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chaz47

Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:20 am Post subject: Given the contract at the interview, and then some more... |
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I am leaving my Youngdo job soon. I just had my first interview at a new school. It's teaching adults on a pretty easy split-shift... no later than 9pm, no earlier than 7am, and try to be there a half hour early.
Sometimes the classes may start later, sometimes they may end earlier. Never later than 9pm or earlier than 7am.
On the surface it seems like a pretty OK gig.
I have a few concerns though.
They claim that I don't have to pay pension. It also seems that they are going to squeak by on the medical and will cover me when and if the need arises.
It does say on my contract that they will deduct 3.3% national tax.
It also says that if I leave they want 45 days notice.
They are providing me with 300,000 for a visa run (this is from Busan).
Pay is 2.45 million including a 300,000 housing allowance. They claim that the housing allowance is not taxable.
It sounds as if I will be able to do whatever I want. It's adults ( I hope I already mentioned that ) in fairly small classes, usually not more than eight. I have been itching for some freedom in the curriculuum development department so this part sounds very good.
All in all I am a little nervous. I told them that I am leaving my current position within about a month of starting. I told them honestly why I was unhappy and they seemed to understand. It just seems odd that they offered me the contract right away like this.
They wanted me to let them know in a week if I would take it, I said two... we compromised at 10 days.
Any input?
It seems like a small little school, nice people... but that can change too.
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MantisBot
Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Location: Itaewon, Seoul, SK
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:25 am Post subject: Re: Given the contract at the interview, and then some more. |
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chaz47 wrote: |
I am leaving my Youngdo job soon. I just had my first interview at a new school. It's teaching adults on a pretty easy split-shift... no later than 9pm, no earlier than 7am, and try to be there a half hour early.
Sometimes the classes may start later, sometimes they may end earlier. Never later than 9pm or earlier than 7am.
On the surface it seems like a pretty OK gig.
I have a few concerns though.
They claim that I don't have to pay pension. It also seems that they are going to squeak by on the medical and will cover me when and if the need arises.
It does say on my contract that they will deduct 3.3% national tax.
It also says that if I leave they want 45 days notice.
They are providing me with 300,000 for a visa run (this is from Busan).
Pay is 2.45 million including a 300,000 housing allowance. They claim that the housing allowance is not taxable.
It sounds as if I will be able to do whatever I want. It's adults ( I hope I already mentioned that ) in fairly small classes, usually not more than eight. I have been itching for some freedom in the curriculuum development department so this part sounds very good.
All in all I am a little nervous. I told them that I am leaving my current position within about a month of starting. I told them honestly why I was unhappy and they seemed to understand. It just seems odd that they offered me the contract right away like this.
They wanted me to let them know in a week if I would take it, I said two... we compromised at 10 days.
Any input?
It seems like a small little school, nice people... but that can change too.
hahaha |
Unless the schedule is in your contract forget about it. Also, housing allowances are definitely taxable as it's considered part of your wage. Furthermore, you WANT the national medical insurance and pension. First off, the pension = a 4.5% pay raise that you collect when you leave the country. Second, the medical insurance will make sure that if you get ill or injured you will be taken care of immediately rather than waiting for the hagwon owner to get over there with whatever you can't scrounge together on your own. Also, what's to keep the hagwon from dropping you if you cost them too much money? Now, for the visa run, are they also covering your travel costs or are they just giving you 300,000 won? You'll have to stay overnight in Japan as well as get over there (and I don't think there's a Korean consulate on the Japanese side of the Busan ferry though I could be wrong) so I'm not sure that 300,000 won will cut it.
Oh, and the national tax for your bracket is somewhere between 1.8% and 2.2%, not 3.3%. The hagwon will be pocketing about $30 a month from your tax fees as they won't have to pay 3.3% to keep you covered.
With all of that said, the best people to talk to to find out what you're getting into are the current teachers at the school (and I do mean foreigners). If the school won't let you talk to anyone outside of work and away from their boss I wouldn't be so quick to run over. Be careful and really look into it before jumping ship. You don't want to hop from one crappy job to another possibly worse one. |
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babtangee
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Location: OMG! Charlie has me surrounded!
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:27 am Post subject: |
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2.45 including .3 housing ain't all that much. You already have the housing covered? I wouldn't rush into another gig too quick if I were you. I would never do split shifts again regardless of who I was - particularly not for 2.15 per month.
Good luck. |
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ChuckECheese

Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:51 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn't take it. You should have negotiate and asked for at least 2.8 mil (including housing allowance).
With some shady crap like (No insurance but paying income tax) that I would also ask them to pay me in advance each month and pay the severance a month before the end of your contract. If not, I wouldn't take the job.
And what about holidays and vacation? |
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Zoot

Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Location: Bundang
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:41 am Post subject: |
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I keep hearing that pension and health insurance are manditory. What's that all about? |
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babtangee
Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Location: OMG! Charlie has me surrounded!
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:35 am Post subject: |
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Zoot wrote: |
I keep hearing that pension and health insurance are manditory. What's that all about? |
Wacky Korean legalities. Don't worry, no one else keeps track of them.  |
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MantisBot
Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Location: Itaewon, Seoul, SK
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Zoot wrote: |
I keep hearing that pension and health insurance are manditory. What's that all about? |
Well, in January of 2006 the Korean government passed a law stating that any business which employed more than 5 people had to sign them up for the National Health Insurance and Pension plans. The employer is also required to provide at least 50% of the costs of these two plans (amounting to just under 7% of one's pay). Many hagwons will try to say that this isn't necessary, that them simply covering 50% of your medical fees is enough.
Trust me, it's not. If you get seriously ill or injured they'll just drop you without a second though and then you're left in a foreign country with no protection what-so-ever. Fight for the insurance and the pension, it's worth it. |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:40 am Post subject: |
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Are you young and invincible? If you are invincible you don't need health insurance, so let them brush it aside. If you are young you don't need Pension, because you are energetic and immortal (at the moment).
Seriously, employers putting their bit into the Pension Program is law. If they don't do it the Pension authorities, should they find out, would be seriously bent about it, as you should be! The Korean Gov't made the Pension Program for foreigners why? To protect us! An employer who wants to evade that law and steal from you, the future old man, how tacky is that, stealing someone's pension?!!!!!
By stealing I mean, obviously, not participating in the Pension Program. Such management figure they can make up their own rules simply to save themselves money! And cut into your safety net/profit put there BY LAW.
The health insurance, once set up, can ring bells that alert the Pension Program and summon them to ask the burning question, 'why is this boss not paying into the pension?'. Your sleazy, potential managers are probably aware of this. Don't let them rip you off from the start because you think someone else will grap the job. If they won't pay Pension and Medical, screw the job!!!! |
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chaz47

Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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captain kirk wrote: |
Don't let them rip you off from the start because you think someone else will grap the job. If they won't pay Pension and Medical, screw the job!!!! |
Yeah, I kinda felt this way about it too.
The staff does seem nice and I did meet another foreign teacher. He seemed happy but exhausted.... new baby, long commute, split-shift, etc.
My public school gig didn't do my medical or pension until I gave them my 30 days notice... ha.
So I had to fork over a ton of cash to them as I left... what a brilliant organization the Korean education system is. |
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chaz47

Joined: 11 Sep 2003
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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Now that they have offered me a contract do you think it would be worth trying to renegotiate?
My job search has yet to begin in earnest, but so far this school seems the best option.
I have Pagoda PIP, CDI, and a GnB semi-interested in me. I still have to do the full application/skills assessment for Pagoda's PIP and CDI. That was my goal this weekend, but with the backload of student essays I have to grade from my YES classes it just feels like a pain in the arse to start.
I am considering telling the first school that I'll take the position while I am waiting for a better gig. I hate to be dishonest, but they want 10 days notice for a job beginning 2 months from now. I would be understanding but there are a ton of potential hires locally... the need to fly someone in is just not there, so it feels like a pressure tactic for me to take their slightly shady contract.
How binding is the initial signing if I decide to back out? It seems like most of the places I have worked at always have me sign another identical contract once I start... so I wonder if the "offer" contract is just a formality... a written "maybe".
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