Job Discussion Forums

jayjjasper · Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 344

Have a job lined up before you option any posted advise...

nomad-ish · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 1:26 pm Post subject:

i'd start looking for a new job and planning my exit. it sounds like this academy is about to go under and probably owe me a lot of money when they do (which, of course, they won't ever pay).

also, keep in mind, don't talk to your foreign co-workers or anyone else at work about your plans to find a new job and leave. they all sound very loyal and they could run and tell the boss.

AdrianG4 · Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 160 Location: Harbin, China

I have many jobs lined up, really.

but what do I do if the school doesn't want to provide my release letter or they want to cancel my visa ?

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

If you are lucky, the new job may provide some leverage and push on the old one for what you need. That often depends on the guanxi your new school has, its relative size and importance compared to the old school, and how badly they want you for the position (vs. no one, or someone else).

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Sounds like this is a recurring problem.

"business is not good" is an outright lie. How can you be teaching classes if there is no business? Did the kids all get free classes? There didn't pay anything for those classes?

The kids all pay their tuition upfront, so she has spent all your salary already knowingly. She does not know how to run the school, or at least her own finances.

If you want to continue to work for free, stay. Up to you. But you will be wasting months and months and not earning anything.

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

"business is not good" is an outright lie. How can you be teaching classes if there is no business? Did the kids all get free classes? There didn't pay anything for those classes?

Good question.

nomad-ish · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:48 am Post subject:

could you try to buy yourself out of the contract? maybe negotiate a release letter in exchange for them not having to pay you a bit of the money they owe?

not sure how well that would work out though, but it sounds like they've been slowly reducing the foreign staff, maybe they want to drop another one right now.

anyways, just a possibility. i also like the suggestion about getting your prospective employer to put some pressure on your current one.

zanerguy · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 21 Location: shanghai

Step 1: wake up

Step 2: instead of going to work turn on x-box and proceed to spend the morning playing video games with your phone nearby.

Step 3: after the phone rings (should be about 15-20 minutes into your first class) politely state that you have not been paid so you're not going.

Step 4: go and collect money which will suddenly appear at boss' office

Step 5: go back to work

This procedure will work 90-95% of the time (it's been tested)

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

ABOVE: This is probably exactly what I would do.

cb400 · Joined: 27 Sep 2010 Posts: 274 Location: Vientiane, Laos

jaydizzle · Joined: 25 Nov 2011 Posts: 57

I don't typically have this problem. There have been only a few times that my pay has been late.

The one time I can remember clearly is when they decided to pay my salary for Spring Festival/winter holiday when the school came back in March, because the person who signed the checks had already gone home to another province. That meant my wife and I were going to have to through January and February without pay, and would've certainly spelled financial disaster. It's a little harder during the winter break, because you don't have "withholding teaching classes" to use as leverage. I finally got my FAO to front me the money at the beginning of the break, but only after days and days of aggravating him.

Another FT friend of mine in this town had his school two weeks late. He contacted them every day, and finally after 2 weeks, he started showing up for classes, but not teaching. He just sat there and read a novel or playing solitaire on his laptop. That happened for precisely 1 day, and then the problem was magically fixed (it was a mix-up at the bank, supposedly.)

My personal policy is that I don't teach for free. If the school tells me that they're going to be a day or so late, I usually don't mind, since that's out of character for this school. But if that day comes, and there is not money in the bank, my school is very clear that I won't be in the classroom, or if I am, there will be no teaching going on. Do not let your school get away with shenanigans. If you do, they will repeat the behavior as often as you allow it.