Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Ut videam]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[postfundie]

[Ahssakat]

Other financial things to watch at Pagoda:

Weekend classes: You are told you can earn a lot of money on weekend classes, but this only applies if you have over a certain number of students in the class - otherwise you get the basic hourly rate.

There was also a case last year where a teacher was told that because he did not have 'enough' students in his weekday class the class would either be cancelled, or he could receive less pay for this class. He took the latter, which I think sets a dangerous precedent for the other foreign teachers.

[mountainous]

The VACATION sounds very difficult to take:

[Ahssakat]

[Paddy111]

Shylock and Joseph Goebels were eminently more trustworthy, decent upstanding citizens than either Ian Windsor or Phil Reynolds!

Pol Pot and Robert Mugabe would make far more pleasant company for afternoon tea at the Savoy than most of the desk managers thereat!

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Paddy111]

Korean Labour Law provides that you are entitled to one paid day's holiday per month you have worked. The law changed last year I believe but Pagoda claim not to be aware of this. It is now. It may actually be twenty days paid holiday but I do not care to check. Nor do I know whether the law is retrospective.

It is also an immutable fact that most of Pagoda's contracts are in breach of Korean Labour Law in that they purport not to pay the employee what they are entitled to under the law. I suspect that, in relation to unpaid holiday pay, Pagoda owes its employees a rather significant sum of money.

The bottom line is that if you do not take your holiday, you are entitled to be paid a sum in lieu, not the paltry 'bonus'. And this can translate to quite a nice little bonus at the end of your contract. That sum is calculated by reference to your average day's take home pay which works out to be significantly more than Won 30,000.

It is really unfortunate that Pagoda abuses its staff in all manner of ways. Such experience could colour one's experience of what is a really great (albeit, at times whacky) country. It should not. Equally, teachers should stick up for themselves.

Pagoda is like an aspiring first world country but with a very definitely third world Mugabe mentality where the rule of law does not mean shit. Nor does it help itself with its hackneyed syllabi and seditious western middle management.

I apologise for writing in such emotive terms. There is some catharsis in it for me. At the same time, I hope it helps existing and putative teachers to formulate a reasoned decision.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[rrlawyer]

[Paddy111]

I held my nerve throughout. I took them on and I won. I do not particularly want to be a cause celebre though.

I did it alone. Most people are inherently self interested, happy to receive a crappy pay cheque and abominable conditions, reasonably happy in their mild discontent.

Teachers, en masse, ought to stick one in the eye of that prickly old prune, Pk-s and her ghastly, sycophantic hangers on. Hit them where it hurts - in the pocket. They are like the Scribes and the Pharisees, though they claim to be otherwise.

[laoshihao]

I recently interviewed with both Pagoda and Direct English. I know I am not good at individual tutoring so I was leaning towards Pagoda. Recently, what seemed like a sure-fired you'll start in August has changed to a maybe we'll have something in October. Also, I keep getting pushed toward Direct even though it doesn't fit my teaching style. I was beginning to wonder if there was some shadiness involved here. I have turned down other jobs because this one sounded pretty good. Now I'm glad I read this thread. There is no way I could work somewhere that treats people like this. I thought I could work splits for a while, but if there are other stresses as well, no thank you! I was looking to get away from teaching children, but I am good at it, and teaching adults is not worth the hassles it sounds like these organizations put you through.

[Young FRANKenstein]