Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

Just for the purposes of discussion, not alluding to any particular female of a northern persuasion, I am wondering what advice other experienced people would advise.

My male co-worker and I are confronted with the following situation: Our female co-worker was hired solely on the basis of her being a female. I'm sure you know that game. Our boss, a typically incompetent sort, hired because he has a friend who is a friend of the owner, has suddenly decided she is the Almighty's gift to English education in Korea. Last week during her orientation, my male co-worker and I had to sit through a long, long dissertation of her impression of Korean society. (We have both been her longer than her.)

Now, she and the boss have formed a coalition and have, overnight, restructured the school to suit her needs. (Her needs: fewer classes for her-more for us. Easier classes.)

Any constructive suggestions? We have already considered the W50,000 broken leg deal from the Korean Mafia.

PS: This chick is the classic passive-aggressive sort who arrogated to herself the right to critique our teaching style. (She gave her own students a 20 minute break to re-write her class notes on the whiteboard when the notes were accidentally erased.)

[gang ah jee]

have you thought about engineering a scandal? I don't condone such skullduggery myself, but...

[captain kirk]

i would suggest that, when at work, you drop everything you're doing, all that you may be holding, and prostrate yourself murmuring that she 'walks on silver slippers like a diva of the air'. after you get up, and she has passed with a smile, feeling better about herself, you will feel fantastic for unloading the foul impression you have harboured against this lovely nymph and flawless diamond. remember, 'by hating others you only love yourself less'. so cheer up, and why not become interested in the things she's interested in. let's say she's interested in making guys feel insignificant, well, read up on that. learn to be a real 'bitch'. such a period of study and absorption will help you understand your 'enemy'. but believe me, by the time you immerse yourself in her wiles, you'll be a puppy on her leash, but with fewer classes, and the easiest classes too! who gives a damn about your friend, the other teacher who's been there awhile. she has already probably planned his demise with your boss. get smart, and get shorty! by chusok you will both be on vacation with each other on a beach in thailand!

[Dan]

i'd go direct to the boss with your male co worker and try to have an open dialogue with everyone involved. after all when it comes right down to it, you are more important than she, since you do more of the work.

[Tiger Beer]

I like to use humor.. try to be friendly to both the boss and the new co-worker.. show that you genuinely have interest in both of them, etc..

could be the girl is new and trying to please her boss.. and at the same time the boss for whatever reason likes her new-ness.. so they are kind of kissing kissing around each other.. and completely unaware of it themselves..

mainly i'd just keeps things light..definetely don't put yourself into the 'dark side' too quickly..

ultimately humor is going to get you places.. do something creative.. make some diagram showing class hours worked this month.. make a funny reference out of humor.. place it on the desk.. and say 'no wonder i'm tired.. *yawn*.. looks like i'm the workaholic of the month again this month' type things.. chances are they aren't even aware of what they are doing.. and when they are.. things will probably change..

if you get too confrontational and in-your-face without diplomatic means.. well.. unfortunately it might just look you bad.. and make things slightly resolved but put you in a slighly less desireable place.. if you know what i mean?

[kojangee]

I was in a similar situation.

The new teacher come in, and BAM she gets less hours but same pay.

And the schedule is molded to fit her needs.

I just found a new job.

[Crazy Oz]

Just had a similar experience with a new Korean Head teacher (I'm the sole foreigner). Came in like a whirlwind, changed rooms, offices, timetables, the damn lot....not once but three or four times so far. Guess who got the extra classes? Yep, right, me. I had a brief discussion with the boss and explained the situation, but without a great deal of success. But as I only renewed for a 2 month term until they get a new teacher, I really don't give a rats what transpires.
Low and behold yesterday she got burned by the boss......why? Apparently she has been taking students off him, that is, from his other general studies hakwon (it has English included). Man he was pissed at her. On my way out I got the deathstare from her, as if I had orchestrated her BBQ!
Anyway I don't like her, she doesn't like me.... a mutual, at first sight thing, but we still have to work together, so we do so without any hassles.
I guess what I am saying in a roundabout fashion is that sooner or later the perfect universe will implode on someone like that, and without any help from you. Sort of like an instant karma. Do you job, do it well and there can be no comeback on you, as this person will seal their own fate.



Still crazy, still here.

[Harvard Material]

Crazy Oz, I think, offered the best advice. I worked at a *&#%-hole, for a year, where SOME of the staff received health insurance. SOME of the staff were given cash in private meetings, no doubt to grease the lips for info. SOME of the the staff had days off - with pay - when they cared for a rest...two teachers were paid an additional 500,000won a month because they had blue eyes and blonde hair! These two had the best shifts, received major pay and holiday incentives - diplomatic immunity really - for performing the same tasks that were required from all of the staff. My sympathy went to the Korean staff actually.
Crazy Oz is on the ball. Do your own job, grit your teeth for a while, and realise you aren't like Miss. Brownnose. Sometimes it is better to give than receive...if not for anyone else, for yourself! I would like the extra days off (and pay), but not if I have to be a back-stabbing co-worker. I don't have that kind of personality...

Peace...

[Tiger Beer]

[itchy]

-=-=-

[Tiger Beer]

[Captain Obvious 2.0]

Welcome to the world of salary people. Oh boo hoo, someone works less than you but gets the same pay.

Are we all suddenly socialists?

Wait, wait. Aren't we the same people who work less than Korean teachers AND get paid more?

[Tiger Beer]

[ExpatriateJoe]

[Tiger Beer]

I'm reading the above comments.. and while the blue-eyed blond San Francisco teacher was definetely overstepping his boundaries. Soju for breakfast everyday? This step is a bit much. So why wasn't this person fired? I don't see how he could function on a daily basis with soju for breakfast? Hmm... anyhow, no school or management or students should accept any of his behavior.. and I'm surprised you'd accept the school for accepting his behavior either.

Two thrown-in additional comments kind of annoy me though..

2) You HATE Americans? Whats that have to do with anything?

3) You HATE people who TRAVEL? I know alot of GREAT teachers who also LOVE to travel. Just because they love to travel doesn't make them a horrible scum of the earth teacher?

I think on this last hatred you are picking this up from reading too many Thailand threads.. mainly, because I've yet to meet an English Teacher who comes to Korea as a backpacker. Usually they are recruited off some college campus off in the middle of nowhere.. never been anywhere else in their life before.. this is the first time they've been abroad.. and they spend a year struggling to come to terms with the place.. trying to figure out how to teach.. and meanwhile the whole time dreaming of teaching in another country 'more better' than here..

But anyhow, I do agree that the SoJu-for-breakfast-drinker shouldn't be tolerated.. nor should you have tolerated the school for tolerating it..