Korean Job Discussion Forums

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

It's been mentioned here by other posters, how getting paid at public schools is not a problem.

I work at a P.S. and my pay is almost never on time. Today, I went in to the administration centre to remind them I need to be paid today because of the Dec 25th holiday, and I did get paid.

I remember previously a poster on this subject suggested the admin centre may have forgotten to pay me, because our pay dates differ from the dates when Koreans are paid.

I would agree with that, if my pay had been delayed only a handful of times, but it has happened repeatedly and that's why I chose to remind them each time it is pay day.

I am fairly confident if I don't remind them it's pay day, they will not pay me. I always get paid when I ask for it, but I feel quite sure if I don't remind them to pay me, they just won't pay me.

The point of this thread is to highlight, yes, in public schools, you do always get paid, but in my case, rarely on time, and I suspect with some justification I would not even get paid, unless I keep the admin centre on their toes.

In my contract it states we must be paid on the 25th of each month. They haven't honoured that, more than twice, in seven months.

Previously, other posters on this forum advised me to be a bit daring, by refusing to work if I don't get paid on time, I recently thought about the idea of mentioning the labor board, but I doubt I'd do that.

Working in England, I can honestly say my pay was always on time. I know it's a different culture here, but it's still rubbish to get paid only when you ask them for it.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

Maybe they were waiting until you started dancing in your classes before paying you.

Atavistic · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 5:51 am Post subject:

I've worked in a PS for 7 months and gotten paid every single time on time EXCEPTING a small (less than 200,00 won) amount re: OT which was CLEARLY my bitchy coteacher's fault.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

In Korea, every payday is Christmas Day. In Canada, you don't even have to think about it. It's there. ALWAYS!!!!!!

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Atavistic · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 6:01 am Post subject:

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

I blame the sytem.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

OP, which branch of public schools do you work for?

Most foreign teachers are paid differently and at a different time than Korean teachers. One nutjob in the secretary's office can screw the who thing up, but everyone I know in SMOE gets paid on time, on or before the 24th.

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

I work in Gyeonggi. The first time my pay was late I notified my co-teacher, she informed the admin centre, they apologized, and said it wouldn't happen again.

It happened at least 3 more times, and that's why I decided to be proactive in future and I now get paid on time, because I follow it up.

Forgetfulness is not a credible excuse for the admin centre, so it is either a case of incompetence or they deliberately don't want to pay me unless they have to.

Mind you the way natives have to repeatedly confirm their qualifications suggest it may just be a case of real incompetence.

Either way, it is stupid. In my contract it states we are paid on the 25th of each month, but in the event of payday falling on a weekend or holiday, it is meant to be paid the working day before that. That's why I approached the admin centre yesterday and got paid.

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

I am in the exact same situation. My admin office forgot to pay me 2 or 3 times, and so now I remind them every payday of what their job is supposed to be.

I don't think it's purposeful, I just think it's indifference and incompetence.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

OP,

I think it would be helpful to clarify what school system you work for.

I worked for a public school for a year and never had a problem getting paid on time. Our pay days were the same as the Korean staff.

If it's that big of a problem, you need to go down to the local education office and talk to a supervisor. Politely point out to them that you show up for work everyday and work hard for them and that the least they should be able to do is pay you on time. You really shouldn't have to remind them.

I've heard both good and bad stories about public schools (in the bad ones the problems vary from housing to the attitude of the Korean teachers). Even in the same school system I was in (Incheon), there were a few native speaking teachers who had problems with their school.

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

It's GEPIK.