Are Probationary Periods a Scam?

When you get your first Chinese contract and read through it, you might notice a “probationary period” is added. Usually during the probationary periods, everything is a little different. The salary might be lower or you might not be given severance pay if fired during this period. Does this mean your company is trying to scam you?

 Short answer? No. 

 

It sounds scammy—I get it. But actually in China, this is a pretty standard practice, even for Chinese local employees. Contracts are signed for just about every job in China, and there’s a high turnover rate, especially in educational companies. Having a probationary period helps both the employer and the employee cut ties and move on without complication if they find out quickly it’s not working out. For a more formal teaching situation, such as in a school, they need to get a new teacher into the classroom quickly before too much of the semester is gone if you leave or if you’re fired. And hey, what boss wouldn’t jump at the chance to save a few extra bucks in offering you a lower salary at first? Earning less at the beginning definitely sucks, but it came be useful to get out of a contract quickly if you need to. 

Let’s talk about what you can expect to see in your contract about a probationary period.

How long is it?

            Typically, it’s about three months. I’ve seen them be one month, and I’ve also seen them be for an entire semester, when I worked at a university.

How much is the salary reduced?

            This varies, but generally your salary is reduced just at a little. For one job, my salary was reduced 1,000 RMB per month, and for another job it was 2,000 RMB each month. 

 Can I get this probationary period removed from my contract?

            Of course you can always try to negotiate the probationary period out of your contract, but you probably won’t have much luck. It might seem strange if your home country doesn’t do this often, but in China, it’s a standard practice. It’s basically accepted across the country. 

Will bosses be looking for reasons to fire me during the probationary period?

            Not quite. Your new boss probably won’t look at you any more carefully than any boss would look at a new employee. The wording is a little strange, because usually when we hear “probationary period,” someone has done something wrong and is being given his last chance. That’s not the case here. Try not to think of the probationary period as an intense inspection period. Instead, it’s just an insurance, a backup plan to cut ties a little easier in case things go wrong. 

This topic actually came from one of you! A reader emailed me to ask me this question, and I wanted to answer it publically as well in case others were wondering. If you have more questions about Chinese contracts or typical working conditions, feel free to reach out!