Practical guides
China employment guides
for international employers.
Hiring, policies, contract renewals and employment exits. Practical decisions, supporting records and official legal sources.
Extended sick leave in China: medical treatment periods and employer decisions
Before ending China employment during extended sick leave, check the protected medical period, contract expiry, work capacity and supporting records.
Read the guide ↗Annual leave & exit payUnused annual leave pay on termination in China: an employer’s calculation guide
Calculate unused annual leave pay when China employment ends: service history, prorated days, the 300% rule and the records HR should retain.
Read the guide ↗Bonus disputesChina year-end bonus after termination: an employer’s review before withholding payment
Before withholding a China employee’s year-end bonus, review the pay promise, policy procedure, reason for departure, performance evidence and claim timing.
Read the guide ↗Foreign employee onboardingHiring a foreign employee in China: work-permit checks before day one
Check the employee’s status, work permission, residence documents and permitted role before a China start date, including the electronic work-permit record.
Read the guide ↗Negotiated exitsChina employment settlement agreements: an employer checklist
Before signing a China employee exit agreement, review consent, itemized payments, release limits, handover and the bilingual signing record.
Read the guide ↗Economic redundancyChina economic redundancy: the 20-person and 10% tests
Before a China workforce reduction, check the Article 41 headcount tests, statutory grounds, employee protections and consultation process.
Read the guide ↗Overtime disputesChina overtime claims: evidence employers should preserve
An evidence checklist for foreign employers facing China overtime claims: work instructions, attendance, approvals, payroll and retention.
Read the guide ↗Hiring in ChinaChina employment contract checklist for foreign employers
Identify the employer, agree the essential terms and build a signing process before a new hire starts work in China.
Read the guide ↗Probation & terminationTerminating an employee during probation in China
Probation is not an at-will period. Check the agreed dates, hiring conditions, evidence and legal ground before giving notice.
Read the guide ↗HR policiesCan a global employee handbook be used in China?
Translation alone is not enough. Review local terms, employee participation, communication and evidence of the version in force.
Read the guide ↗Contract renewalChina fixed-term contract renewal: the employer’s review
Check the full contract history, open-ended employment rights and the 2025 rules on extensions and continued work.
Read the guide ↗Confidentiality & non-competeChina non-compete agreements after the 2025 rules
Review access to confidential information, the proportionality of restrictions and the payment arrangements before enforcing a non-compete.
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