Job Discussion Forums

[godmachine12]

Hey guys and gals. I just got a job offer from a school in Krasnoyarsk. I've never been to Russia let alone worked there so could someone comment on this contract for me. Just be honest. If it's good, it's good but if it's bad, let me know it's bad. Thank you.

I. TEACHING
1.1. A full time schedule entails 30 academic hours of regular teaching, 13 academic hours for planning, and 10 academic hours for on-call duties (Point 1.3.).
1.1.1. An academic hour is equivalent to 45 min.
1.2. Teaching hours are between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., five days a week. Teachers cannot refuse lessons.
1.3. On-call hours may be taken up with substitute teaching, material preparation, testing in schools, making presentations, assisting students with interactive/ distance learning, work in English Clubs or assisting the Academic Directors, and/ or Administrative Director with any duties s/he requires.
1.4. Teachers will teach in schools and companies. Summer work (June, July and August) may involve camps.
1.5. Teaching may involve instruction in any of the following areas: tuition of General English to adults/ young learners, Business English/ ESP and/ or Examination preparation classes. Teachers with appropriate experience may be involved in Teacher Training and Development.
1.6. Registers and logs must be marked every lesson and available on request. Registers, logs and other administrative documents must be kept up-to-date.
1.7. Teachers must first seek permission from the Administrative Director before engaging in private teaching outside the school. Such teaching must not interfere with a teacher�s contractual obligations.
II. ADMINISTRATIVE POINTS
2.1. Within one working day following their arrival in Russia, teachers must turn over to the school the following documents and materials: passport, visa, immigration card, four similar 3x4cm photos (with matt surfaces and white background), an up-to-date CV, originals or apostilled copies of high school/ university diplomas and teaching certificates (e.g., CELTA, TESOL). Any �official fines� levied on the school due to the teacher�s failure to promptly turn over required documents must be borne by the teacher. Other items which must be turned in are noted in Points 3.3., 9.1. and 10.1.
2.2. Attendance at staff meetings and training sessions is compulsory except where illness or an academic conflict has arisen. Failure to attend said meetings without a valid excuse will result in a pro-rata salary deduction for the actual time missed. In some cases, and at the discretion of the Academic Directors or Administrative Director, teachers may be required to make either individual or group presentations.
2.3. Teachers will be required to return all school teaching materials and equipment taken, in the condition they received it. In the event of loss or damage, the teacher will be held responsible for their reimbursement.
2.4. Appearance: neat and tidy; in keeping with the students� and administrative expectations. In-company: reasonably smart; shirt and tie for men.
III. ACCOMMODATION
3.1. Accommodation is provided for teachers. Teachers will have their own flat. In some cases, normally under emergency conditions, accommodation may be in homestays, hostels or residential dormitories.
3.2. Teachers are held responsible for both the cleanliness of their flats as well as any damages caused to their flats and/ or neighbouring flats through negligent behaviour. To that effect, teachers will be required to sign subleasing agreements. Failure to sign the subleasing agreement will result in forfeiture of school-provided accommodation. In providing flats to teachers, Absolute English retains the right to inspect flats periodically.
3.3. If a flat is equipped with a telephone, the resulting bills must be paid immediately. In the event that post (mail) destined for someone other than the Teacher is received, it must be turned over to the School Administrator as soon after receiving it as possible.
3.4. The school cannot provide accommodation to teachers arriving in Russia prior to the start of their contract, unless otherwise arranged. On completion of the contract, the teacher has 3 days with which to vacate the accommodation.
IV. TRANSPORT
4.1. Teachers who teach in more than one location on any given day will be provided with a salary supplement to cover the additional cost of transportation.
V. MEDICAL SERVICES
5.1. Medical services (except as seen below) will be provided by the school.
5.2. The Employer will not assume the medical cost of illness or injury which has resulted from a chronic or pre-existing medical condition; risky physical, sexual and/ or alcohol/ drug related behaviour on the part of the teacher or any costs associated with repatriation.
5.3. Dental and optical care as well as the cost of medication is the responsibility of the teacher.
5.4. For the purpose of Visa processing and other labor-related documentation, in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation, Teachers will be required to provide medical tests, which will be paid for by the school.
VI. SICKNESS/ ABSENCE FROM WORK
6.1. Teachers calling in ill must do so by 9:30 a.m. or three hours prior to the start of a scheduled class, whichever is earlier. The school will reimburse sick time as follows: Teachers are eligible for 3 full-paid days of sick leave based on their per diem salary, which is 1/22 of their monthly salary.
6.2. Any absence from work without notification of the Administrative Director will become a disciplinary matter and will result in a written warning and a deduction in salary equivalent to two times (2 x) the teacher�s per diem salary. Teachers unable to teach for reasons other than illness or except where authorized by the school will incur a deduction in salary equivalent to two times (2 x) their per diem salary. Lateness to class will be dealt with as described above however said deduction will be pro-rata to the actual time missed.
VII. PAID TIME OFF
7.1. Over the academic year (September thru June) teachers will be given 17 days off for which the school pays (see 7.2). Teachers signing contracts of durations other than those listed above shall be accorded paid time off in accordance with internal Company policy.
7.2. The paid holidays include the following national holidays: Nov 5, Dec 29-Jan 13, Feb 23, March 8, May 9, June 12, plus 2 personal days
7.2.1 Holidays landing on the weekend will be moved to the nearest Friday or Monday according to the Russian calendar.
7.3. Teachers signing a contract for the following academic year will be entitled to an additional 22 days of paid leave to be taken in July or August in accordance with the school calendar and with the Administrative Director�s approval.
7.4. Personal days must be approved by the administration at least one week in advance. Any unused personal days will be reimbursed upon satisfactory completion of the contract.
VIII. SALARY
8.1. The teacher�s salary will be 28,000 roubles per month.
8.2. Salaries are paid in cash at the school. All salaries are paid in roubles. Teachers are paid salary monthly, normally on the last day of each working month.
8.3. Teachers demonstrating exemplary classroom performance, attentiveness to administrative matters, responsible time keeping and who have fulfilled Absolute English�s requirements are eligible for salaries upgrades with the recommendation of their Administrator after the 1st of January.
8.4 Overtime hours, when worked, shall be paid in addition to standard teaching hours and at time and a half. Overtime is voluntary outside contractual hours. Overtime is calculated on a weekly basis.
8.5 The school will arrange for the payment of all income taxes due on the salary in the Russian Federation. Teachers forego all claims to pension, medical, social security and unemployment benefits except as described in other points of this contract.
IX. AIR FARE
9.1. The airfare reimbursement (see Point 9.3. below) will be made by the school to the teacher in roubles on satisfactory completion of the contract, provided the original receipt has been submitted. Failure to provide the original receipt will result in no airfare reimbursement. Teachers traveling to Russia on single (one-way) tickets must turn the original ticket over to the school at the start of their contract. Teachers traveling to Russia on return (round trip) tickets will be asked to post original tickets to the school on their return home. Original tickets are �documents� that are required by the local tax authorities.
9.3. Maximum return airfare for teachers signing and completing a contract is 45,000 roubles. Teachers must assume all costs associated with overweight luggage whether for international or onward domestic travel. Teachers failing to complete their contracts are responsible for their departure travel expenses.
9.4. Transportation to and from the airport in Krasnoyarsk will be provided.
X. VISAS
10.1. In order for the school to register teachers with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, temporary surrender of your passport and visa will be necessary. Visas are obtained from the Russian Consulate. The school refunds 100% of the visa cost up to $200 to be paid in roubles (see proviso Point 10.2.), excluding postage, visa/ travel agency assistance fees and transportation costs, in roubles, on satisfactory completion of the contract, provided a proper receipt has been submitted. Teachers who fail to submit proper receipts forfeit all right to visa reimbursement.
10.2. Teachers who fail to apply for visas in a timely manner are responsible for all additional visa costs incurred as a result of quick processing.
10.3. Teachers who lose or have their passports and/or visa stolen must notify the Administrative Director immediately and are responsible for all costs associated with passport and/or visa renewal.
10.4.
11.1. 11.2. 11.3.
11.4.
12.1.
12.2. 12.3.
13.1.
Teachers who travel outside the city are required to notify the Administrative Director and register their visa at their destination with the appropriate authorities within three days or as pertaining to the laws of the Russian Federation.
XI. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
Disciplinary procedures will be dealt with by Administrative Director/ Academic Directors as follows: one verbal warning followed by one written warning. Failure to heed the written warning may result in dismissal, reduction in pay or movement to a pro-rata contract.
Teachers who fail to demonstrate satisfactory standards of teaching and/ or who lose students due to student dissatisfaction with teacher may face reduction in pay, movement to a pro-rata contract or in certain cases instant dismissal.
Teachers are expressly prohibited from using the school�s equipment, materials and/or premises for their personal use or approaching Absolute English clients and students with the intent of teaching English for private remuneration or accepting their unsolicited offers to teach English privately. All such offers to teach privately should be reported immediately to the Administrative Director.
Teachers involved in acts of gross misconduct face instant dismissal. Gross misconduct includes: physical violence, deliberate damage to school property or the property of colleagues/ clients or students, theft of school / colleagues�/ clients�/ students� property, breach of fidelity regarding school information to include contents of this contract, being under the influence of drink or drugs when on school business, indecent behaviour, sexual impropriety, insulting insubordination towards a senior member of staff, bringing the name of the school into disrepute, conviction of a criminal offence and computer fraud.
XII. NOTICE OF TERMINATION
The minimum period of notice required from both sides is four weeks, except in the case of instant dismissal for gross misconduct or unsatisfactory standards of teaching. All notice must be made in writing. In the event that the Teacher fails to give minimum notice, his or her contract will automatically be converted so as to account for benefits paid in advance but not yet earned (see Point 13.2.).
In the event of early contract termination, automatic salary deduction will occur for any over-payments made by the school. Paid time off does not constitute teaching time.
Teachers no longer in the employ of Absolute English are required by law to leave the Russian Federation within 72 hours unless prior arrangements have been made with the school to continue visa sponsorship.
XIII. CAVEATS & AMENDMENTS
Employment with Absolute English is subject to receipt of satisfactory references. The terms of this contract take precedence over and supersede any other undertakings given. All amendments applicable to this contract appear on the signature page.

[spiral78]

[Sashadroogie]

I'd say this is pretty poor. Heavy teaching load, all types of classes, near constant availability expected, and some dubious points about visa and terminations. All for the princely sum of RUB 28,000 per month. Well, at least they talk straight. (BTW, the contract will need to be in Russian to be valid, and even then...)

I would pass.

[godmachine12]

[Sashadroogie]

I thought I had. 28,000 is peanuts for what will be undoubtedly a gruelling schedule. It's not even USD 1,000. Laughable for that workload. It works out at just over 8 dollars per academic hour - not even factoring in the admin duties and travel. Yikes!

[godmachine12]

[Sashadroogie]

Hee hee. Our posts are crossing. In any case, I do not think this is a good offer anywhere in Russia, but I'm based in Moscow, so perhaps that is making me sniffy : )

[spiral78]

Sniffy? Sasha sniffy? Never!

[godmachine12]

[ecocks]

The problem I'd have with this is that they have taken such a large chunk of your time as theirs that it will be difficult to pick up either extra work or schedule private students.

Not knowing the economics of Krasnoyarsk I'd think it might work if they counted your travel time in that 30 hour commitment but maybe not.

On the plus side they are furnishing you an apartment (probably w utilities), transportation supplement for corporate and medical care.

The 30 classes a week seems excessive, I'd expect it to be 22-25 on a fairly set schedule.

At least they are explicit in saying they are doing the work permit.

Hope that helps and whatever you decide works out for you.

[smithrn1983]

Like pretty much everyone else here, I would also turn down the offer. The single line in the contract that says I cannot refuse lessons is enough to make me walk away. Granted, I've only ever refused to teach one class for a reason other than a scheduling conflict, but I like the freedom to do so. Also, if you couple that clause with the 7:00-22:00 working hours, it's easy to see this employer having you work until 22:00 one day of the week, then being back the next at 7:00 to teach another class. That is far from the ideal schedule.

On a side note, if you've never been to Russia before, Krasnoyarsk may not be the best place to start. It's literally hundreds of miles from anything else, and flights in and out can be expensive. If you get there, and it turns out Russia is not for you, it's going to be one long and expensive journey to get out of the country. Just my two cents on coming to Russia for the first time. On the other hand, if you're sure you'll like Russia and don't want to work in Moscow or St. Pete, you could do worse.

[ComradeBL]

My quick two cents on the contract:

I got a message from a school owner also located in Krasnoyarsk. Its offer was about $7 USD/hour with housing and visa, which is comprable to what you're being offered.

Hope that helps...

[godmachine12]

[smithrn1983]

[jpvanderwerf2001]

It is very possible to make pretty good money in Russia. The plan is simple (and probably not too different from most countries):
1. Get a job at a language school/uni in a good-sized Russian city with relatively few expats (think Irkutsk, Petropavlask, Yakutsk);
2. Be good/professional at your job: Be affable, show up on time and prepared, etc.;
3. Make local contacts;
4. Stick around (don't leave after your first contract)--this cannot be stressed enough;
5. Let people know you are available for private lessons;
6. Shorten your hours at the school/uni, but keep enough to stay on a work visa;
7. The combination of your "official" job and private lessons (they will come) can see you earning quite a bit of money.
(Learning Russian would be helpful as well.)
I have known English teachers in Vladivostok who make enough to save 30K ($1000US), or more, a month (this of course depends on lifestyle) by basically following this plan.

Two points about making good money teaching English in Russia:
1. While poverty is a reality in Russia, there are a lot of rich people; however, you need to stick around for a while to get to know who they are (and who their children are...that's the real goldmine). Get the first couple of wealthy private clients, do right by them, and they will assuredly tell their friends, who will then want you to teach them or their children...it snowballs;
2. Word of mouth is EVERYTHING in Russia. If you're unprofessional or basically a nutjob, people will know/find out, especially in a smaller city. Just be normal, show up on time, and put a few minutes into planning, and you'll be golden.

Best of luck.