Korean Job Discussion Forums

Cracker006 · Joined: 11 Feb 2008

My boss just told us that we have manditory training all next week... after hours.

I've got other things going on after work... I'm taking classes, and I have a language exchange. If I stay after work, I'll miss my classes and my appointments. (No, not teaching things).

I checked out my contract. It says what my hours are. It says what I'll be paid for overtime. But it doesn't say if overtime is manditory.

So basically what I want to know is... can my boss force me to do training after hours?

garykasparov · Joined: 27 May 2007

In Korea, overtime is optional. No one can force you to work overtime. But, they will not be happy if you refuse to work it. Be an adult and say no, but expect trouble.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Korean labor law states that overtime cannot be mandatory. I'm sure someone can link you to the labor law on the gov't website.

garykasparov · Joined: 27 May 2007

OP, keep this in mind. The fact that overtime is a factor is because you are bringing in a lot of students. You must be an effective teacher. The parents are signing their kids up at your school because you have a good reputation. Use this to your advantage.

Mi Yum mi · Joined: 28 Jan 2008

Read your contract. If there is something that says "The teacher will also participate in toher activities"...you are screwed. If something like that is on your contract, be a man, work the hours and learn from it. If there is nothing like that...be a man and say no.

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

This is one of those things where if you say no they probably won't be very happy so you could either refuse to do it and hope that they will be understanding, or go through with it to make it look like your a team player.

One alternative is to tell them that you can't make it because you have Korean class...Korean is really hard and you can't miss it...you want to learn more about Korean culture...You don't want to offend your Korean sunsengnim...(I wouldn't bring up the language exchange since that might cause problems).

If they insist that you come after that, it's a one time deal, it's really training and not BS, and it won't be repeated in the future, I would probably do it to avoid any problems. I imagine that if it isn't necessary then they would satisfied with you missing it for Korean lessons though.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject:

Labor Standards Act

CHAPTER 1
General Provisions

Article 6 (Prohibition of Forced Labor)

An employer shall not force a worker to work against his own free will through the use of violence, intimidation, confinement or by any other means which unjustly restrict mental or physical freedom. Cool

luvnpeas · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:15 pm Post subject:

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject:

Cracker006 · Joined: 11 Feb 2008

Couple of other things...

(1) My contract doesn't say anything about "other activities"

(2) If it was a "one time" deal, I wouldn't mind. It's EVERY NIGHT FOR A WEEK. A "few" hours. And I have to travel to another location about 30 minutes away.

And they said I will *probably* get paid for the time, but not the travel.

That sucks.

nomad-ish · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:58 pm Post subject:

Cracker006 · Joined: 11 Feb 2008

It's the same company, but the training is being held at another location. It's a "chain" school. So all the schools are coming together to train the teachers after work... at a different school.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

In any job (here or Korea), there is typically non optional over time. I've never worked a salaried position back in North America that didn't have times when you worked late, came in on Saturday/Sunday. And you don't get paid for it. You've entered the real world. You're going to have to suck it up a bit.

TheChickenLover · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Location: The Chicken Coop

I've had this sprung up on me several times. I've even been told that I was required to goto Seoul for a weekend. The answer is simply the same every time they ask.

"I appreciate you asking, but I'm not available during that time".

No explanations are needed. You are your own person & your reasons are your own. If you have to justify why you need your time, then you are putting yourself at an immediate disadvantage. Just state that you are not available, & be firm. They may not like it, but they WILL accept it.

After all, you don't ask for full justifications about what they are or aren't doing, when & how do you? Of course not.

Chicken