Honestly, this is standard for nearly every training center in China. I'd be very surprised to find out you received any bonuses and whatever money was owed to you the day your plane departed.

As a standard rule, the manager and payroll person expect this, count on it, its standard operating procedure and they will always find out the departure dates of the teachers and do anything to delay any final payments. Including just saying "Oh, because its the last pay we must wait" (zero reason, just say it) and then delay it because of the holiday. (any holiday) and then because the payroll person is sick/on holidays.

If it's a recruitment bonus.. uh no.. heh... no no, that has to go through processing for a long long time. They have to finalize the work visas and so on. They can delay that 3 or 4 months. "Same for everyone" (said just to say it).

IF they are really unable to delay the last pay entirely.. they might have to pay out half. Then say it was an error. Then its because of the departure so it pays..because of pay periods.. and processing papers.. and (made up things). So they keep half your pay.

But yes, this is basically a standard. It's not your school. I don't think I've ever heard of any exceptions. I've only heard this story and its a kind of tax. The manager most definitely has you listed as paid and then takes the cash for themselves (owner, manager, payroll, whoever splits the cash up). Its like a tax on you. Its expected.

Some schools have managers who make a sweet little living doing this. The school exists on people departing back to the West. Think about this.. if they have 3 or 5 leave that could be who knows.. 100,000 RMB for them! I've seen schools where that is nearly THE BUSINESS itself. The actual school part is the 2nd income.

The only defense is 1) NEVER tell them your departure and if you don't want to outright lie and say it will be 2 months later (insist you will stay in the city that long after) then just say NOTHING or say you'll be leaving shortly after your last pay is finalized.