Korean Job Discussion Forums

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

Yet another hagwon tale of misery. I have three days left on my contract. My boss is trying to take out full taxes and pension despite the fact that I am only working a half month. She's also refusing to pay me for January 1st despite the fact that it clearly states in my contract that I am supposed to get paid for them. She also calculated my pay by taking my salary and dividing it by 31 (the number of days in January). I told her that was unacceptable but she won't budge.

I don't know what to do. She's trying to cheat me out of almost 500,00 won. WTF? I wanted to ask this women for a reference being that I have been a model employee. I don't complain. I don't get complaints. I've never called out sick. She gives me excellent reviews. But she still has to try to *beep* me out of 500 bucks?

I thought about going in and refusing to teach today but she still has this whole months pay to give me.

What would you do?

babtangee · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

How many foreign teachers in your school? How many students? Depending, I would probably sit in the teachers office and refuse to teach.

"But you must teach!"

"But you mustn't rob me."

prairieboy · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Location: The batcave.

For the pension, there's nothing you can do about it. It's Korean law that if you work any amount of time during the month the entire deduction has to be made. She must also make a matching payment. Same goes for NHIC health insurance.

But the taxes, unacceptable, it's a variable rate and the full deduction does not have to be made (whenever I've taken a vacation and not worked my full hours for the month I pay reduced taxes). But here again you might not be able to do much since you can file a tax return and get a refund of the overpayment...still it's a stupid thing for her to take the full amount of withholding tax on a reduced payment.

As for your pay, you must have an hours clause in your contract stating the minimum hours that must be worked to get your full monthly salary. There must also be some clause to calculate a day rate or hourly rate so you are paid for the time you work and those days you didn't work because of a national holiday or weekend are excluded. Refer to your contract first.

If all else fails then call the Labour Board ASAP. Dial 1350 and I believe #7 for an English speaker.

Hope all works out.

Cheers

Ramones · Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Location: In Hell in my own mind...

I tried to get all the FTs to band together at an English Mill I worked at in China.

I proposed we all called in sick for one or two days in a row to send a message to the idiots that ran the mill.

Bunch of spineless a**holes so afraid they might lose their jobs! 3 Canadians, 1 South Afriacan, I Brit.

I was disgusted that I had to work with these cowards - especially the Canadians.

Complain and complain but never had the ball*s to do a damn thing for themselves.

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

I understand I have to pay some pension, health, taxes etc. But it's a percentage of your income. Why am I paying the full amount?

Can I call that number from a payphone? It's just four numbers? That's it? I already gave my phone away.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

my hagwon used the same method to calculate my pay (/31). It worked for me since they did it at the beginning and the end of my contract, I knew I was getting my full month; though in a very roundabout way.

wire · Joined: 01 Aug 2006

Don't you work for MK, seoulsista?

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Seems to me if the boss doesn't want to pay for your work then...don't work!

seoulsista · Joined: 31 Aug 2005

Well, I spoke to the foreign manager at the head office of my hagwon and he spoke to my boss. It was all just a "misunderstanding." Rolling Eyes

She's claiming that she wasn't refusing to pay but that she was waiting on clarification from head office. Not the story she gave me last night but now it seems she's going to pay me for the holiday and we are still working on the taxes/pension issue.

I don't want to name the company.

Thanks for eveyone who responded. I just hate the fact that she would try to not pay me for something that is so obviously black and white. It seems like Koreans don't mind burning bridges. This was the case with my last employer.

I always try to keep on the best possible footing with every employer. Why make someone walk away with a bad taste in their mouth? It just doesn't make sense.

lover.asian · Joined: 30 Jan 2006

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

gmat · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Stop arguing about the pension, this is a benefit to you (if employer is matching).

Also why are you making a big deal about the health insurance, you will be covered for the month of January and it's should be around 50,000 for the month. Not a big deal.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Whatever you do, always make it look like you know the Korean law, even if you're bluffing. This will help give you the upper hand and make them more fearful of losing face.

Yeah, it's ridiculous how they'll burn bridges and toss good will aside over a few hundred thousand won.

Have fun in SE Asia. The weather's great down here.

Young FRANKenstein