Korean Job Discussion Forums

[biggpoppa]

so I'm all set to give in my resignation tomorrow...a good 67 days notice just to be on the safe side with that 60 days I'm required to give in my contract...anyways, I was just wondering what I should expect for my last two months here in terms of treatment from my employer? Will they kind of just leave me alone or dump more work on me? Just wondering what your experiences have been like after quitting...I have a really great relationship with my employer right now, so I'm curious as to whether or not that will remain or be thrown out the window?

thanks

[bejarano-korea]

How come you are leaving? Work or personal problems?

[actionjackson]

Glad this question came up. I have a pretty good relationship with my current employer (i.e. doesn't appear to be ripping me off) but a friend of mine has just offered me a job back home that would be insane to pass up. Should I get the job (I interview soon), I will probably only be able to complete half of my contract. I was also wondering how things would pan out if I told him that I had to leave. I think he's going to very upset.

[Mi Yum mi]

Tell them you have medical concerns you want to take care of at home. They usually don't ask. If you are leaving and you're not going to come back...just give 30 days notice. That's the law. Doesn't matter what your contract says.

[sadsac]

Family emergency is also a good way to end it early. Otherwise the next two months are going to be either okay with little change or hell on earth. You are only required to give 30 days notice, irrespective of what the contract states.

[kprrok]

I'm afraid you guys are not right about the law and 30 days notice. The law says you get at least 30 days notice, and no contract can make it less. A contract can make it more. There's a big difference there. The labor law says 30 days, and contract law can't make it less, because that would be a violation of labor law. But labor law doesn't say it can't be more. At least the laws I've seen haven't.

If your contract says 60 days, you should abide by that.

KPRROK

[Zaria32]

kprrok is exactly right...a contract cannot lessen the rights of employee or employer vis a vis labor law, but in this instance the contract CAN increase the rights of the employer...ie the 60 days rather than the 20 days.

If the contract said that an employer could fire at will, for no reason, with no notice, that would NOT be a legal contract term because Korean labor law specifies notice...

[Dome Vans]

You signed it, you abide by it. If you signed for 60 days you stick to 60 days. The minimum legal limit might be 30 days but it can be longer.

[JasonC]

I would have to vote for being honest about your reason for quitting. Telling them something about a family emergency or medical problem is the equivalent to telling your teacher the dog ate your homework. Nobody is going to believe that. Being honest might at least gain you the respect required to even get a letter of rec for the work you did do for them. But, tell them something like the others suggested and they may pretend to believe you in front of you, but in their mind, they are going to resent you for thinking they are that naive.

Go in with a good attitude about it, give the required notice and try to come to an understanding about the situation. Preserving the relationship with your employer should allow you to have a comfortable last two months. But, insulting his/her intelligence will only create resentment.

Jason

[Roch]

It depends....

How about communicating via P.M.?

Take care.

R

[Atavistic]

[Kimchieluver]

[DongtanTony]

The posters are correct...saving face gets you everywhere. Lie...claim hardship of any kind...especially if you've had a good relationship up until this point...giving any indication that it's your family...particularly for most contracts...gives valid reason to leave. Koreans are family oriented...they'll "buy" it...I know you might feel awful...conscience is a Bi**h...but if you have greener pastures waiting...go for it.

Also...30 days is the minimum...not the standard...especially these days. If your contract says "X," you should abide by "X."

As for what to expect....EVERYTHING.

Our first job...which we left at nine months...seemed to tally up apartment bills for the remainder of our contract period in Korea. We paid an INSANE amount of utilities...partly because we successfully negotiated a 75% severance package at nine months...in order to get the remaining balance of funds that we were owed. The point is...we were SURPRISED needless to say at our utility responsibilities.

Furthermore...I'm not sure if anyone has suggested this to you...but...proposing an ADDENDUM to your contract is always a good thing. Type out a proposal yourself...have a meeting...outline your payment expectations...and what dates you expect to be paid for. For example...if you have any "overlap," you want to be paid for a partial month's work...outline that clearly...have numbers and dates ready. Have it signed and stamped. We all know that most contracts aren't worth the paper they're printed on...but if your director has ever pulled the "CONTRACT CARD"....so can you. But...if everything is agreed to...both verbally and in writing...it seems to "digest" easier with all parties involved.

Good luck with getting what's owed to you...but if you've have a good relationship so far...honestly...you can expect that to change.

[biggpoppa]

as of right now i was planning on telling them the truth...i've been offered a position back home that has me working for two years and then beginning my MBA after that...i'll be leaving at the 8 month mark of my contract...i'm worried about a reference as my co-teacher is actually a korean friend who got the position through me...so she's already my contact with fluent english and completely understands the situation...i mean right now i'm telling them i'm returning home for reasons beyond my control...i wasn't expecting to have this opportunity back home, but the start day is may 12th...and i want a week before i start so i'm leaving on may 4th to go home...i really have no choice but to leave...

i love my job and my boss...i just hope they'll still love me for the next two months...

[biggpoppa]

upon further deliberation...and for the possibility of a paid return flight home (i don't want them to know i'm going home to make money) i'm going to play the family card...

it seems the easiest way around everything...time to go and edit my resignation...