Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Happamitta]

So the other day I asked for details about the plane ticket I'd get come February when my contract is ending, and my co-teacher mentioned how it didn't say anything about a plane ticket in the contract. Stunned, I looked over my nearly-year old contract and it turns out he's right - there is no mention of a school-provided plane ticket in there whatsoever. Why I would ever have signed such a contract is beyond me (though I think there was a verbal agreement about the plane ticket at the 2nd interview I had with the school), but nevertheless it's there, or rather, isn't there, in black-and-white.

Am I without a legal leg to stand on to request that the school purchase a plane ticket for me to return to the US? Initially no ticket was needed when I was hired, as I was already in Korea, and have a F4 visa (so no Visa run required). I'm under the impression that it's pretty standard for public schools to offer a round-trip-ticket to its foreign language teachers. Anyone have a clue?

[antoniothegreat]

you can try the morals, and tell them they said it in the interview, but if it is not in your contract, you cant legally force them to do it.

one suggestion though, boycott working until they agree and PAY for it. how much time do you have left? if it is a while, you can do some damage by not working.

[Squid]

I had a similar problem with Daewoo shipbuilding a while ago.

At the interview a verbal agreement was made to reimburse me a short contract severance amount.

At the end of the contract they tried to welch, saying "it's not in the contract"

I politely told them i would hate to have to pursue any remedial course of action with the labor board or through the courts.

They offered me a round-trip plane ticket home in lieu, which i accepted.

Be polite, but send them the firm message that you're not going anywhere and are prepared to have them on. It should get you a settlement.

Good luck.

[passport220]

First off I think antoniothegreat�s idea to boycott is incredibly immature. I don�t know if it is a fact but I have read on this forum that a plane ticket is required as part of the severance package required by law.

If it is not required by law, then approach the problem as a professional. It could be the �powers that be� where looking to solve a real budget need and never wanted to pay for the plane ticket for the native speaker. The person who mentioned the flight may not have been in the loop. An unfortunate but honest mistake.

You can first make a firm, professional and polite request in writing for the ticket detailing as much as you can about the discussion of the ticket during the interview. If they decline your request, than propose a solution to the conflict such as a 50/50 share. If they still do not agree just understand this is what you finally agreed to and pay for it yourself.

[Happamitta]

I just typed up and will be submitting the following letter to the administrative office - hopefully it will be received well.

December 30, 2006
Dear Principal and all affiliated parties:

I�m writing, as a foreign language teacher hired last year, to humbly request that the school provide airfare for my return home to the United States. At the time of my initial hiring, I was under the impression that a plane ticket would, without question, be offered to me at the end of my contract. The ad that I responded to outlining the job here as English teacher clearly stated that airfare was to be included. Later on at my first interview, when I asked about the airfare again I was told that it would be given, no problem.

However, recently upon checking the contract that I signed with the school a year ago, it came to my surprise that no mention of providing a plane ticket at the terminus of the contract could be found.
I believe this must have been an oversight on the part of the contract drawers, as well as an oversight on my part for not having noticed the lack of an airfare reimbursement clause.

I am aware that the administrative staff considers the written words of the contract as exact and binding and limited to only what is included. This is why I am requesting that the school make a gesture of generosity and provide what should have been included in the written document of the contract in the first place.

Currently it is standard by Kyonggi-Do regulations for schools that hire native English speakers to provide round-trip airfare upon completion of a year�s contract. In my case, no initial ticket was necessary as I was already in South Korea. So I�m not even asking for a round-trip ticket. A one-way ticket would more than suffice.

I don�t believe what I am asking for is unfair, nor would it be a huge burden to the school. I only want what I was verbally promised; what any and every native English speaker in South Korea is entitled to after successfully completing a year�s worth of work at a Kyonggi-Do public school.

I have immensely enjoyed my time here at < >High School, and so far have not had any conflicting issues arise besides the one mentioned here. I pray that the school continue to honor the spirit of our working agreement and step forward generously by addressing this issue.

Yours Sincerely,

[kprrok]

I remember reading a year or so ago on the immi website that a requirement for sponsoring someone on an E-2 is a plane ticket home at the completion of the VISA. Of course, that may not be true anymore but you should look at immi's website and see fi it is still there. If so, it doesn't matter what's in or not in the contract.

KPRROK

[ttompatz]

[buster brown]

TTom and KPR, I've searched around immi's English website but can't locate the requirements for E-2 sponsorship. Can you back up the assertion that a return plane ticket is required of the sponsor? I'd like to be able to cite it in future negotiations.

[buster brown]

Happa, any word on how your letter was received?