Job Discussion Forums

[jeffinflorida]

Ok so i came here to teach business skills and other business related topics to managers and engineers etc at this big company.

So far it's been 2 months and 2 pay periods. It's been a nightmare each time because they have consistantly shorted me on funds due - to the tune of 6k rmb plus.

So I have met with a vp and they negoitated me a settlement of 4k rmb. But I am not happy about having to beg for my salary every month.

So my contract calls for me to work 20 hours a week and 80 a month. We redifined the contract last month to change it to i get paid for 20 hours a week at least regardless how much i work and the overtime is calculated on the weekly hours not monthly. They agreed and we all signed off on the adendum.

So they calculated my salary based on 80 hours for march, not the 100 +/- I really should have gotten paid and told me they were only paying me the base and no OT for march.

So I call their attention to the adendum which clearly states that OT is calculated on an weekly basis - they signed it the read it they agreed to it.

The dude who is my "supervisor" says: "I never read it, not valid we pay you only base salary..."

So, I am saying you FUUUking Cooocksuker...

So I have a meeting with sr vp. She haggles me down 2 k...and agrees to pay me 4100 rmb instead of the true amout due.

So, I hate having to go and plead for what's due... I got some self - respect left in me (somewhere...).

So today I have meeting with training supervisor / director and say : "My contract says 20 hours a week, 80 a month..." "That is ALL I am going to work!"

He says no schedule is for 28 hours this week and we arrange a presentation class for you friday for 2 hours, you must work it.

I say no, sorry. Every month it is a nightmare and you cheat me so I will abide by the contract only and teach 20 hours a week, no OT.

They try like hell to convince me that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated and I say SORRY, NO FAITH IN YOU ANYMORE.

I told them I will do what is easiest and safest for me - and that is 80 hours a month.

That is how I left it. many calls and sms from them telling me to honor their schedule and my contract. my reply is always the same " I will work only 20 a week and 80 a month, no more. End of story.

Mind you I work for a large and growing company that has 80 - 90k employees... I thought it would be different but so far lots of hassles and so many empty promises...

The addendum also states "OVERTIME IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TEACHER..."

i can tell you, they have been advertising for some business english teachers and oral english teachers... I hope i run into some perspective candidates...

Also now they are talking about taking income tax out. But they really don't have a clue how much and I still have only an F Visa and I told then they have to get me a Z visa and experts book to make me legal...

I am thankful I have only a 3 month contract and it has an easy out clause that i can leave with 7 days notice...

The worst part is the people i work with her are truly very nice and i hate to jam them by sticking to my 20 hour guns... but i gotta think of me and their crappy track record so far...

[kev7161]

. . . but at least you've got that Pretty Chinese Girlfriend . . .

[englishgibson]

Jeff, sorry for saying this, but I think that you've got yourself in a rather unpleasant mess there.
I am totally with you on that tardi salary issue and having to ask for it s*cks, however I believe that you could've made it more clear on that work hours issue before you started. I know that sometimes we have to negotiate for such a lenghty period of time that we've already begun working, but the longer we work without a real agreement the worse the situation can get. And, you haven't got a proper visa yet. "F" isn't gona make it, if you get in a real trouble. F's a biz visa and for biz people (who do biz) or who give lectures, but do not recieve salaries, if you know what I mean. If this company does not have a proper licensing to hire foreign workers to teach and I mean to teach the language (business English inclusive) you might have troubles there. I remember that we've discussed this situation that you are in on another thread together. This F visa came in as a confrontational issue there. I know that some on those forums have their explanation to the F visa, but depending on what you are teaching or lecturing there, it will have to come under a microscope in the worst possible scenario, if you know what I mean. There are some defenitions for what a lecture is and for what a business lesson is.
Now, I wish you a good luck there.
Peace to the Chinese business attitudes
and
cheers and beers to all hard working FTs around China

[therock]

Jeff,

Just quit, take that pretty little girlfriend and go and find another job. Simple as that, don't take their crap. I mean you have to beg for money that is rightly your money.

[baasbabelaas]

Yep, Jeff, start making your plans - you can leave at the end of Month 3, contract's done.

Shifty buggers - shifting the goal posts every week.

That's the reason I gave the finger to my last boss. I won't be treated as though I were a piece of stationery..

[A'Moo]

People need to realize where they are....CHINA......That country that cares so much about what the world thinks of them. They really do. Their idea of success is what the western world perceives as such. When situations arise, such as this, start threatening with letters to consulates, and to magazines back home etc.... Beijing 2008 doesnt want bad press....

[abusalam4]

You should not have to beg for your salary after working hard for it.
If you can`t get the issue settled with them in your favor, do something that really hurts them: leave them the next time possible without giving themn any prior warning. Perhaps they will know then that they do not have to fool around with you.
F visa... is a bit of a problem...if you are found out...but they could be in trouble as well.

[abusalam4]

[quote="A'Moo"]People need to realize where they are....CHINA......That country that cares so much about what the world thinks of them. They really do. There idea of success is what the western world perceives as such. When situations arise, such as this, start threatening with letters to consulates, and to magazines back home etc.... Beijing 2008 doesnt want bad press....[/quote]

That�s an excellent idea - but doing this from within China???? Could be a problem.....They need to be told the truth and should have pointed the fingers at such things. Here as anywhere else: zero tolerance for cheaters and crooks!

[jeffinflorida]

The problem is simple: They have the Factory Worker Mentality...

They have 50,000 factory workers and every day 1000 leave and 1000 new ones show up.

Unfortunately for them, finding experienced business teachers is proving harder than they thought. I wont allow my self to be treated like doggy do... At least not too many times...

I told them I only wanted to work 20 a week like the contract says. They asked me to do a"little" extra work, which became 24 hours, then 28, now 30 hours a week...

So I am pretty much fed up and don't trust them anymore.

It's been 2 months and so far their track record is ZERO....

[jeffinflorida]

[bearcanada]

Jeff in Florida:

Wasn't it you who last year received 10,000 RMB as an upfront payment for your airfare and then did a midnight run with the school's money?

Wasn't it you who was recently moaning about how all your 'good porn sites' are blocked by the Chinese government?

Maybe the world treats you badly because it's trying to get even.

You think China is a cesspool, do you? Given your feelings, and since you don't appear to be a gift to any country, why don't you go home and stay there this time?

[jeffinflorida]

[cj750]

that foolish bear beleaves in Karma...

[saint57]

[patsy]

I feel for you having to go through this, it can be so maddening even though we already know they are all cheaters and liars, when it hits you personally it's still hard. Hang in there, a three month contract was a great idea.