Job Discussion Forums

[NorbertRadd]

If anyone has any feedback, please give it.
The FAO at my school never did anything: the room was a sty when I moved in, I cook in my room rather than the kitchen because of the power differences for the hot plate, no dishes, chopsticks, etc., washing machine not hooked up, and new commode that I flush with a bucket. I chalked it up to "This is China, it's good enough for Chinese, etc."
My dean is satisfied with my performance and even took me out to dinner at the end of the term. I'm always invited to the department outings which aren't too bad. Other teachers have told me that he is satisfied with my performance and some of the students are organizing their own English corner and practicing together.
What I fail to understand is a new amendment added to my new contract where the plan is to deduct a month's salary over the term as a safeguard against me "running away."
This is the only new thing the FAO has done for me the whole term. I have told him and he said he doesn't know whether this is new policy in Guangdong or Shenzhen.

[Roger]

[NorbertRadd]

They want to keep my first month's pay and pay it to me at the end of the term. They submitted this contract to the PSB before I had signed it. This was the only contract offered and my visa was expiring in 3 weeks.

[latefordinner]

Had this happen to me at the second school I worked at; they withheld part of the first month's pay and promised to pay it back to me at the end of the term. I saw neither it nor the airfair. Unless someone can thingk of a way to guarantee that you'll get paid what is owed (and I sure can't), you may as well kiss that money goodbye now. Given what else they've done to keep you, I'm surprised you're even thinking about staying there.
As an aside, I have to question your "good enough for the Chinese". Have you asked your Dean /FAO/whatever the title Chinese leader to switch apartments with you? This is my personal acid test; if it's not good enough for the person I work for, it's not good enough for me.

[tofuman]

It is most unfortunate that you would submit to such a flagrant abuse of your own person.

Get another job.

[NorbertRadd]

thanks for the feedback & acid test! The pay hasn't been deducted yet. What I was most curious about was whether this was a new city-wide, province-wide regulation.
My head's in the books most of the time so most of the time all this is water on a duck's back but
CASH is CASH.

[Ger]

You need to talk to the FAO and suggest to him that he pay you part of your airfair money (like half) now.

I suspect he wants to keep one month of your salary so that he can enjoy that money over the Chinese New Year 2006. Whatever his "reason" don't agree to his rules, and get him to play by his own rules, so put it to him that you want one month's pay in advance for safekeeping in case he doesn't pay you for the last month of your salary.

Point out that his lack of trust in you doesn't give him the liberty to abuse you.

Further, tell him that you would like a better flat.

What's the name of your school?

[kev7161]

In my last school, Chinese teacher had a deduction of ?% every month. This was to insure they fulfilled their contract and their meager little apartments were left in satisfactory condition upon their departure. They were given this deduction at the end of the school term. I've never heard about this with a foreigner though.

My school goes back and forth between trusting me and not trusting me. I'm sure, like many other schools, they've been burned by FTs in the past. However, I was surprised when they offered me 1/2 my airfare last month before the holiday began. I had no indication they'd do this. Also, a surprise 1000rmb bonus was included in my pay packet. Woo-hoo! Plus the usual travel allowance, 1/2 my pay for February (the other half upon my return on the 13th), and I was sitting pretty.

But, the non-trust issue: originally, they were going to pay me HALF my January salary, then the other half in mid-February, along with my February salary. That didn't sit well with me and I'm sure some of that stems from them wondering whether or not I'd return next month - - not that I've ever given them an indication that I may leave for greener pastures. We came to a mutual agreement on how the pay should work out and everything is cool. My trip to Thailand was certainly in jeopardy for a short while, though.

[Pepsi-Bones]

My sympathies go out to you Norbert. Your employers seem to be taking the piss. Join the (large) club !!

I'm curious about this notion that Schools ( often illegal little outfits) treat their FTs in the disgraceful manner they do because in the past these Schools have been burned by dishonest little westerners/ foreign devils.

This strikes me as being BS. How can these Schools get burned? The only way I see this happening is that the schools pay up front for an air -ticket or Z Visa and then the teacher doesn't turn up for work.

Yes its a risk that professionally run schools will have to take ( an issue of trust) if they are serious about getting professionally qualified and experienced teachers to work for them.

Simple equation. Treat FTs well - they treat the Schools well..

Hardly rocket science.

For most mills though this "our School got burned" myth is used as an excuse for sharp / criminal practice. They get you here and treat you in the way Norbert has described. This behaviour is commonplace in Zhuhai.

[tofuman]

Hannah Arndt's psychological profile of Adolf Eichmann informs the FT in China. Eichmann felt guilty if a Jew was allowed to live by escaping his dragnet. He was very conscientious in capturing, confining, and shipping out Jews in his environs. He felt bad if he didn't contribute to butchery and murder.

Some Chinese are not unlike Eichmann. Their conscience is completely different from the conscience of Westerner's. If they do not cheat you, take advantage of you, abuse you, they feel bad. Some storekeeper's will not sell to you unless they can overcharge you. Some FAOs, principals, administrators MUST cheat the foreign teacher. If they can not, they are uncomfortable in their own skin.

The post describing how "Crystal" was robbed is a good illustration of the sociopathology that I describe. Some of the goings on described here are also illustrations of the same phenomena.

Eichmann was hanged in Jerusalem.

It is usually a mistake to trust people in China with whom you do business; consequently, you need to be real careful about how much you allow someone to become indebted to you. Private schools should pay the FT weekly. Most of the time the excuses they give as to why it can not be done are lies. Simply insist that you be paid weekly, fairly, appropriately, or move on. No rocket science here.

If you allow yourself to become vulnerable, you could be harmed, one way or another.