Hess Teacher Benefits
Remuneration
Hess Native English Speaking Teachers are paid between NT$580 - NT$750/hour. The starting pay rate is normally NT$580/hour. Teachers are only paid for teaching time and time spent grading homework; while time spent preparing lessons is unpaid. However, for teaching most classes you are given two hours' pay for 100 or 110 minutes of teaching time. Furthermore, lesson preparation and grading can be completed quickly when you become familiar with Hess materials.
Guaranteed Hours
During your first month, we try and ease you into teaching by gradually increasing your workload. After that, we guarantee a minimum number of hours. Our elementary / junior high contract guarantees 20 hours per week of teaching, averaged over the month. Our preschool / elementary / junior high contract guarantees 25 hours per week.
Raises
Annually, teachers are appraised and given raises. Raises apply to your hourly pay rate up to NT$40/hour, depending on performance. The ceiling pay rate of NT$750 per hour.
Student Return-Rate Bonuses
Every time a class advances level, if more than 90% of the students return, teachers receive a scaled bonus. The amount of bonus varies between courses, and the maximum is NT$50,000 per year. On average, most teachers earn an extra NT$25,000 per year (or the equivalent of return airfare home) from this bonus.
Interest-Free Setup Loan
Hess branches offer an optional interest-free startup loan to help new teachers get comfortable. The maximum amount is NT$30,000. You may take up to six months to pay this back. Most teachers use this loan to help them set up their new apartment.
Assistance Learning Mandarin
Mandarin isn't a prerequisite, but it's certainly helpful. We can help arrange small Mandarin group classes for new Hess teachers, if requested. In addition, we provide a pocket-sized 'Mandarin Survival Guide' booklet and accompanying 3 CD audio set so you can easily carry a convenient reference around with you, or begin to learn Mandarin on the go.
Ongoing Support
Each school has a Head Native Speaking Teacher or Area Manager who will help new teachers find accommodation that suits their needs. They will provide ongoing professional and living support during the challenging initial period and beyond.
Almost all classes have a Taiwanese co-teacher who teaches every other lesson or, for kindergarten, the matching Mandarin curriculum. These teaching partners will also be in the class while you teach to provide support and assistance.
We also provide the Hess Taiwan Adventure Guide, a pocket-sized booklet similar to a travel guide, but specifically catering to the needs of those living and working in Taiwan.
TEFL Certification Training Program
Our training program prepares teachers for the classroom and provides ongoing professional development. Teachers earn a 120 TEFL certificate after successfully completing Hess' initial and follow-up training and their first year of practicum teaching. It is offered free of charge and is required for all new hires.
Vacation, Sick Leave and National Holidays
You may take 14 working days vacation each year. In addition, schools (including Hess) close on six to eight days of national holidays during the year. Christmas is not a national holiday in Taiwan, but all foreign teachers are allowed this day off as an extra vacation day. Taking up to seven sick days is acceptable. All days away from teaching are unpaid.
Contract Renewal Extended Leave
Teachers who renew their contract after their first year may choose to take up to one extra one-month of leave each year in addition to vacation leave and other leave that is outlined above.
Renewed Contract Completion Bonus
If a teacher has done well in their first year and accepts a contract renewal offer, they are entitled to a Renewed Contract Completion Bonus. The first Renewed Contract Comptetion Bonus is NT$15,000, the second NT$20,000, and NT$30,000 for each new contract signed thereafter. The bonus is paid in the last month of the renewed contract.
National Health Insurance
After receiving your Hess-sponsored Taiwan Resident Visa, we will apply for your National Health Insurance Card. This costs you typically NT$300-500 a month (depending on income and area) which is automatically deducted from your salary. (Hess and the government pay 70% and the employee pay 30%) The net effect is you get extremely cheap access to Taiwan's well-equipped health system, including full hospital coverage, dental work and TCM - Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Tax
The National Taiwanese Income Tax Withholding Rate is 20% for your first 183 days of a calendar year in Taiwan, and it drops to 6% thereafter. The tax regulations for Taiwan can be seen at the National Tax Administration website.
Teachers are eligible to file their annual income taxes during the tax-filing season from March 1 to May 31, and must also complete departure filing when they finish their employment term and depart from Taiwan.