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Q: In your face racism and xenophobia?
After working in the same company for 4.5 years and exceeding all targets in that time, I asked my manager whether there were any opportunities for promotion to challenge my skill set and help my career path.
Fucking rookie, I hear you snigger through you la mian soaked hipster beards.
I was told, and I quote, because these words are indelibly etched in my mind : Foreigners have higher targets, are treated more harshly and cannot get promotions because all foreign countries treat Chinese people badly in the workplace.
Other than looking for a new job today, is it worth escalating this? Or an exercise in futility? Assuming futile.
You have learned nothing , be Chinese
open your own company and steal all the customers away from them
"Foreigners have higher targets, are treated more harshly and cannot get promotions because all foreign countries treat Chinese people badly in the workplace."....and I bet this was said by your boss who has never actually been outside China or read "free" media!
Apart from a stupid xenophobic boss who are you treated in work? Salary okay? Fair treatment? It's a difficult call......if your general treatment is fair then moving to a new employer might be the wrong call. If they just treat you like a resource to be abused then have a look around to see if there are any better opportunities. I'd guess though that other opportunities would be limited in your city. Or are there other places you could work there?
iWolf:
Of course she has never been to foreignerland. You astutely got my point. In general it is ok and the potential of leaving somewhere that is basically ok and landing in a shitfest is possible at least. My wife suggested: eat shit with a spoon and a smile
Sorry to hear that, sounds like a very aggravating situation.
I don't know what line of work you are in, but targets should always be communicated ahead of time. For example if you're in a sales role and you, as a westerner, have a bigger base compensation package than local hires than it's fine for you to be expected to cover that.
But it sounds like this is just a way to antagonize you and that's unbelievably shitty management. Even if she feels that westerners treat chinese employees badly, if you are essentially doing a good job there is no reason for her to communicate her intention to mistreat you in kind. Patently absurd.
That being said, I'm somebody who plays their cards pretty close to the vest. I would totally start looking for a new job, but I wouldn't just storm out and quit on the spot. Though maybe that's my weakness. I guess just try and be pragmatic about it. Do what's best in the long run and not what it emotionally satisfying on the spot.
Like mentioned above you can begin looking for another job but I would keep it on the low down until you have secured the new position. Doing something petty would come round and bite you in the arse when it is time to transfer the visa as they will cause trouble as much as they can. If you must get revenge then remember revenge is a dish best served cold. Perhaps client lists, etc... could mysteriously fall into rival companies hands.
expatlife26:
Yeah I agree. Best not to do anything rash if you're looking to keep working in China.
I still can't get over that being said to iWolf unsolicited. Whether you want to promote someone or not there are a million better answers than that.
Lord_hanson:
She was trying to be patriotic and help China by driving away skilled workers.
expatlife26:
haha, I just imagined a comeback where he stated matter of factly that Chinese workers are only mistreated in the west because the Yuan is not allowed to fully float to the market equilibrium.
I picture her scowling but slowly nodding..."yeah fair enough wise guy, you can have the promotion"
Is there actually anyone above her who would take you seriously anyway? Are you working for a Chinese company, or an overseas company? If it's a local, forget it!! Just leave. If it's an overseas company, then sure, take it up with the bosses overseas.
While looking for your new job, you can always tell her that you will no longer be exceeding your targets, as you have officially been informed that there is no personal benefit in it for you.
If you are going to escalate this (eitherr local or not), you obviously need to be saying that the company just lost one of its best employees (and, quite possibly, a large client base along with it - remember to get that client list emailed home quickly!) directly because of this 'managers' ignorance and racism.
Lord_hanson:
"While looking for your new job, you can always tell her that you will no longer be exceeding your targets, as you have officially been informed that there is no personal benefit in it for you." This is the best approach.
expatlife26:
Stealing client lists may expose you to legal risks though. Depending on what iwolf does, it may or may not be of any benefit to him. For example if he's a sales rep he's probably got all of his personal clients contact information already to bring with him to another firm. If he's not in any sales role theres likely no benefit to him...and everything to lose because no sane company would hire a man after that if exposed.
I just don't want to see iWolf have to join poor ol' icnif77 as a man of the China Scam Watch because he acted rashly when he was pissed off at a bad boss.
Thank you, for all the sage advice, my friends. I must admit I was a little hot under the collar but your reason helped me a lot.
To cut a long story short...i will do nothing for now and bide my time. Eat shit with a spoon and a smile.
I think, most Chinese disliking toward foreign employees comes from our higher pay and relaxed terms of work.
Chinese teachers hang in the school for the whole day, M - S, and I'm required to be at school only for 15 classes, which comes in total less than 15 full hours per week.
I'm not sure about their pay, but most likely, I receive twice or more than them.
In China, your working years at the Co. won't count a bit, 'cause you already have too high pay by Chinese standards.
Just cool down, and prepare yourself for the new job/employer.
It's very handy to renew Contract and stay at one employer, but with all Chinese disorganized management, I think it's better to prepare yourself for Contract-end-exit every year as FT.
I made that decision few years ago, and now I'm in the 2nd Contract extension, and it looks I'll stay here for another Contract. I'll get higher pay only, if my working hours will increase.
Do you have access to Chili oil, a portable stove and a pan??
http://www.echinacities.com/news/Angry-Employee-Smokes-Out-Office-with-C...
Another thought that I just had... Sort of comes from what's been said before, but...
You now know that such racism etc is due to complete mis-management. Your boss' attitudes says - "I'm less interested in having an effective, profitable company than in kicking people's arses".
If promoting you would increase profits, then it's clear to anybody (with a brain) that you should be promoted. (if promoting you gives negatives, then obviously not). This is what business is about. If management isn't into improving their business, then you really shouldn't be working for them (if that's your aim). If your boss isn't interested in improving the business, then she shouldn't be a boss!
So - go over her head to someone who's more interested in the business than their own ego.. (granted, it can still be really hard to find such a person here...)
iWolf:
These a valid insights and I do agree with them, however, they are logical and thus do not belong in the management of this, nor many other companies.
I have spoken to someone (foreign training manager) at our head office and he has told me that even there, there has been a dramatic change in the culture towards resentment of the foreign workers. This mentality flows down to the regional management. Despite 5000 years of history (sic) the less enlightened still desperately hold onto the Us Vs Them mentality. I am told that it is worse for other foreign employees in other regions. The guy I spoke to believes that they just want to put as much pressure on the foreigners so they will leave and replace them with lowly paid interns. I'm sure this genius plan will work out well for them.
From the good advice I have received here and some time to reflect, I know you can take the nong from the farm but you can't take the farm from the nong. It is what it is. So I will stay put for now and do what I do for my own reasons but I do have some plans for the future that are in progress.
icnif77:
I have very similar thing as you described at the PT mill, Shining.
I was asked to do demo classes to increase new students enrollment. Some Chinese are working with me as well, because part of the mill's introduction is in Chinese.
My part was some 15' long demo with new students. However, I must come to the mill half an hour earlier and stay an hour after the demo class, to interact with kids.
After some 15 demo classes, I asked for the pay. After lengthy meeting, I learned that none of the Chinese are paid for the demo.
I explained to the manager, that if School requires office hours, I must be paid for it. Hard to get that into their minds.
Then I suggested, mill should do demo class without me, and they might be much more successful at new enrollment than now. They offered me pay for demo earlier, based on new students enrolment, which I declined.
No more demo classes for me since last week.
Burn that fucking place to the ground.
Try and send a follow-up email regarding the same issue about 1 month from now. See if you can trick the bitch into putting that into writing. Send it around the company to every foreign employee, cause a mass exodus.
That shit is unacceptable man, I don't think I'd be able to handle that with a cool head. Best of luck.
Do you earn commission by exceeding the targets?
iWolf:
No I do not earn commission but like all other staff I receive a measly quarterly bonus for being a bum on a chair. I have a good work ethic.
You have learned nothing , be Chinese
open your own company and steal all the customers away from them
I find your boss very open and straight forward, not usually the case for many Chinese bosses.
Also apparently you must have good relationship when the person addresses her reasoning so clearly.
Other then that - employment is a (relatively) free market - one is selling his/her abilities and the other one buys that. If all parties believe it's a good deal so they cooperate. If one party believes there can be better deal done so it's time (for either party) to go for the better deal.
Englteachted:
That type of thinking is why Chinese businesses can't compete with foreign companies. You must value individual talent., not everyone can do what this employee does. There are millions of workers but only a small percentage of them are great.
Janosik:
I agree that you shall value individual tallents. I never said the company should not. Actually this is what I am writing about. Every tallent has his/her set of skills. Smart employer shall then just evaluate how these skills can contribute to the company development and progress. Subsequently put a price tag on that - because in the commercial sphere the company aim is to generate proft. If such indvidual tallent woul dthen think the price tag is not fitting so he/she simply goes for another 'buyer' who is willing to pay the required price. Btw by price tag I do not mean only salary as the working enviroment, career development opportunity and such aspects are also part of the 'price'.
