Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Skodaboy]

Hello,

I have a small problem.

My school has scheduled a compulsory and unpaid "science fair" for Saturday. They told us this two weeks ago. It will be three hours teaching work from 3-6pm.

However, my parents arrive today and I have already made plans to spend time with them this weekend. It's been a long time since I've seen them and as you can imagine, time is precious. Besides, I work in a kindy hagwon and I can't get time off. They booked their trip three months ago and everyone at school has long known they are coming to see me.

My boss has given me the "option" (more like order) of hiring an agency worker to replace me. She says she will dock my pay to pay this replacement. Basically, she just needs a foreign face there to impress the parents.

In my contract - which is vague - it mentions "extra curricular activities." I was told this meant the "occasional Saturday", which has meant about six Saturdays in the ten months I've been there.

But this does not mean that she can dock my pay, can it?

What if I call in sick and get a doctor's note?

I am very angry. I have tried to contact the labour board but they are closed for the day and I need to approach my boss tomorrow with some kind of solution.

Any constructive advice will be appreciated.

Thanks, Skodaboy
ps - if anyone feels like volunteering to replace me on Saturday (which was my bosses' other intelligent suggestion), I would be really grateful!

[Ya-ta Boy]

Ummm...the clause in your contract about occasional Saturdays covers them. This situation is just the result of a nasty coincidence.

I think you have two options:

a) Take your parents to the school on Saturday and let them interact with the kids. It's only 3 hours and could be fun for them to see what you do. The parents will be getting two free whiteys and will be thrilled. The school will be wiggling with ecstasy. Chances are, your parents will get a lot of friendly invites from the delighted parents. You are practically guaranteed a free meal out of this.

b) Hire the sub, like your boss suggested and pay up. Be grateful the school is even considering this option.

While 'a' may not be a perfect option, it is the best one. Sit down, cool off and start thinking creatively. How can you use your folks to your best advantage? What songs did your Mom sing to you when you were little? What tricks did Dad do? Let them be the star of the night.

[Skodaboy]

Hi Ya-ta Boy,

Thanks for your suggestions. I would be willing to take my parents to school on Saturday but I had planned to see a show and a baseball game with them. It will be the only time we can do so as we will be really busy.

They are planning to come into school another day to see the kids.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Then either re-arrange the schedule when they were going to come see the kids, or fork over money for a substitute.

I don't see any way around it.

[Rteacher]

I suggest skipping the (time-consuming) baseball game - how much could non-Korean parents really be looking forward to seeing a Korean baseball game?

There are plenty of shows around Seoul (if that's where you're located) on Saturday evenings - including a traditional Korean drum-dance dinner show at the Sanchon restaurant in Insadong.

In the morning you could check out someplace like Kyungbuk Palace or else go to Itaewon for lunch at a nice place like Thai Orchid or Ashoka ...

Good luck finding a volunteer to sub for you (although stranger things have happened ...)

[Young FRANKenstein]

Bring your parents to the science fair. Maybe the principal will feel guilty and let you go early. (Tell mom and dad to practice their bored faces and sad faces).

[Skodaboy]

A lot of non-Koreans do want to see a baseball game, strangely enough - including my parents! Baseball isn't big in England where they're from.

I live far enough out of Seoul that it will be difficult getting in to see anything on the evening.

Will just have to find a willing volunteer. PM me if you're up for three hours of gurning and bowing at parents and children.

[spliff]

You have sick days right? Call in sick, they can't dock your pay for that.

[Fresh Prince]

This is hilarious, the school schedules an event on your day off, and even though they planned the event well after they were aware your parents were flying in to see you on that particular day, they won't let you have the day off. Then they have the nerve to tell you to hire someone to replace you, on your day off, and pay out of your own pocket.

How about your parents show up decked out in the Korean baseball team regalia? They could show up at the science fair with team hats, shirts, pom-poms, those giant foam number-one fingers, etc. Then, they can look really sad while watching the game on a portable TV in front of the director. You can tell all the moms that your parents flew all the way from home just to watch the game and the director wouldn't let you.

[yingwenlaoshi]

You told them in advance, right? You win. Do whatever you like. Not up to you to find a replacement. A replacement that isn't even needed.

You don't get paid for it, right? How can they dock your pay for something that you're not even being paid for?

And, by the way, never agree to do any Saturday work. Ever.

If they can't see that your parents are coming all the way from England, that you might not see your parents for another year or two, then they are way out of line.

"No, I told you my parents are coming. You're just going to have to deal with it yourselves."

Screw them.

Thinking about it another way, are you truly going to be able to enjoy yourself as much as you could knowing in the back of your mind that the school is upset with you? Well let me tell you this: you'll forget all about it once your parents are around. I guess you could let them hang out around the school. Maybe you could leave early like somewhat previously suggested.

Is a baseball game all that good to go to here?

Anyway, you decide. Not your academy.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[buster brown]

Ya Ta, you missed a third legitimate option. Skoda could agree to come on Saturday, then just blow the whole thing off. Of course, the next few months at the hogwan could be a little tense...but it's a possibility. Skoda, if you choose this one, have the decency to turn off your phone all day on Saturday!

I haven't had any experience with this kind of situation, but it seems like Koreans deal with alot of things this way. "Sure, I'll do it," then never make any effort to do what they 'promised.' Sometimes the indirectness just about kills me!

One issue that makes me feel pity for the OP...he's expected to work without pay, but a substitute would have to be paid out of his salary. Something isn't quite right about that. "Either work for free or face a penalty." What?!?

Anyway, good luck in making your decision Skoda. Let us know what you choose and how the aftermath comes out next week, next month, etc.

[FUBAR]

If you're time is really as valuable as they say, get a buddy to cover you for the Afternoon. Offer him $100 for the day. Problem solved. You're out a hundred bucks, but you get to do what you want to do.

[I-am-me]

It's only three hours!! Let your parents see what you do for an hour and then let them roam around to see korea at its best for 2 hours. No big deal. I am sure your parents will understand.

[Ya-ta Boy]