Job Discussion Forums

[seagull]

Hi guys,

I am wondering if a more experienced teacher could answer my question.

For a one year contract at a public university/college from March 2010 to January 2011, is it normal to not get paid over the two month summer break?

Just curious as my contract says I will not get paid over this period, but then offers a large "airfare allowance" of 10000 RMB at the end of the contract. I thought this seemed unusual compared to other contracts I have read.

I have contacted the FAO at the college about getting paid a normal salary over the two summer months and then a smaller "airfare allowance" at the end of the contract...is this possible, or is the contract I have been offered the norm?

Many thanks

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

most contracts go from september till july, and you get paid for the nearly two month winter holiday that falls in there. you may also get paid over the summer if you stay at the same place for a second year, our school pays us 1/2 salary over summer if we stay another year. other schools will pay you full salary over summer, and others still will pay nothing.

on paper your contract is the same length of time so they should treat it the same as a conventional contract (sep-jul). but who knows?

how much is the monthly salary? depending on that, and unless they offer an airfare bonus of no less than ~8000, i wouldn't trade the 10,000 airfare bonus for summer pay.

you did the right thing by asking about it.

anyway if its your first job in china and you really want to come here and can't find anything you like better, it might not be too bad, depending on other factors.

[Mister Al]

Some pay a % during the holiday periods although I get full salary for 12 months. I wouldn't accept nothing. How are you meant to live? Ask them that. If they say private or PT work elsewhere then remind them that that is illegal.

[spunkmonkey]

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

I think the trend is changing in China, based on conversations with FTs in Guandong and this site.. traditionally, FTs received full pay, including CNY and summer breaks. Now, that is not happening, more or less to squeeze out profit. The bonuses at a uni do tend to be much larger, but that is/was in addition for receiving paid (and extended) vacation.

Only heard the rumor [never actually happened], but students had informed me of a summer camp that basically lasted the entire vacation, promising a native speaker who was already a member of the uni faculty, from the UK. As that only meant one person [not me], this got very interesting very quickly... she was told to essentially wait to make travel arrangements every week and they never actually told her the camp wasn't happening. Moral: if you think you can (and if you aren't getting paid, this can be very easy to do), let them know about extended travel plans, and not that you intend to be hanging around the area. Flipside: if you really like the people you work with, you may want to let them know that you are interested in a summer gig. I would be shocked and amazed if local teachers don't have phone numbers of people who have already asked them for referrals.

[seagull]

Well, surprisingly good news is that the FAO got back to me quickly and agreed to change the contract. It was no cost to them anyway. I am now getting paid over the summer and receiving a smaller airfare allowance at the end of my contract (i.e. 4000/month over 2 summer months + 2000 airfare allowance at the end of the contract instead of no pay over the two summer months and 10000 at the end of the contract). Thank you to all who wrote helpful replies.

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

get it in writing before you arrive. When the time comes, ask about how to collect the airfare bonus--what paperwork, what forms, etc. You don't want a dramatic drawnout reimbusement battle at the end of your time.

[seagull]

[LanGuTou]

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[LanGuTou]

Oh, my apologies on that one. I assumed it was September to July. Now I can see it is March until January.

But, in that case, surely in a one year contract, those summer months should have been paid anyway?

[mat chen]

It's win win for them. You put up the money and they promiss it at the end. What is something happens to you? Like my school they don't pay salaries when teacher must make the trip to Hong Kong. They don't want to be out money if the teacher doesn't make it back. Actually it is the teacher's money, they delay payment. They delayed summer payment for three months incase the teachers make a run when they returned after the break.
What we should be doing is asking to be paid weekly. THis is normal in most countries.

[China.Pete]

OP, I find it a little unusual to not pay you for the mid-contract term break. The norm is to not pay you for the end of contract break, but to give you a travel allowance and airfare (the latter can sometimes be paid in cash, even if you don't fly), which often exceeds the amount you would have been paid if they had paid you for the full twelve months. Contract renewal can also bring some payment sweeteners. That is probably why the FAO jumped at the chance to pay a part of your airfare in advance.

[Jayray]

Things are changing. At my last school, teachers with one-year contracts were required to check into a hotel at their own expense during the summer and winter break. This was not in the contract.

My contract with my new employer specifically states that I will live free of charge through the summer and winter break. If your contract doesn't address payment during the break, you should ask. In my experience, the FAO usually finds work for me.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]