[rjd97c]

Hi all,

Maybe another one of those - how longs a piece of string type questions, but I'd like to get a general idea from the people here. Basically, an offer will be made for a job, but I've been told the office hours are 9-6 (or 7pm) and Saturday mornings 9 - 1.

I'm not especially keen on Saturday working (coming from the 9-5 Mon-Fri UK culture), but am prepared to work hard and go for it if the offer is right! However, I've spoken to a couple of people here and they've both different things. In general, the responses I get are:

Saturdays - only local Chinese will work Saturdays...
Saturdays - nope, usually if you have to it's 'alternate' Saturdays...
Saturdays - depends on the company...

So, what about you guys?

Also, I haven't heard anything yet about holidays / stat holiday entitlement, sick pay etc etc... or even overtime (on a salary based job!?) so if it's not too personally, I'd like to get a feeling for how many holiday days I should be getting per year, for a management based role.

Maybe I'll spoiled in the UK with 25 days, 8 stats and 12 possible flexi-time days a a year and every weekend off!

What do you think?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

R.

[kostas]

Originally Posted by rjd97c

Saturdays - depends on the company...

That's your answer And about the rest, yes you have been spoiled like the rest of the euros

[KnowItAll]

Most expats I know who are required to show up on Saturday are usually too hungover to get anything done.

If you're not required in a front office situation or have to be on the phone on Saturday, ask for flex hours. Explain to them, that you're focused on getting the project done on time and not on the number of hours required -- someone with basic intelligence will see sense in that statement.

If they don't, I can assure you, working on Saturday will be a fairly insignificant problem.

[berryplucker]

If you are in a local company then either every saturday morning or every other one is noyt unusual. HK offices of foreign multinationals normally do a 5 day week.

The official hours are most commonly 9-6, although pretty much all locals do take a one hour lunch break. In many places people tend to come in a little later, but also to stay a lot later.

HK has quite a lot of public holidays (the exact number varies a little from year to year, at least for those of us that don't work Saturdays) since those that fall on a Saturday are not all moved as they would be in the UK.

But paid vacation days on local contacts in HK very rarely exceed 20 even with long service, and often start at 10 or 12 days. (The Civil Service is an exception, still running to old British rules in this respect.)

Flexi-time is pretty much unheard of since, believe it or not, it is often quite hard to get locals to even take the 10-15 days they are entitled to.

[rjd97c]

Thanks for all your replies...

... I guess it's one of those - suck it and see - before negotiating at the offer table!

The boss is pushing this 'HK is a close flight (cheap) to Thailand etc.' so you can go away for the weekend, but not really if I'm working Sat morning!

Will have to see what the offer is in terms of holidays though - 10-12 will be a bit of a come-down from 25! Especially if I have to use half-days to get the weekend off!!!!

Does anyone know exactly how many stat hols, or where I can find out?

Thanks again...

R.

[sabi]

I work for a local company where the office is open on Saturdays. I am on a flexi-part-time deal with no Saturdays although I am available on the mobile phone during normal work hours or after, if someone else is working and needs help. Flexibility is a strength here and workers are available even on evenings and public holidays, Sundays if there is a need - important if one works with overseas clients and in the China market.

[berryplucker]

The General Holidays are here:
http://www.info.gov.hk/topic_f.htm
Note that Statutory Holidays (linked at the bottom) are a subset of General Holidays. Most companies grant the General Holidays, but the legal minimum requirement is only the Satutory Holidays.

[sabi]

One other thing to note about taking vacation days in local companies. After the Lunar New Year, a local company will often pick the most auspicious day for reopening business and that might mean another 3 days after the legal holidays are over, but they might require the workers to deduct that from their own vacation allowance. If you want the job, just grin and and make the best of it - like plan your own holiday to coincide with the company's.

[JJexpat]

Civil servant here and PLEASE note the packages have changed dramatically - I do not get anything like what collaegues at the same rank and responsibility do because I started recently. Work every other saturday officially, often both Saturdays. Start at 8:45 and rarely leave before 7:30, sometimes as late as 10pm. No coffee breaks. Hmmmm...

[kostas]

you mean you don't get an "air-conditioning allowance"?