Cathay Tech Services
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Cathay Tech Services
Hello people - am new to this board. I am going through the motions of applying for a job within Cathay Technical Services and I'm wondering about the payscale. I am aware of the housing assistance and other benefits within CX, but have no idea on the salaries other than i will be on the "B" scale. I will be new to the Airline indusrty after serving 8 years at an engine manufacturer.
Can anybody enlightne me on the other issues such as the 13th month salary and what the typical annual company payrises and profit sharing bonuses are etc. Any help gratelfully recieved
Can anybody enlightne me on the other issues such as the 13th month salary and what the typical annual company payrises and profit sharing bonuses are etc. Any help gratelfully recieved
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For expatriate Tech Services Engineers the salaries are in the range $40-45k.
Thirteenth month is not guaranteed, but in recent years only exceptional events (9-11, SARS) affected the 13th month.
The Profit share scheme policy is well defined - so is quite transparent, but obviously profit share is not guaranteed. This year it was about 16days pay - unfortunately the fuel prices took the fun out of profit share.
For expat contracts the housing allowance ceiling is currently $41,700pcm for renters and owner occupiers or $24,000 cash allowance if your rent is less than $24,000.
There is a medical scheme, but the ceilings are fairly low (e.g. $7500 per year per qualifying familiy member for GP/Physio).
The medical scheme DOES NOT cover any maternity/childbirth expenses, however the public hospital system is of a higher standard than the UK NHS, and is becoming the preferred option for expatriates.
Thirteenth month is not guaranteed, but in recent years only exceptional events (9-11, SARS) affected the 13th month.
The Profit share scheme policy is well defined - so is quite transparent, but obviously profit share is not guaranteed. This year it was about 16days pay - unfortunately the fuel prices took the fun out of profit share.
For expat contracts the housing allowance ceiling is currently $41,700pcm for renters and owner occupiers or $24,000 cash allowance if your rent is less than $24,000.
There is a medical scheme, but the ceilings are fairly low (e.g. $7500 per year per qualifying familiy member for GP/Physio).
The medical scheme DOES NOT cover any maternity/childbirth expenses, however the public hospital system is of a higher standard than the UK NHS, and is becoming the preferred option for expatriates.
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Thanks Plastique. Funnily enough I've just recieved my offer and its a few K less than your lower limit which is somewhat concerning. Maybe after the probationary period this can be adjusted.
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You will not get an adjustment after starting, and annual increments are in the order of 1-1.5% (if your're lucky). It normally takes about 6 years to make Senior Engineer REGARDLESS of previous experience.
My advice with the current GBP exchange rate and the expected long term weakness of the US Dollar, you would be foolish to accept anything less than $40k/month.
BTW what section in TS are you planning to join?
My advice with the current GBP exchange rate and the expected long term weakness of the US Dollar, you would be foolish to accept anything less than $40k/month.
BTW what section in TS are you planning to join?
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So they did not manage to persuade you with massive pay incentives to join the highly motivated "team" in LHR then Denzil? Nice to hear someone with the sense to smell a rat - just wish I had been bright enough !!
Miniman - they will already have some other mug lined up but will take you if you accept the lowest of the low - spanners is right - just walk.
Miniman - they will already have some other mug lined up but will take you if you accept the lowest of the low - spanners is right - just walk.
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PLASTIQUE
As a matter of fact I won unfair dismissal and breach of contract but no doubt the extremely honest full of integrity management at CX would have their current employees believe otherwise eh !!
Oh yes I have certainly had the pleasure of saving a few poor souls from the bull**** dished out by CX in their attempt to recruit people from decent positions by promises which do not materialise and no doubt there will be a few more.
Many ex and current employees have indeed spread the word on the less than moral behaviour of CX especially at LHR. After all its a small world and what goes around comes around, what say you PLASTIQUE (a very apt name for a CX employee I may add).
As for "grinding the same old axe" well I wish someone had the forethought to warn myself and my clloeagues who left long term problem free employment for the shower of Cathay what we could REALLY expect so I feel I have a moral duty to warn people what CX are like to work for. You make me laugh palstique, you are clearly not too impressed with CX yourself (by some of your past postings) but when someone has the fortitude to stand up to them you are the first to attack. You cannot know the full story of all that happened which affected mine and many others lives so drastically otherwise you would keep your comments to yourself, no doubt you would rather believe the managers which have lied to you all time and time again. I would take those lying bastards on again if I had too and it turned out much better than I ever thought it would. I won my case and cost Cathay a lot of money, have a fantastic job with a great employer at which I am well thought of and CX cannot recruit engineers at LHR due to the poor treatment of staff.
And the management at LHR wonder WHY they cannot recruit - oh how I laughed.
Does that qualify as a gloat ???? Hope so !
Oh and PLASTIQUE - perhaps this time you could leave your posting to which this is a reply in place instead of removing them once you have been made to look like a pr1ck - like the last time you attacked me !!!
As a matter of fact I won unfair dismissal and breach of contract but no doubt the extremely honest full of integrity management at CX would have their current employees believe otherwise eh !!
Oh yes I have certainly had the pleasure of saving a few poor souls from the bull**** dished out by CX in their attempt to recruit people from decent positions by promises which do not materialise and no doubt there will be a few more.
Many ex and current employees have indeed spread the word on the less than moral behaviour of CX especially at LHR. After all its a small world and what goes around comes around, what say you PLASTIQUE (a very apt name for a CX employee I may add).
As for "grinding the same old axe" well I wish someone had the forethought to warn myself and my clloeagues who left long term problem free employment for the shower of Cathay what we could REALLY expect so I feel I have a moral duty to warn people what CX are like to work for. You make me laugh palstique, you are clearly not too impressed with CX yourself (by some of your past postings) but when someone has the fortitude to stand up to them you are the first to attack. You cannot know the full story of all that happened which affected mine and many others lives so drastically otherwise you would keep your comments to yourself, no doubt you would rather believe the managers which have lied to you all time and time again. I would take those lying bastards on again if I had too and it turned out much better than I ever thought it would. I won my case and cost Cathay a lot of money, have a fantastic job with a great employer at which I am well thought of and CX cannot recruit engineers at LHR due to the poor treatment of staff.
And the management at LHR wonder WHY they cannot recruit - oh how I laughed.
Does that qualify as a gloat ???? Hope so !
Oh and PLASTIQUE - perhaps this time you could leave your posting to which this is a reply in place instead of removing them once you have been made to look like a pr1ck - like the last time you attacked me !!!
Last edited by geldap; 11th Jun 2005 at 21:41.
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Geldap
I just think that it is fair to make it clear that you have a major act to grind, and are not in a position to add any reasoned opinion to any discussion on the subject.
I have never before encountered such a level of sour grapes as is evidenced from your posts on this forum.
If your current employer is so fantastic, why are so many experienced guys leaving the touchy feely splendour of Grinning Bearded Woolie Pullover Airways and coming over to work as a cog in the machine of the 'evil CX empire'?
I just think that it is fair to make it clear that you have a major act to grind, and are not in a position to add any reasoned opinion to any discussion on the subject.
I have never before encountered such a level of sour grapes as is evidenced from your posts on this forum.
If your current employer is so fantastic, why are so many experienced guys leaving the touchy feely splendour of Grinning Bearded Woolie Pullover Airways and coming over to work as a cog in the machine of the 'evil CX empire'?
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Plastique - So many guys leaving - 2 to be precise !!!!!!!!!!!! Oh of course you can,t say too mauch against them can you - or your 2 year contract will not be renewed.
I would say though that you are correct in that I do have an axe to grind, and I defy anyone who went through what I did at CX to be any different. All things considered my responses have been measured. All I ever did was stand up for what is correct.
In comparison to CX, and indeed BA my current employers I consider to be much better in that the pay is 15% higher, I get 50% more holidays, the best staff travel in the business and perks too many to mention as well as a varied and interesting job and management who are decent people and are trustworthy, something distinctly lacking at CX - what more can someone want from employment.
I hope you may begin to undertand but I doubt it.
I would say though that you are correct in that I do have an axe to grind, and I defy anyone who went through what I did at CX to be any different. All things considered my responses have been measured. All I ever did was stand up for what is correct.
In comparison to CX, and indeed BA my current employers I consider to be much better in that the pay is 15% higher, I get 50% more holidays, the best staff travel in the business and perks too many to mention as well as a varied and interesting job and management who are decent people and are trustworthy, something distinctly lacking at CX - what more can someone want from employment.
I hope you may begin to undertand but I doubt it.
Last edited by geldap; 12th Jun 2005 at 11:40.
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In my experience people are much the same all over the place. Employees differ in their views of their employer only in the way that they perceive they have been treated. Maybe Geldap was treated shabbily, maybe he deserved it, I don't know. But I do know that, in the main, a Company will not mistreat an employee who consistently gives of their best in their employment. I have been working for the (apparently) dark side of the force for a long time and I have never been mistreated. Au-contraire I am a very happy chappy working in a place that I enjoy for a company of which I am very proud.
Back to the post. I would join and buy a house/flat straight away, stay for 5 years and its paid for by the company - another 500 000 pounds to add to your retirement paid for by the evil company.
Back to the post. I would join and buy a house/flat straight away, stay for 5 years and its paid for by the company - another 500 000 pounds to add to your retirement paid for by the evil company.
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Contrary to shortly I would be cautious to buy a house straight away and find yourself at the short end of the straw when suddenly dismissed… we have had a colleague from Flight Ops jump a window with no job, negative equity on property and, seemingly, NO perspective…
Take the chance, see if you can be happy long term like shortly, and then make careful decisions… with appropriate backups.
Now, when I found myself terminated within two weeks I was told that there will no reference (!!!) if you take your 3 months notice (to which you are legally entitled, even in Hong Kong). When I said I was in no financial position to accept this due to contractual commitments I was advised that I should just go ahead and “BREAK my rental contract, contracts are broken all the time in Hong Kong”…
Perhaps it is “just my perception”, but I was shocked to find this kind of treatment possible... however, I was told by the Fleet Manager himself that this sort of behaviour is “company policy”! According to shortly’s line of thought this is of course only applied to the deserving, so nothing to worry about really...
PS: Geldap, congrats on your success, it is very encouraging to see former colleagues with a rightful case AND a backbone, all the best with your new employer!
Take the chance, see if you can be happy long term like shortly, and then make careful decisions… with appropriate backups.
Now, when I found myself terminated within two weeks I was told that there will no reference (!!!) if you take your 3 months notice (to which you are legally entitled, even in Hong Kong). When I said I was in no financial position to accept this due to contractual commitments I was advised that I should just go ahead and “BREAK my rental contract, contracts are broken all the time in Hong Kong”…
Perhaps it is “just my perception”, but I was shocked to find this kind of treatment possible... however, I was told by the Fleet Manager himself that this sort of behaviour is “company policy”! According to shortly’s line of thought this is of course only applied to the deserving, so nothing to worry about really...
PS: Geldap, congrats on your success, it is very encouraging to see former colleagues with a rightful case AND a backbone, all the best with your new employer!
I'm only guessing, but for what it is worth...
Say for example, there was one job position and there were five applicants of whom three were suitable. They would offer the job to the most suitable first. If that applicant declined due to salary, they woud then offer the job to the next most suitable and so on. If none of the suitable applicants take up the offer, then they might increase the salary and start the offer process again or they might re-advertise for new applicants or they might lower the standards required to include the previously unsuitable applicants.
Depending on the variables, this could take some time...
You could make it easy for them and yourself by telling them your minimum acceptable salary. And be prepared to walk away if they don't come to the party. The job is only worth having if the rewards outweigh the pain.
Good luck!
Say for example, there was one job position and there were five applicants of whom three were suitable. They would offer the job to the most suitable first. If that applicant declined due to salary, they woud then offer the job to the next most suitable and so on. If none of the suitable applicants take up the offer, then they might increase the salary and start the offer process again or they might re-advertise for new applicants or they might lower the standards required to include the previously unsuitable applicants.
Depending on the variables, this could take some time...
You could make it easy for them and yourself by telling them your minimum acceptable salary. And be prepared to walk away if they don't come to the party. The job is only worth having if the rewards outweigh the pain.
Good luck!
I wrote the above to Barbara30 in March. She didn’t write back so we don’t know how her hubby got on, but there may be some relevance to your situation.
Lets start with the premise, "It’s all fair game in the Colonies old chap". The HR Director cuts your joining pay by say $2000. He gets half in his bonus, the company gets half and you get a job. The next applicant is offered $2000 lower again than the amount offered to you. The HR Director gets half, the company gets half and this applicant also gets a job. Then the next applicant is offered another $2000 less…you get the drift.
If you think I am being cynical; consider that in the SARS year the Directors forced everyone to take unpaid leave for a month to "ensure the company’s survival". In the end the company made a huge profit for the year. Normally in a year of huge profits, a 13th month bonus would be paid to all. But at the end of that year the company refunded the unpaid months leave in leiu of paying the 13th month (ie the workers got 12 months pay but no 13th month).
Oh I nearly forgot. Did the Directors suffer likewise, Not on your nelly! The Directors instead of being out of pocket for the SARS year rewarded themselves with a 15% INCREASE in bonuses over the previous year. This was funded from the savings taken from the employees. You can be angry about this or take it as par for the course in this neck of the woods.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=170650
What it boils down to is what is the job worth to you. You may be paid more or less than your colleague but this should not be a factor in your thought process. What’s put into your friend’s bank account has no relevance to what’s put into your bank a/c. Work out what you want as a minimum. Negotiate with CX as to what you personally require for compensation and if they don’t meet your bottom line, walk away from a bad deal.
They are refusing to budge on their offer. I suspect my relative lack of experience maybe a contributing factor.
