Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevehend]

Was having a nice out tonight with my co teacher and another Korean colleague, givin some free gratis English help to them..they are nice. Now whether my co teacher was lookin for the right moment to break it to me I don't know, but she said...you have 7 days vacation in winter and 7 in Summer. I am at a Public School in Masan. My contract states 14 days in both winter and summer. I told her so and said "no way". She blamed the recruiter and said they had made a mistake with the contract. I explained that the "mistake" was beside the point and that a contract is a contract and the leave was part of the attraction of a Public school. She said it is the Masan Education Office who are insisting the leave is changed so I have said I want to speak to their Native English Teacher official. We have left it there till Monday (I am in another school tomorrow)

My question is: what happens next if there is a standoff between me and the education Dept, what are my options? Can I enforce it through the Labor Board. I have no quarrel with the school (well, I don't think so anyway) and don't want to queer the pitch with them but at the same time there is a fundamental principle involved here. Can anyone advise?

Thanks

Steve

[butlerian]

Fight for it. You'll get it in the end.

[stevehend]

Cheers. They leave me no choice..but what if they won't budge?

[nautilus]

[ttompatz]

[sock]

Or you could just not mention it again until it's time for you to take your vacation. Let them know that you'll be gone for the full 14 days but will be back on whatever date.

If they throw a fit, point to your contract. Let them decide if they want to fire you and give you an extra month of paid vacation (and scramble to find another teacher), or if they can manage to live without you for an extra 7 days.

Either way, I'd just calmly let them know when I am taking vacation and when I'll be back. They can choose however they want to react--rant and rave, have a tantrum, protest, or smile and wish me well--I wouldn't let it change anything about my vacation.

PS it really doesn't matter what your co-teacher says. She/He has nothing to do with the contract--they didn't sign it and they aren't able to enforce it. I realize they're probably just acting as the go-between here, but don't get too worked up about anything your co-workers say. Half the time they don't know what they're talking about and the other half of the time whatever the "policy" is changes on a daily basis anyway. Gotta love Korea!

[ChuckECheese]

OP, stick to your guns. If your contract says 14 days in summer and 14 days in winter, they can't change it.

Vacation days are sacred. Let them know that they can not mess with your vacation day by staying firm. Submit your vacation plans now for the summer and winter and get it signed and approved by the school official now if you can.

Good luck.

[poet13]

You've got a pretty sweet public school contract if it says 14 days in BOTH winter and summer. From what I've heard, most are 14 days, 7 summer, 7 winter.
I'm sure you've read it more than once, but just for kicks, can you read it again and confirm that the language isn't ambiguous?
Maybe something like, "...14 days to be taken in the summer and the winter..."?

If it is 28 total, absolutely stick to your guns, and if the language isn't ambiguous, I would bet that labor (if it came to it) would support you.

[Bukowski]

Different bit of advice...though it might be too late (depending on how abrasive you were before).

When it comes up again, rather than talk about what the contract states, simply ask them to explain their situation. If they say it was a mistake, be understanding and let them know that we all make mistakes. As you are not unreasonable, let them adjust your contract to 7 days in the summer (when you recontract you get 14 calendar days added to that). However, do not sign anything.

When the time comes for your vacation, take your original 14 days plus the 14 calendar days. Upon your return, explain that you made a mistake.

A big part of Korea can be about perception, so let them have the perception that they are right and turn around and do what you like. It is much better than having a conflict.

However, if you insist on pointing to the contract, you might back yourself into a corner. In that event, before Monday, prepare a letter of resignation dated for Monday the 26h of March. Have 2 copies ready, signed, etc.

You can come to Chungnam Province at any time (we have positions that need to be filled). We offer better conditions than Masan. We have higher salaries and our vacation is officially 20 days (better than the standard government 14), and we typically get more.

Good luck,
AC

[ChuckECheese]

[Bukowski]

[ChuckECheese]

[techno_the_cat]

They tried the same thing on us. We fought it. They tried to tell us the recruiters were telling us pokie pies, then claimed that it was now Korean law, but in the end they caved.
Then they tried it on us again for the winter vacation. Threatened to dock pay if we took the two weeks, tried the old line "but it is the law".
Again they caved. Strangly enough when they offered us new contracts "one month paid vacation: two weeks in summer, two weeks in winter" was still being offered.

[inverse_narcissus]

OP, I'd love to find out who your recruiter is! I'm in a public school in Masan and I get 10 days in summer and 10 days in winter (to be taken during the recess, when everyone else is also on holdiays.)

[lover.asian]

If you foolishly agreed to a penalty clause (housing deposit), expect it to be used to intimidate you.

The fact of the matter is you signed a contract and the school is trying to break the contract. Don't give an inch. Tell them you will do whatever is necessary to enforce the contract they signed.

This is yet another lesson for those of you who think public schools will never try to cheat you.