Job Discussion Forums

[colonel]

Since agreeing to work in China my wife has become pregnant and edition number two is expected to arrive in October. I had agreed to work here until 31/01/2008. I would like to be with my family in Thailand in October and considered my options.
A colleague of mine is finishing his contract at the end of this semester, he signed a one semester contract, as he has to settle some affairs in England, but he would like to come back, if possible, after three months. I put it to management that I could return for the new semester and my colleague would take over from me, at some mutually agreed date, in October so that the University would have the continued services of a foreign teacher. I also said that I would like to come back next year - if they required a teacher.
Management retreated to 'thought mode' for a few seconds and responded thus. No, it's not worth your while coming back for such a short time. We would have to pay your salary for the summer break. You can break your contract and we will just 'fine' you your airfare - a mere 5,000RMB. As for the students having two different teachers in one semester the students would find it difficult adjusting to two 'new' teachers. If you had told us earlier we might have been able to extend my colleague's papers - it's three plus month's notice I'm giving them! We'll manage without a teacher for the next semester.
I, initially, thought I was being helpful but I walked out of the office feeling a little disappointed. On reflection it seems to me that they saw an opportunity to save some money at the expense of the students - or am I deluding myself?

[latefordinner]

My first thought was that it's just laziness on the leader's part. Let's face it, FAOs who will make an effort to accomplish something positive are pretty rare. But you might be right, the thought of saving a few jiao has probably also occurred to him. Or he might just have had a bad breakfast and that could have influenced his decision too. Who knows why stuff happens?

[vikuk]

In some cases - money which is claimed to be saved just re-routes itself into some bodies pocket. After all if you can get away with it - if the FT has signed a contract for a year - why should it become official knowledge that the FT isn't in the job anymore? The money has been budgeted for the position - the paper work is correct - and that minor detail of no teacher could be easily swept under the gaunxi carpet!!!!

Lots of our bosses - the folk who have a finger in the money pie - have low official salaries - which don't really correspond to their actual amounts they're able to take home. In the private school sector - the most powerful person in the office is often the chief accountant - usually a close family member to the owner. Part of their extra money earning ability may be something to do with being able to sweep up extra money that they're able "generate" - and although the money the OP talks about isn't exactly a fortune - as we know in China a mao is mao.

[colonel]

I've little doubt that my airfare, given they've got the ticket, will be 'shared'. My feeling of disappointment was compounded by the 'clinical' response to my situation.

I spent a large part of my time in man management which is clearly not in the curriculum here. A more 'professional' approach might have been along the lines, "Let me think about your proposal and I'll get back to you as soon as I can - thank you."

[mike w]

[erinyes]

I would say that if they 'fine' you than you will not like to come back, but if they don't fine you then you would come back....... however they may not believe you.

They might not even believe you about the baby. you never know what stories people have told them in the past!

[therock]

Cut your losses and just forget about it. Go to Thailand to be with your wife. There isn't much you can do about it. One thing is for sure, the airfare the summer pay will be going straight to management's pockets.

[colonel]