Job Discussion Forums

siberiantiger · Joined: 28 Dec 2009 Posts: 24

Hi All,

If your university did not hire enough teachers for the fall semester and, as a result, said you will probably need to work extra hours, would you do it?

If it ends up we need to work double the hours, we might get double pay instead of being paid the extra hours at the overtime rate (which is low). So in this case, the pay would be $10000 for 36-40 hours per week.

I worked overtime this semester and don't want to work more than the maximum 20 hours per week next semester, but I don't want to ruin any chances of renewing for a second year. Is there a way I can refuse the extra hours without killing any chances of renewal?

Siberian

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

Not all classes are created equal.

I would see what the workload would be. If you are planning new lessons and they are completely different classes, then the obvious choice would be that they pay you overtime and you should communicate this directly to them.

If the workload is simply more of the same (meaning same as what you already planned with your other classes), then think of it as a bigger job. You get more pay and compare it accordingly with other jobs you could take if you didn't re-sign for a second year. If you would make considerably less, then show this to them.

If you like the school and you want the same hours, here's a crazy idea. Help them find another teacher.

tacoeater · Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Posts: 45

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

siberiantiger · Joined: 28 Dec 2009 Posts: 24

Thanks for the comments and advice!

sui jin · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 184 Location: near the yangtze

40 hours a week teaching - that's a solid 8 hours a day, Monday -Friday. It would kill me!
If your college doesn't have enough teachers for next semester, you are in a much stronger position to negotiate your terms for renewal - they won't want to lose you.

sainthood · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 2:48 am Post subject:

Not to ruin your party, but I have experienced some negative results of refusing. Oh, nothing really big and bad. But in this place, if you don't get on the inside, you are left on the outside - so you end up missing out on all the little extras that are possible. The free meals, the private dinners, the invites to the nicer stuff, the meeting of the better people to know ... all the things that a little bit of influence and guanxi brings you in this country!

Now, I'm not suggesting in any way that you just roll over and take it... but certainly, I'd be refusing politely, or compromising somewhere. Presuming, of course, that you DFAO isn't a right asshat that you really don't like. Mine? I just had to threaten him (in financial and 'facial' ways) just to get my return flight paid!

I, in your position, would be saying "you want me to stay and work extra hours like a slave - pay for it!!!" (which, obviously, wouldn't make you a slave...) "If you don't want to pay for it, find someone else".

In this country, sometimes you really need to play hard to get what you want!

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

siberiantiger · Joined: 28 Dec 2009 Posts: 24

Thanks so much for your comments, sui jin and sainthood. You both definitely gave me things to think about.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong