|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
teflmonkey
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Posts: 10
|
 Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: changing jobs with as little pain as possible |
 |
|
I know some of this information is available in places like Tealit and whatnot, but I need to get information from some Taiwan vets.
I am interested in changing jobs, ie. getting a new job at a school in a different city. I am currently in Taichung, and while the city itself is pretty cool, I am two hours by train from everywhere else (including, perhaps due to my own fault, all my friends in Taiwan), and even further from the east side of the island.
I'm four months into a Hess contract, and I'm not particularly pleased with my branch's management. I know if I get hired at another school, I can get my ARC switched no big problem... but how the heck can I get a job in, say, Kaohsiung from Taichung? Or a place like Sinying or Hsinchu? Can it really be done from the Internet like Tealit would have me believe, or do I need to invest the time in traveling to the cities where I'd want to work and job hunt?
More importantly, how badly can Hess "hurt" me if I leave, as far as my ARC status goes? Do I really *have* to pay the NT$20,000 fine for quitting? Does Hess actually go after people for breach of contract?
Last of many questions: if I just up and quit (with notice), how long would I have in order to get a new job? If my ARC were terminated, could I just do a visa run and be ok?
I appreciate any response I get. Sorry for the string of inquiries, I'm just full of questions I can't ask at my place of employ.[/i] |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
mjh197
Joined: 24 May 2007
Posts: 9
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:33 am Post subject: Hi |
|
|
I can't help with all of your questions, but I do know that Article 26 of the Labor Law states it is illegal for a school to withhold or deduct money from a teachers salary for quiting. They are not allowed to with hold money for indemnity. Perhaps someone else knows the link to article 26 or has more eloquent input on the above.
Marc |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BigWally
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 765
Location: Ottawa, CAN (prev. Kaohsiung "the Dirty South")
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:02 am Post subject: Re: changing jobs with as little pain as possible |
|
|
| teflmonkey wrote: |
| I'm four months into a Hess contract, and I'm not particularly pleased with my branch's management. I know if I get hired at another school, I can get my ARC switched no big problem... but how the heck can I get a job in, say, Kaohsiung from Taichung? Or a place like Sinying or Hsinchu? Can it really be done from the Internet like Tealit would have me believe, or do I need to invest the time in traveling to the cities where I'd want to work and job hunt? |
Well, the great thing is that the high speed train can get you to Kaohsiung or Hsinchu very quickly, especially from where you are now. It costs a bit, but it's well worth it. Let's say for example that you were "sick" on a Tuesday, and couldn't go into work. You could wake up early and hop on a HSR to K-town, and pound the pavement. You could taxi around, or even rent a scooter for a few hours, as you drove around to different bushibans, and sold yourself. I mean the internet is an option, but many schools like a face to face contact, especially if you can impress someone you talk to. That will get related to the owner.
| teflmonkey wrote: |
| More importantly, how badly can Hess "hurt" me if I leave, as far as my ARC status goes? Do I really *have* to pay the NT$20,000 fine for quitting? Does Hess actually go after people for breach of contract? |
If you go the proper route, and give notice, then they most likely wont "hurt" you for it. $20,000 is VERY VERY steep, and from what I understand it is technically illegal to charge this kind of penalty, although many schools will do it (call it a loss of training fee, or whatever). If you give notice, you are not breaching your contract, you are simply quitting your job.
On the other hand, if you just stop showing up for work, then you are in breach of contract, and then Hess can go after you. You will most likely be 'blacklisted' and that can almost guarantee that you will not be able to get a work permit for a bushiban in Taiwan.
| teflmonkey wrote: |
| Last of many questions: if I just up and quit (with notice), how long would I have in order to get a new job? If my ARC were terminated, could I just do a visa run and be ok? |
It depends on how quickly Hess processes your paperwork and such. If you ended on good terms, they may even hold your ARC for you until you find a new job, in order to save yourself the hassle of having to make a visa run. And, yes, you could make a visa run and then just start all over like you are brand new to Taiwan again. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: changing jobs with as little pain as possible |
|
|
| teflmonkey wrote: |
| More importantly, how badly can Hess "hurt" me if I leave, as far as my ARC status goes? Do I really *have* to pay the NT$20,000 fine for quitting? Does Hess actually go after people for breach of contract? |
Did you sign a contract agreeing to pay a breach penalty? If so then what makes you think that you shouldn't pay it?
Breach penalties are legally enforceable so you can legally be required to pay the penalty. The law states that these penalties cannot be advance deductions (deposits, bonds etc.) but whether they deduct it from your last pay or chase you for it the outcome will be the same.
If you agreed to pay the penalty when you signed up then my advice is just to pay it and be done with it as you will likely find things will go a lot smoother if you do.
| teflmonkey wrote: |
| Last of many questions: if I just up and quit (with notice), how long would I have in order to get a new job? If my ARC were terminated, could I just do a visa run and be ok? |
If you leave without notice you will almost definitely be blacklisted by the CLA which will prevent you from ever getting a work permit to teach in Taiwan again. So I wouldn't recommend that channel.
Have a look at this article about a teacher who did exactly what you are suggesting. He worked for Hess, didn't fancy paying the agreed upon penalty so did a runner and ended up being banned by the government from ever working in Taiwan again. I suspect that he regrets his decision now and would probably just pay the penalty if he could.
Some will suggest that this is all ver unfair but in my opinion if you agreed to work for them for a year then you should do that, but if you want out early then you should face the repercussions of what you agreed to when you signed the contract. It is unclear to me why teachers feel that schools should abide by the terms of the contract if the teacher doesn't have to!
BTW it is not unheard of for schools to overlook the penalty if you work with them in your leaving. No guarantees here but you have very little to lose and a lot to gain. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
