Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Chloe11]

I've been in discussions with a Hagwon regarding a position in Busan. Everything is pretty much to my liking. The contract is fairly standard, I've been in contact with the teacher whom I would be replacing, the director is very prompt in his responses to me via email (after a month of dealing with people whom aren't, this is rather nice) the location is decent, etc. The only thing that bugs a little is the following clause in the contract:

"Teachers will be required to attend some special events throughout the year (Workshops, graduation ceremony, etc.), which may fall on a Saturday. Teachers do not receive additional compensation for these days. "

I asked for further details and he said that this would happen maybe 3-4 times a year. The teacher I spoke to said it wasn't really a big deal. Is it? I don't feel that keen on some vague wording in a contract that could result in my being called on 1-2 Saturdays a month to do something that I'm not going to be paid for.

[some waygug-in]

If the teacher said it's only 3 -4 times a year then that's probably what it is.

If the rest of the job seems good, is this really that bad?

I've done it and so have others, nobody likes doing it... but it's not like they are making you work every weekend. For me, it involved a trip to Everland in Seoul and helping out for the Christmas/ Halloween parties.

Of course, you are justified in being concerned, with all the unscrupulous hagwan owners out there.

Just make sure that it really is only 3 or 4 times a year and doesn't suddenly turn into a Saturday class schedule every other week.

[spliff]

Not a big deal, IMHO.

[Chloe11]

Thank you for the responses. I'll probably discuss the matter with the director once more prior to faxing the contract back to him. This really is the only point that bothered me, so no, it's not that bad

I did a little research on the school itself; it seems to be a franchise, and has a bit of a reputation for requiring extra prep.

I think that I can handle the occasional Saturday event and extra prep, as long as everything else checks out.

I don't mean to come across as entitled, lazy, or what have you. The occasional Saturday for a school-related event is really not a huge deal to me at all. I just want to be really careful and make sure that I have all of my bases covered before signing up for a job so that I don't end up in a bad place

[Zark]

While I am not a huge fan of showing up at the work place on my days off - I do enjoy going to a graduation party and seeing my students feel like they have progressed. Adds a bit to job satisfaction.

You do have to be careful with these things though. Unfortunately they are a bit hard to negotiate well from a distance - and things often change when you arrive.

[Atavistic]

Could you get it written in that it's no more than 6 times a year? At my first school they wanted us to work Saturday for 8 weekends in a row to help drum up new business.

I refused.

[garykasparov]

"Teachers will be required to attend some special events throughout the year (Workshops, graduation ceremony, etc.), which may fall on a Saturday. Teachers do not receive additional compensation for these days. "

I asked for further details and he said that this would happen maybe 3-4 times a year. The teacher I spoke to said it wasn't really a big deal.

Three (3) workshops per year and get it written in the contract. "Some special evenst" clearly suggests that you'll attend more than a graduation ceremony. Ask them what special events they're talking about. Get it written in the contract.


"Teachers will be required to attend a graduation ceremony and two (2) workshops throughout the year which may fall on a Saturday. Teachers do not receive additional compensation for these days."

OR

"Teachers will be required to attend a graduation ceremony, EVENT #2, EVENT #3 (if needed) and than two (2) workshops throughout the year which may fall on a Saturday. Teachers do not receive additional compensation for these days."

Is the teacher you're really a Foreigner? Ask this teacher some tough questions.

Questions to ask a foreign teacher

( 1 ) Work hours:

( a ) When does your workday start?

( b ) When does your workday end?

( c ) How many hours of preparation do you work before the first class?

( d ) Does your employer force employees to work at other schools even if they don't have permission from Korean Immigration Officials? Yes = Red Flag

( e ) Does your employer provide you with time to take breaks during working hours that you can use freely? If so, then how long are the breaks? Pursuant to Korean Labor Laws, you're entitled to a break during working hours.

( f ) Does your employer count time spent teaching in class including preparation between classes as a "work hour?"

( 2 ) Wages:

( a ) Are you always paid on time? No = Red Flag

( b ) Does your employer pressure you or force you to give access to your bank account as well as your cash card? Yes = Red Flag

( c ) Does your employer pay you in cash or deposit your monthly salary into your Korean bank account? Cash = Red Flag

( d ) Does your employer provide you with pay receipts on payday stating the nature and amount of all deductions, taxes, and salary? No = Red Flag

( e ) Does your employer give you holiday bonuses that are deductions from your monthly salary for income taxes, pension or medical insurance? Yes = Red Flag

( f ) Does your employer deduct income taxes from your monthly salary according to the "Simplified Tax Withholding Table" or a fixed rate of 3.3%?

( 3 ) Overtime wages:

( a ) Does your employer force employees to work overtime hours? Yes = Red Flag

( b ) Does your employer pay you overtime wages or avoid paying them through creative book keeping? Avoid them with creative book keeping = Red Flag

( 4 ) Paid annual leave:

( a ) Does your employer make deductions from your monthly salary on or during days of paid annual leave? Yes = Red Flag

( b ) When do you use annual paid leave days?

( c ) How do you use annual paid leave days?

( 5 ) Korean National Holidays:

( a ) Does your employer make you work on Korean Nation Holidays?

( b ) Does your employer make deductions from your monthly salary during or on Korean National Holidays? Yes = Red Flag

( 6 ) National Health Insurance Plan:

( a ) Did your employer provide you with a health insurance card? If so, when did that happen? No = Red Flag

( b ) Does your employer respect your medical privacy? No = Red Flag

( 7 ) National Pension Plan:

( a ) Did your employer pay into pension? No = Red Flag

( 8 ) Is there anything you have to do not written in your labor contract?

( 9 ) Is the school in financial trouble? Yes = Do NOT work there

( 10 ) Paid sick days:

( a ) Does your employer let you take a paid sick day if you are unable to teach due to illness or injury?

( b ) Was it easy to take a paid sick day?

( c ) Did you have to make the paid sick day up later?

( d ) Did your employer make deductions from your monthly salary for the paid sick day you took off? Yes = Red Flag

( e ) Did another (native) teacher have to cover your class(es)?

( 11 ) Does your employer have a history of firing employees for the sole purpose of not providing severance pay, wages and a plane ticket home?

Yes = Do NOT work there

( 12 ) Does your employer have a history of being verbally or physically abusive? Yes = Do NOT work there

( 13 ) Does your employer have a history of "pocketing " deductions for taxes, pension and medical insurance? Yes = Do NOT work there

( 14 ) Housing & accomodations:

( a ) Did your employer provide you with the furnishings stated in your contract when you moved in? No = Red Flag

( b ) What were the overall conditions of your apartment including the furnishings when you moved in? Poor = Red Flag

( c ) Does your employer make deductions from your monthly salary for housing deposits provided you signed a labor contract without a housing deposit clause? Yes = Red Flag

( d ) Were all the utilities in your name or your bosses name?

( e ) Were all the utilities paid from the prior teacher before you moved in? If they were not, did you pay for them?

( f ) Does your employer walk into your apartment when you are in your apartment without your consent or do apartment searches when you are not in your apartment? Yes = Red Flag

( 15 ) Did you get your passport, degree and transcripts back after receiving a work visa from Korean Immigration Officials? No = Red Flag

( 16 ) What were the English speaking abilities of the Korean Teachers and your employer like? Poor = Long Year & Frustration

( 17 ) Are there train stations, subway stations and banks near the school?

( 18 ) What is there to do for fun in the city the school is in?

[marlow]

Doesn't sound too bad, as long as it stays at 3-4 days. It's not so hard to be nice and do your boss a favor. Wait a minute!!! Isn't it just as easy for your boss to be nice and pay you?

[The Perfect Cup of Coffee]

2 options:

a) Read and learn everything garykasparov has red-flagged re: contracts

OR

b) Print out this thread and tape it to your door so you see it everytime you leave your apartment in the morning.

It'll be a great reminder of your sixth sense telling this hagwon is going to do some things you probably won't like to do a few times in the future, probably with very little notice ahead of time.

I've seen this clause in contracts used for everything from legitimate student "graduation" parties to demanding the foreign teachers hand out flyers/brochures on the street corner.

[antoniothegreat]

like others suggested, i would simply get a list and number of the events in the contract, or require them to pay you a simple fee. if they have to pay you, then they wont take advantage of you.

graduation makes sense, but if they want you to meat parents, make house calls, hang flyers, etc on a saturday.... no no no