Job Discussion Forums

IRT · Joined: 13 May 2014 Posts: 6

Hello everyone,

I'll simply outline a scenario, and any knowledge that you have concerning that scenario would be much appreciated.

A person in Canada signs a contract and sends it to an employer. The contract is due to start in 3.5 months. Not long after signing the first contract, the person receives a job offer from another school which pays much more than the one that he just signed for. Is there a penalty, or are there any negative repercussions for cancelling the contract long before arriving in China, then taking the other job?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

The_Kong · Joined: 15 Apr 2014 Posts: 349

3701 W.119th · Joined: 26 Feb 2014 Posts: 386 Location: Central China

Fair play to you.

However, flip that.

A school in China prints a contract and sends it to a teacher. The contract is due to start in 3.5 months. Not long after agreeing the first contract, the school receives an application from another teacher, which asks for much less pay than the one that they just signed for. Is there a penalty, or are there any negative repercussions for cancelling the contract long before arriving in China, than taking the other teacher?

You see our predicament here?

I wish you the very best.

3701 W.119th · Joined: 26 Feb 2014 Posts: 386 Location: Central China

Sorry, it's nigh on impossible to convey meaning through tone on the internet.

So, what I meant by that post was... OP - You signed a contract. Man up, wet pants.

IRT · Joined: 13 May 2014 Posts: 6

To clarify the situation a bit, no contracts have been signed yet. One contract is a public university job for which I'm running out if time to sign, because they're waiting on me. If I don't sign, they have other eager applicants.

I have an interview with an outfit which will pay me a huge salary next week, assuming that I got the job. I want to have the first job secured in case I don't get the second job. However, I was wondering if it would be a no harm no foul situation if I cancelled shortly after signing in case I did get the second job, before they started processing my visa.

The two schools are in completely different areas of China, and if I did cancel, I would probably say that due to extenuating circumstances, I cannot make it to China as I had originally planned.

@3701 W. 199th, I understand where you're coming from, but it's a dog eat dog world. I've had a school in Korea agree to hire me before but then change their mind at the last minute when they found a guy already in country who could start right away.

vikeologist · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 600

It's hardly no harm, no foul. Maybe if you say you're taking the job they will lose the other applicants by the time you change your mind.

However it's not a war against humanity. The key thing is to make sure they don't apply for your letter of invitation which is very expensive.

You should tell school 1 that you can't make a choice yet because they're your second choice. They might wait a week. That's a lot better than making a commitment you know you might not honour.

Also, none of us are really certain what the situation is with blacklisting. It would hardly be surprising if breaking a commitment had bad consequences for you.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

buffalobill12323 · Joined: 18 Sep 2013 Posts: 115 Location: China

MuscatGary · Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 1:34 pm Post subject:

Funny how many people come on here to complain about bad behaviour by employers. Then you read this. If you have no honour you should not be in the teaching profession.

The_Kong · Joined: 15 Apr 2014 Posts: 349

The_Kong · Joined: 15 Apr 2014 Posts: 349

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

What contract?

Is his hand written signature on a contract in the hands of the Chinese employers, written in Chinese[because the English doesn't apply here].

What you mean is there is a gentleman's agreement if anything.

And PLENTY of Chinese have broken this kind of agreement.

thebroformerlyknownaschou · Joined: 09 May 2014 Posts: 96

keep in mind that you haven't actually signed a contract. you have
merely signed a placeholder agreement to sign a contract, which the
school will submit to the psb/fab to get your work permit and visa
invitation.

you sign the actual contract after you arrive in our china.

also keep in mind that the school forks out a mess of renminbucks to
get you those papers. upwards of 3K rmb, more or less.
better not to sign the agreement unless you agree to the terms.

of course, the school promising you that 'huge salary' could decide to
downsize your pay during the next 3.5 months, conveniently not
telling you until you arrive.

i suppose that wouldn't bother you? no negative repercussions?
they'll just say 'extenuating circumstances' and so solly about
you forking out all that cash on your flight, but take it or leave it.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

Maybe be honest and tell school 1 you want more pay?

IRT · Joined: 13 May 2014 Posts: 6

Alright, well now that I know that it bears such a high cost to get those papers sent, I wouldn't do that knowing the trouble that it would cause them, but I didn't know that before.

Thanks to those who've cleared it up, but for the self righteous poster talking about honour because I asked a simple question, save it. We get it, all the other teachers are deadbeats and leeches and you're a philosopher poet who travels the world righting wrongs and living by his warrior code. You go up to any girls who are conversing with a guy and say "is this guy bothering you?". Half the time it's her brother or boyfriend and sometimes you get hands put on you but damn it, you'll find the maiden who really is in distress and show her what a gentleman you are some day!

Anyway, now that I know that it would cause harm to the employer I'm not doing it, but a man us entitled to ask questions, is he not?