We’re all going on a winter holiday
No more working for a week or two
Well Sir Cliff might be going on a holiday but here in China things work a little differently.
China has mandated between 5 and 15 days for workers annual leave requirements depending on the number of years worked for your employer…so up to 10 years you are only entitled to 5 days a year.
Additionally employers are expected abide by all mandated public holidays …
But it doesn’t always work out as you might expect it to…
Ok I hear you say ….speed dial your union…
What fucking union – I live in China!
Yes, Yes, Yes… I know … I am here of my own volition…fuck off and listen…
This is a story of how expectations, cultural differences and language barriers make for potential disasters!
Many months ago I was told that we would have a short holiday break around New Year and a longer one over Spring Festival (late Jan) …both times the Language School would close, I was told, but I would be paid my normal salary.
Just before December, it was confirmed that the Language Centre would close for 4 days from 2 Jan to celebrate New Year – we wouldn’t be closed on the New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day because the weekend was the busiest time and for our pain we would all get an extra day. That would mean I would have 4 paid days off!
“Oh Goody” said I
…and as for Christmas Day … well it wasn’t a public holiday but as a foreign teacher I was entitled to take it off with no penalty or as with other public holidays I could store it for later use.
I decided to store!
So I worked Christmas Day reassuring myself that it was ok and that I had nowhere to go anyway… Christmas Grinch!
Then between Boxing Day and 30 December – yes that is correct Tonto – during those long 5 days, something happened and we were advised on the 30th that the Language Centre wasn’t closing and that we would not get 2 extra days but we could take 1 day anywhere between Monday and Thursday so adding that to my weekend I would get 3 days off.
Ok not enough time to go to Beijing – pollution pretty bad that time of year – hadn’t booked yet anyway – maybe Shanghai?
New Year’s Eve – let me repeat this …the very next day… 31 December… New Year’s Fucking Eve… 8 pm WeChat message…
“So sorry but you not have day off this week for New Year… we add day to Spring Festival holiday.”
Bloody Hell…ok well what can you do…that sort of worked for me anyway with my holiday plans.
I confirmed with the boss the next day and asked about my extra day for working Christmas…
“Christmas Day not day off for you – you worked – not in contract – you should take it off if you want to…
Really ?
… the changes in days off and days closing happen faster and more often than Linda Blair’s head spun in the Exorcist.
As for an intranet where you might learn the conditions of your employment…. whistle dixie baby!
I have a contract but it is loosely worded and then of course there is the interpretation of the language so in the end it all comes down to your employer and the relationship you have with that employer…
I don’t know about you but I am thinking that this is not a good place for employees to be!
Now my story ends well as my employment is short term, my employer and I have a great relationship, and as I write this I am waiting for the plane to take me to LA in search of sunshine on my Winter Holiday…oh yeah and to see Tima and Dee…
It could have been very different and remember I worked Christmas Day because I had been poorly advised but didn’t get any ‘in-lieu’
So for all those who put shit on our unions
Here is the thing!
Everyone employed today in Australia…and I mean everyone …be grateful for the conditions that have been won for you.
Those conditions that you simply take for granted…even those most simple such as public holidays…they do not necessarily exist elsewhere ….if you are not careful you might wake up one day and find them gone!
Just saying!
Happy Bumbering!
