The China Teaching Web

Have something to add? Join the discussion! Click here to leave a comment. No registration required!

Click Here to Subsribe to the 'Keeping it Real with the Boss' Feed

Negotiating a New ESL Contract in China

Fireworks erupted this week in the English office at the school where I am employed as the Chinese manager of foreign teachers stormed into our work area to confront a workmate about a “bad attitude.” Teachers and students who were in the vicinity tried to look busy doing something else but it was hard to ignore the heated exchange which lasted for about 10 minutes. At the heart of the dispute was a brand new contract that was being created for a foreign teacher who was about to complete his first year of employment at the school. The teacher was frustrated because it seemed that the manager was obstinately refusing to even consider the new terms of the contract that the teacher has stipulated. The manager was equally frustrated because he did not really hold the power to negotiate with the foreign teacher; the manager was simply a representative of the school’s headquarters. Thus, confrontation was almost inevitable as the manager arrived to tell the teacher that it was unfair of him to “shoot the messenger.” The foreign teacher was not happy to be confronted in such an open manner by the manager and as a result a small explosion occurred.

Most foreign teachers in China do not spend more than a year at the same ESL school. They either go home or want to change locations so that they can experience another part of the culturally rich and diverse China. For the few who do choose to remain employed for a second year, negotiating a new contract can be nerve racking if not downright frustrating. Here are some tips to help smooth  the process and allow you to maintain your sanity in China:

• – Know what you want before you negotiate for a new contract in China. Consider carefully what you want to ask for before you start negotiating. Preparation will help you to be more organized and ready to negotiate.
• – Be reasonable with your requests. While a 20% raise in China is not unheard of after a year of successful employment, you probably want to target between a 10-15% raise. You can also consider negotiating for fewer classes and/or a higher overtime rate.
• – Know who you are dealing with before you seriously starting negotiating. In the case of the foreign teacher who I wrote about above, he ended up calling the headquarters and negotiating directly with the boss. Within 5 minutes, they had come to an agreement as opposed to the week that he had wasted trying to negotiate with a manager who really had no power over the contract.  
• – Be ready to ‘bargain’ a bit. Do not forget that you are in China where the concept of ‘haggling’ is integral to many if not most business deals. If the school at first makes you an offer that is well below your expectations do not be afraid to refuse the offer and ask for something higher. Accepting the school’s first (and even second offer) is probably doing yourself a disservice.
• –Do not yell or lose your temper if you are not given what you have asked for. Creating a scene will cause the school administration to lose face and the may just let you go. Always be cordial but firm. Yelling at Chinese people will get you nowhere.
• Be prepared to accept a compromise — You may not always get what you want. That is just part of teaching in China. Hopefully, if you were able to negotiate skillfully you can get most of what you want but sometimes it just is not possible. In this case, you have to decide which is more important; continuing to teach at the school or going somewhere else to find money.
• Do not be afraid to leave – If the school cannot give you want you think you should deserve do not forget that there are many other schools out there that need English teachers. Sometimes it is just time to part ways.

Have you had experience lately negotiating a new contract with your Chinese boss? Share your comments below. We’d love to hear from you

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Don't miss...

• Are Taxi Drivers in China Idiots or Brilliant?
• 16 ‘Brainwashed’ Tibetan Monks are Arrested in China
• What You Should Know About Traveling By Motorcycle in China
• Will An Obama Presidency Mean the End of Rush Limbaugh?
• Stealing Phones in China
• Teaching Adults
• This Is China: A Video Pictorial