Help ! What can I do if my boss keeps trying to find excuses to cut down my salary?

[Alejandro Indigo]

The people who know me, they know who I work for, and they also know the problems that other foreigners had with her in the past (She's Chinese, in her early 40's).

In the last two months everything has been going just fine, however, yesterday it took me almost an hour of arguing with her so she could pay me everything I worked for her.  I won, of course, but all because I made her understand that if I don't get enough working hours it's because she hasn't provided them so she shouldn't be angry with me because she's not doing her job properly.

Honestly, I still like teaching even though I'm a little tired of it and I could use some change. There are unpleasant things about living in china but the worst of all is how stupidly selfish my boss can be from time to time, and how tired I am of being FUCKED AROUND by all this so-called "companies" which are no more than a bunch of useless people trying to get money from other people's hard work... sounds familiar?

I am sick and tired of them changing the terms of the contract and forgetting what they changed last month. They get angry because I'm getting a good pay so they need to find an excuse to cut it down, and they don't have it, so they go nuts every time they have to handle the money over. 

With all this I mean... How in hell do they think they're doing good business?  What outcome do they expect from treating hard working foreigners like scum?  Can someone be so stupid and selfish? The very doom of this society stands right before my eyes, everyday.

I'd really appreciate if anyone could give me some info about any -decent- school looking for an experienced foreign teacher, so I could finally get a dignifying teaching job once and for all.

Alejandro

[leah]

I say : they cut down your salary, you cut down their balls. Period.

[Chris Knight]

You should also transcribe them. That way, if the fecal matter hits the rotary dispersion device, you can produce the transcripts. When they deny the transcripts, you hit them with the recordings. I think things will go very smoothly for you after that.

[Alejandro Indigo]

Thanks for the tips, Chris. You know I've been recording the conversations I've had with my boss.

[Chris Knight]

Alex ... document, document, document. Write down every single time they try to change the contract, change your salary, etc., etc. Then, when you feel you have enough evidence of wrongdoing, take your documentation to the Foreign Affairs Bureau of Changchun. Coupla things, tho. If you are documenting, don't give the school any ammunition to use against you with the FAB. Be polite with them at all times, however, be prepared to fight any and all false accusations they bring against you. Believe me, if the FAB gets involved, the school will dream up all kinds of lies and innuendos against you. Stand your ground.

[Alejandro Indigo]

Thanks Martin, I've been around long enough to know the sides too and fortunately for me, this time I have time to work something out. Gimme a shout if you got any info. =)

[The Choonies]

Sorry to hear you are having disputes, Alex, unpleasant exchanges in the work area are never nice and not helpful for all involved and sorry I don't know where you work.  

It never hurts to talk though so when you have a free moment make a time to meet me.

If anything, I know both sides of this equation.

[Alejandro Indigo]

lol

they should be the ones saving up money to pay us on time.

if this was in Argentina I'd have their asses in jail by now.

[CCF Beijing]

I feel your pain.

I have been there!

*I think every teaching job in China has its flaws....you have to decide what flaws you can tolerate the most....

 

I know this won't make you feel better...but we all have our "war stories".

 

At a Uni I was working at in another province....the "pay man" got sick.

He had a stroke and was in the hospital. SO WE DIDN'T GET PAID. For a few weeks. This official was supposedly the only person IN THE WHOLE UNI authorized to pay us!

(Uhhh...does someone have to be TRAINED to sign a PAYCHECK?). So our FAO paid us out of "petty cash"... a little bit here...a little bit there..

 

Some staff officials seemed angry - their attitude was one of "Paycheck? You didn't save extra money to prepare for this situation?"

[Richard ridealgh]

Jeez fella, I didn't think she'd do that to you. I remember Colby had problems at the end too.