Job Discussion Forums

[heidihcb]

This is my Hess story. I'm writing this as a warning to those who are thinking of going with Hess.


I started at Hess in July 2007. I went through training and got set up with an apartment in Taichung. Everything seemed to be going fairly smoothly at first and I was happy to have the help getting set up in Taiwan.

However, a few issues quickly came to my attention that made me doubt my decision.

First, my apartment. I loved it and thought it was a great deal at $10,000 NT a month. That was until I saw other people's apartments. Mine lacked a kitchen and was a fairly small studio. In Taichung, you should be able to get much more for your money. However, Hess really steers people toward moving into this apartment complex in Taichung. I'm not going to make accusations but I'm pretty sure that some people in Hess get kickbacks from the apartment manager for bringing foreigners to this building and overcharging them. I should have been paying $8,000 or less for this apartment. Be careful! Look for you own apartment if possible.

Second, my actual job. I found that I was working over 40 hours a week and being paid for only 20. I still didn't have enough money to adequately support myself. So, I asked to be place in a kindergarten classroom. I was told that there were no kindy classes and I would have to take a "troubled" Treehouse class at another branch on the other side of the city. The next week, my friend was offered a kindy class. Also, the treehouse job fell through and they ended up taking away that offer from me as well! Also, I requested to teach the speech competition. I was told that I could teach it and it would start "soon". I was really excited about this because speech is one of my passions! I soon find that my friend was told that she had to take this job even though she didn't really want it. I was never informed of this change. I felt as though I was getting the shaft and my work wasn't respected. My schedule was changed and it included me teaching at two different branches throughout the week. This is highly inconvenient when dealing with grading homework books. I also had to get used to a new branch, etc.

Third, my process of breaking my contract. I decided that I would try to look for outside sub work to supplement my income. I didn't want to have to do this but I didn't have enough money from my Contract A schedule. Hess had denied me a kindy job for the next semester so I went and found some kindy sub work. They ended up liking me a lot and offering me a full time position. This position offered me 20% more money for the same amount of work time! I had to take it! So, I told my boss that I was quitting and that I knew I would have to pay back the 20,000 NT for breaking my contract. I was then bullied into signing a paper that said I would also pay back the $25,000 in airfare reimbursement that I received. However, I NEVER signed anything that said that I had to pay this back if I broke my contract. Yes, I made a mistake and signed this paper after the fact but I never signed anything when I took the money and I had to wait three months to receive it as well.

This gets a little scary now. I left on my last day of work and took my pay. I was told that I had to give them $45,000 NT immediately. When I asked for more time and I refused, I was threatened. My boss told me "I will call the police on you and have you arrested!" Really? Arrested? For not paying a bushiban's contract breaking fee? I didn't pay and asked for more time to research the law. I found that it was actually illegal to take this fee. I was then HARASSED by Hess employees. I had them call my cell phone repeatedly. I actually was OUT at a club in Taichung and was pulled aside by Hess employees and told that I was going to be sued. I lost most of my Hess friends through this process. I ended up agreeing to pay this back to them on a six month schedule that I could afford. I still lost a lot of friends through this process and now have no respect for Hess at all.


Seriously, Hess is more like a cult than an employer. I was lied to repeatedly, harasssed, and threatened by this bushiban. My story is NOT the only one. I think it's important to share this with you.

For your information, I never missed a class, I did everything that I could for my branch, I went to all the trainings, and I always volunteered to do extra work. I was not one of the lazy foreign teachers who show up hung over, don't do their work , and miss a lot of days. This is how Hess treats their GOOD teachers who try hard.


Be warned! You can go to Taiwan and find a job that is much better than Hess. If you really need someone to hold your hand then maybe Hess is for you. But don't be surprised when the hand that feeds tries to strangle you. The second school that I worked for o ffered me 9-5 hours and a salary pay with bonuses! Don't take the first offer you get! Most people are worth far more than what Hess will offer you!

[timmyjames1976]

I am not a Hess fan, but I think they are ok for new teachers. A lot of what happened seemed to be caused by your lack of research and/or patience.

My apartment was fine. I have no idea how you worked 40 hours. The first few weeks is rough with lesson planning/HW, but after you get a system down it goes rather fast.

The different branch thing is annoying, so I hear ya there. They were most likely trying to make sure you got your hours in, but yeah, it still is a pain.

If you actually paid a contract breaking fee, well that is again your fault.

I was there before the flight offer, so I have no idea about that.

You really could have saved yourself a lot of trouble by researching apartment before you got there, and by just sticking to your guns about the contract fee.

[heidihcb]

[quote]You really could have saved yourself a lot of trouble by researching apartment before you got there, and by just sticking to your guns about the contract fee.[/quote]

I'll give you that. But Hess shouldn't push overpriced apartments on new teachers just to make their lives convenient. They don't have to help you find a new place but they also don't have to push things on you so aggressively.

Yes, I admit that I should have done more about paying the contract fee. But when you're getting HARASSED by a previous employer on your own free time then it starts to get to you. There is no reason that I should have had incessant phone calls and threats. There is no reason that I should have been practically stalked and embarassed in public places. To me, it was either pay the fee or leave Taiwan. I wasn't ready to leave at that time so I chose to pay the fee.

I'm not saying that I did everything the right way. I made a lot of mistakes which I account for. But I worked for Hess for over 6 months of my contract and never missed a day. I consider that patient enough to ask to not be lied to and mistreated. Especially when there are jobs out there for better pay, better hours, and better treatment.

[forest1979]

Moral of the story - Just because people in Taiwan are called managers doesn't mean they know how to manage. Adminstrate, yes they can do that, but management culture is not like what it is in the West. Plus managers in Taiwan half the time don't know the rules and frameworks in which they operare. Hence the offer of threats, paybacks, etc., so that they can cover their own mistakes once it becomes apparent, i.e. you saying you wanted to leave.

[timmyjames1976]

Hess = good or bad basically comes down to individual experience. For all the bad stuff you experienced, you have at least figured out what not to do.

Also, just for any potential future problems: if you do sign a contract with a breaking penalty, and if you do break the contract (with giving proper notice) and the school continues to harass you, mention the magic three letters - CLA. The CLA is the Council of Labor Affairs, and they will handle contract disputes. Many people have said they are rather fair and straight forward. Many buxibans do not like to hear those 3 letters, and often back down and lose their hard stance.

[Ki]

I'm not suprised. This is not just a HESS tactic but 1 used often by the worst of Taiwanese employers. The airfare though I would say they should get back 'cause you didn't complete your contract. Move towns to avoid the harrassment and make sure you follow it all up with legal action. Start with a call to the CLA. Even after you have paid it. This is an illegal and immoral contract clause.

[freebeacher]

I am in Hawaii now where there is very little work so if Hess provides a job when I have no job now that in itself is progress. 30,000 NT set up loan is today USD862. Sounds good to me. Is that enough to pay a month rent for a small apartment by myself in Taipei? I do not want to share. They they also provide airfare up front for those that need help getting to Taipei? In 1991 I worked for GTE and had lots of private students, so I don't understand feeling like not having options for outside freelance work. How do I research my own apartment to avoid problems? From application to arrival how long does it take? Thanks.