Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rios · Joined: 05 Aug 2006

I just got the ok from the board of education to take my vacation from august 2nd - august 10. However, I was also told today that I will be working a summer camp at a university from August 13 � August 17 and that I have to stay over. On top of that, August 15 is a national holiday and although there is no work that day, the board of education wants me to stay at the university!

I immediately told my teacher that I refuse to stay overnight at the university on August 15 (national holiday). Her response was a blank stare.

This is the first time I have been asked to work at a camp that required me to stay overnight so I am quite not sure how to handle this situation.

On a different post, someone mentioned that I should get paid for having to stay over at the university but I am not sure about this.

Anyways, any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

-Rios

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

Were they saying you could stay or have to stay? If the camp
is in a larger city maybe they thought they were doing you a favor
by letting you stay over. Maybe they expect you to do something
social with them. Did you have special plans for that day?

It's of course up to you how you want to play it. I would just
keep asking about the schedule without mentioning that specific day
and say I don't understand. If it's obvious there is no reason
to stay that day then just skip out. If they say anything then
you can always say you didn't understand.

dogshed · Joined: 28 Apr 2006

How far is the camp from your home? Is it worth going home each night?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Rios · Joined: 05 Aug 2006

My head English teacher specifically said that I have to stay overnight at the university for the ENTIRE week including August 15 (national holiday)!

My head English teacher stated to me that the university that is hosting the summer camp is near my current city. However, when I asked my Hapkido teacher today how far the university is from my current city, he said it is around 45 minutes or more by bus.

As far as doing something social with my co-workers or students on my own free time especially on a national holiday (I�m assuming most people will be enjoying themselves with their families) I don�t think so.

Do I have special plans for August 15th? Yeah, my head English teacher asked me this question. My response was that it does not matter whether I have special plans or not� August 15 is a national holiday.

I would like to see my head English teacher and the rest of the Board of Education spend their national holiday at some university even though there is no work and absolutely nothing to do.

Ttompatz, I definitely like your response. I mean you are right. My work contract states that I work the standard working hours of the school.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I will not get paid for working the 1 week summer camp at the university. Instead, I will be working 8 hours a day for the entire week except August 15 (national holiday) but I will still have to stay overnight at the university.

My head English teacher mumbled something about getting paid overtime if the camp exceeded 8 working hours per day but even then, I am still not happy with this.

I mean being required to work a 40-hour week long camp for no pay and being required to stay overnight for the entire week including August 15 (national holiday), man this is starting to sound more and more ridiculous as I type this out!

Ttompatz, I�m going to share my thoughts with my head English teacher and simply stick to my guns. Like you said, this camp is outside of my contract.

Thanks for the advice!

-Rios

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

Your contract should say how many hours of camp you are to teach. 40 hours is on mine. 4 hours a day for two weeks or 8 hours a day for one.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

It sounds like they've already commited you for this workshop. If you pullout now they will certainly lose face and you will ultimatly be blamed.
The reason why you have to stay overnight is practical. They assumed that it would be more convenient for you as the other poster said they genuinly thought they were doing you a favor.

Since they are making you stay for one pubic holiday you have the right according tp your contract take that day off.

hugo_danner · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Location: korea

I have 2 summer camps back to back! The last 2 weeks of July! I was informed of it last week, and I'd already bought airline tickets!

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

I wouldn't worry about it then.

Go on holiday

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

or get the OT rate for the other 16hours a day outside of the 8hours per contract day. What is that, 20,000W/hour*16=320,000 a DAY?
Hm...I'd be tempted to sleep at the school if they paid me OT for all the time I'd spend at the school.

Rios · Joined: 05 Aug 2006

My contract doesn�t state how many hours I am supposed to work for summer camp. All I know from my contract is that I have to work.

My problem is not only having to stay overnight everyday for the week long vacation (August 13- August 17) but my head English teacher stated that I have to stay over on August 15 (Korean National Holiday).

So when every Korean is enjoying their holiday with their family and friends I have to stay at the university even though there is no work.

I can�t believe when I complained to my head English teacher about having to stay at the university on August 15, she had the nerve to ask me if I have special plans for that day.

Personally, these people are ignorant and can careless about their foreign teacher.

I�m definitely glad my contract is up in October.

-Rios

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction