China PEO Employment Services

Benefits of hiring in China:

• China is the world’s second-largest economy and is home to the world’s largest population, making it a massive market for finding new customers. Companies within virtually all sectors will find growth opportunities in this market, though this is especially true for manufacturing, IT, and software companies.
• The country’s college graduation numbers grow year after year, with about 7.6 million new graduates in 2019 (most recent data). More than 640,000 master’s and doctoral students graduated from China’s colleges and universities in 2019, offering international companies an ever-deepening talent pool from which to hire.
• China climbed 15 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report between 2019 and 2020, ranking 31st overall. Eight business reforms made expanding into China easier than in any previous year. The country joined the world’s top ten most-improved markets for doing business.

Challenges when expanding into China:

• Tensions between the United States and China continue to pose threats not only to businesses but international security. Western companies—and especially American companies—must remain abreast of how these relations will impact their operations. Changes came quickly in recent years, and further complications are likely.
• While educational attainment grows in China, gaps still exist in management and talent retention. Significant differences in cultural approaches to business mean that Western companies must walk a tightrope regarding communication, operations, and understanding territorial sovereignty.
• All companies must understand the risk of intellectual property theft in China. This risk is especially dire for American companies and even more urgent for tech companies. The FBI estimates that Chinese theft of U.S. trade secrets costs $300-600 billion annually.

Cultural nuances and must-knows for doing business in China:

• Remember the concept of Guanxi, which means “networks” or “connections.” In China, relationships remain central to the success of any pending deals. Show respect and express appreciation for your colleagues’ time and effort.
• Be mindful of how your words come across to others. The concept of “face” is important in China. How and what you say may negatively impact another person’s reputation, which may cause deals to fall apart.
• Shake hands when meeting. Maintain a firm but not overbearing grip, as an excessively vigorous or forceful shake may be seen as challenging.
• Bring business cards to your initial meeting. Make sure to translate the business card into Mandarin as well as English.
• Be punctual. The Chinese business world sees lateness as a significant offense. Give yourself plenty of time to travel from the airport to your meeting, as Chinese airports are well-known for their delays.
• Avoid sensitive conversations. Topics controversial to the Chinese include Taiwan, Tibet, U.S.-Chinese relations, and working conditions in China.

Minimum wages and salaries:

• China’s minimum wage varies across provinces and regions.

Probation periods:

• Probation periods are common in China and typically last between three to twelve months.

Bonuses:

• Employers pay bonuses most often at the end of the year, either as a fixed amount, equal to one month’s salary or as 13th- or 14th-month salary.
• Floating bonuses, or performance bonuses, are increasingly common.

Termination and Severance Considerations:

• Chinese law states that only employees may terminate their employment contracts with 30 days’ written notice. Employers may not terminate contracts without cause.
• Cause typically includes but is not limited to:
  • The employee does not meet basic job requirements.
  • The employee violates employment policies.
  • The employee takes action that causes the employer to suffer business losses.
  • The employee is working for multiple employers at once and thus unable to fulfill job requirements.
  • The employee falsifies information on his or her job application.
  • The employee becomes the subject of criminal charges.
• Employers must give 30 days of notice before terminating the employee.

Parental leave:

• Mothers receive 98 days of maternity leave and 15 days of parental leave. Mothers may receive an additional 15 days of leave in the event of a difficult birth. Each ensuing birth results in another 15 days of leave.
• Fathers may receive paternity leave depending on local laws.

Vacation and annual leave:

• Employees in China accrue time off depending on how long they have worked for their employer:

Sick leave:

• Employees who suffer a non-work injury or illness receive three to 24 months of medical leave, dependent upon their total working years.

Average workweek hours:

• China’s standard system outlines no more than eight hours per day within a 40-hour week. However, this applies only to certain positions and is subject to labor authorities’ approval.

Overtime considerations:

• China’s labor laws include overtime standards, though they remain fluid. Employees may receive 1.5 times their standard rate for work exceeding an eight-hour workday. Saturday and Sunday work earns employees two times their standard rate. However, employers cannot ask employees to work more than three hours’ overtime on a weekday and no more than 36 hours per month.