Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mountain goat]

I am currently working in a public school. I was told by the recruiter that I would get 2.2million won because I have 2 years english teaching experience. I came over with my husband who has a year and 6 months experience and a TFL certificate and he was told the same. We sent through all the original certificates as proof. We found out only after we had been given our first pay slip that we are both only being paid 2 million. The thing is the contract we signed didnt have the salary amount filled in, but when I had been told the salary I just presumed it would be filled in accordingly. Is this my fault for not making sure that the amount was actually on the contract? In any case I am furious!

I dont know how to raise this suject with the school, I have emailed the recruiter and am waiting for a reply. I would be very grateful on any advice on how I should proceed.

[ChuckECheese]

Is 2 million before or after the deductions?

You should have cleared it up with the school first and I doubt that your recruiter will respond and can do much about it. The public school pay scale is almost set in stone: Leve 1, 2, & 3 each with specific requirement and qualifications.

[rothkowitz]

You should be furious with yourself.

Sign it when the details are in black and white.

A verbal agreement?What's that?What can you point to?

I'm not trying to be snarky but that's the reality.A recruiter will tell you anything.They'll even tell the school stuff(eg being able to work a couple of hours extra a week for no pay,which I told the school no way,I didn't sign to that)

However,you certainly should find a copy of the pay-scale for whatever programme you're with and get it adjusted if it applies to you.

[babtangee]

You silly-billy (goat).

[lover.asian]

[mountain goat]

[lover.asian]

[buymybook]

Find the decision maker, contact them, don't let it go if you deserve it according to the rules.

Be polite, ask them why???

[mountain goat]

its a middle school but the contract is with gyeonngi-do board of education and not the actual school itself.

[spliff]

If it's in a rural area you should get 100,000 rural allowance on top of your pay, as well!

[Kimchieluver]

[spliff]

^That's what I figured...the OP won't get any more than that.

[rothkowitz]

The recruiter has their fee....so,I guess that's that.

[Sody]

Guys, no need to be hard on Mountain_Goat I can understand her situation because Koreans are so legalistic in all their dealings. In Canada, the verbal agreement would hold up in a court of law. I'm from Canada and I know this because I studied HR and employment law. Plus, in Canada most employers or recruiters would be able to speak English so there is less confusion.

Mountain_Goat, you weren't "stupid," or "naive," just unwise or ignorant of the way things are done in Korea and the public school system. In other countries, someone's word is a good enough, but not here in Korea. I work for GEPIK and the teachers simply follow the rules set forth by the Gyeonggi BoE. They are very legalistic in following contracts and very robot like in many ways. Let this be a lesson to you, nothing is completely bad if you learn from it

Regarding your plight, if I were you I would bring this up with the school and the recruiter. Tell them you specifically agreed to the job based on a specific salary. You agreed to 2.2 mil and you also expect 100K rural bonus each month. Tell them you are upset about it. Tell them you aren't interested in working for people who are dishonest. Even if you don't get your agreed upon salary you will set the standard for future problems should they arise. You don't want to start this job feeling like you are in conflict, that is a bad way to start a relationship. BoL.

Sody

[spliff]