Night Shift Wage/Bonus: What to Expect?

[Nuwanor]

Hi everyone,

I may be getting a job next week, after I dazzle the boss during the interview with my handsome smile and firm handshake.

The catch is it's 100% night shift. In itself, this doesn't bother me at all. I am more concerned about the pay though.

What should I be expecting? Will they pay me more because it's at night? Does anyone know what the law says about this? (hoping it's more respected than the OT law). What sort of bargaining power do I have on that "night shift bonus"?

For info, it's a company with around 200 employees that services big (mainly foreign) firms. They have modern offices, and from their website and job ad I get the impression their treat their employees sort of decently (at least, they want us to think so).

Thanks for your input!

[urodacus]

Additional 50% over base pay.

Then make damned sure the base pay is reasonable...

[baberenglish]

So it isn't a convenience store, trading company or whore house?
This is Taiwan, you're bonus comes at Chinese New Year.
Great idea wanting a 50% increase!

[urodacus]

If you go for the larger annual bonus instead, get it in writing that it's at least four to six months salary, as everyone else will get at least one or two months salary as a bonus in February.

having you work at night must be important to them, make them show you just ow important you are (and that you know that fact) by rewarding you appropriately.

Just think: no parties, no dinners with friends, no going to see bands or shows or theatre or whatever, being stuck with only day time TV, having to deal with incessant inescapable noise and heat while you sleep, can't loo for a house or apartment at a time that suits you, can't get your car serviced, can't play in the sun at the beach with your kids or your girlfriend, and so on: how much is that worth to you?

[baberenglish]

If you go for the larger annual bonus instead, get it in writing that it's at least four to six months salary, as everyone else will get at least one or two months salary as a bonus in February.

You can put it in writing that you will get a few months bonus, but 6 months???That's a bit much considering you haven't even proved yourself. Have you ever done anything that is deserving of such a large bonus?? A large portion of bonuses are given based on performance merit, not sweet talking.
There are a lot of other fish in the sea.

[Belgian Pie]

it's a company with around 200 employees that services big (mainly foreign) firms. They have modern offices, and from their website and job ad I get the impression their treat their employees sort of decently (at least, they want us to think so).

Are you sure? What kind of service do they provide?

[Nuwanor]

I can't get too much in the details, but it's not something that requires me to be crazy qualified. It's mostly telemarketing and customer relationship management. Considering the customers are foreign-based, that's why the shift is at night. Since many of their customers are big firms, I guess they do need a foreigner who can understand their needs and who they can communicate with clearly. Knowing several foreign languages may be a skill not so easily replaceable though...

About the "treating the employees decently", you never truly know until you're one of them.

I did not know companies can delay the night bonus until the annual bonus. The resulting 6 months bonus wouldn't sound that crazy actually. If it is indeed 50% bonus for night shift, and all I do is night shifts, then I logically should get half a year of bonus (on top of the regular bonus everyone gets). This may psychologically feel "too much" for one shot to the employer (imagine giving an employee 8 months of bonus!!), and he/she may -consciously or not- decrease it to something more reasonable, than if I were to get my monthly bonus.

Also, the no-day-life aspect of that job doesn't bother me. I'm in the right time of my life to do this. I'll do this for now, but I sure won't do it later.

Anyway, so as urodacus indicated, it is an additional 50% over base pay? I will indeed try and make sure the base pay is "normal".

[Belgian Pie]

So you say that there is a company in Taiwan that does call center work? And Taiwanese staff that speaks several languages? like 200 staff? I knew that the Philippines and India are big in this, but Taiwan?

[tsukinodeynatsu]

Is it in Neihu and does it sell computer parts? If that's the case, I may have a very good friend who works there..

[CraigTPE]

Do Taiwanese companies provide pay premiums for night shifts?