You think "I'm flexible"; they think "Wes is a sucker." Sitting in a mall doing promotion? Ugh! Just tell them, "24 teaching hours a week and no more. If you try to schedule them I won't show." That's really enough unless you're getting 20k a month. If you want the classes, tell them it's ok for 200-250rmb per hour extra.

RED

[Silent Shadow]

[wesharris]

Yeah, that's what I've thought. I told them that I would have two off days a week from now on, a month ago. That's happened, but they still add more and more duties for me to perform. Ask for extra money, that's a big LOL moment for them, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, I can't say that I'm terribly happy with the results I'm seeing. I'm getting a bit more miserable here and there, while they don't fulfill their half of the contract.

On a side note, I do draw the line here and there. I just haven't been thorough or exact about it, for the past week, if they ask me for extra work, my answer has typically been no.

The point of the problem is that Korea made me soft, and China requires a teacher to watch out for his own a lot more hawkish, than you'd expect.

[zanerguy]

I agree with lobster