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Posts: 402

Shifu

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Q: Working on the weekends before and after holidays?

My employer informed me today that I was required to work this Saturday before the start of the holiday. After I objected to this, he told me that this is the case for all Chinese holidays with pretty much every Chinese company.

 

What's the deal? Doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of a "holiday"? How are Chinese not rioting in the streets about this?!

11 years 26 weeks ago in  Business & Jobs - China

 
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Posts: 1693

Emperor

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Because the Chinese people don't riot in the streets about anything, unless the government gives the okay to riot. And yeah, working on the weekend before the holiday is pretty standard fare. As you pointed out, it kinda defeats the purpose of having a "holiday," but there it is.

 

At least you were told more than two days in advance. I will find out (if I'm told at all) this Thursday or Friday. I guess I'm supposed to know by osmosis, but in fact, I usually find out from my students! laugh

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 163

Governor

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I had the same reaction my first year in China, but this is indeed the Chinese way. I am lucky this time as my school will be having a sports meeting Friday and Saturday, so I won't have to work.

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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Yeah, I asked them about this maybe a hundred times. They don't get it, they think it is normal. I tried explain 'defeats purpose' , the most reasoned response I get is that we still get some days off. 

Chinese companies suck about doing advanced notification re: anything!  If you are planning something that requires pre-booking and/or laying out cash (airline tix), be super, super careful...   write down Exact dates you plan to travel, and double/triple check that it is ok with multiple sources in your company. But still don't be surprised when you get different answers, and/or they change dates off at last minute. Planning ahead is just not something done here... Why not?  No why...   TIC

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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Yes, it is normal. Yes, it defeats the entire purpose of a holiday. Yes, it is dumb. No they will not see that, no matter how logically you make your argument.

 

The best you could hope for is an employer that feels the need to stick strictly to the contract, then you could argue that the contract stipulated public holiday days off, but does not stipulate working weekends to cover it. Honestly, I think you have a snowflake's chance in hell of persuading your employer that working weekends is an unreasonable proposition and little chance of getting out of it.

 

TIC.

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11 years 26 weeks ago
 
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