Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dsmoore]

Sorry, just wanted to keep things cross checked with those who have been through the whole process as much as possible here on Dave's. We have read plenty of deals where people didn't do their homework and ended up hating their experience, so I am just trying to curb as many problems or disappointments as we can on both ends. Not trying to be a nuisance.

If what we are asking is simply too much, that is what I want to know so I know just how far we could or should be pushing. If we are already looking at the best deal we can get, I certainly don't want to be pushing for more. Obviously, we are simply inexperienced in this, so when it comes to the contract terms in particular, we don't know what an employer may expect of us. Mainly looking to get a more realistic idea from others on what it actually turns out like when terms are worded this way.

[pandapanda]

[nene]

OP - I don't think you have anything to apologize for. I just got the same contract and have the same concerns. The mandatory overtime at 6k won/hour(!) is nuts. Articles 3.6 and 7.3 are alarming. Article 14 might take care of those concerns, but I'm not sure. I'm going to post this in the "contracts" sticky as well, sorry for the cross posting.

Can anyone clarify what's going on here? Do we get 5 weeks off? Or do we get 5 weeks of "vacation" in which we might have to work for no additional pay?

3.6 "To perform other duties as designated by Employer including various English programs during the vacation."

7.3 "Employer may designate Employee to work at an English Camp, Provincial Office of Education, training center or other educational institute during the vacation. In this case, Employee shall not claim for any additional pay."

14 "① Employee shall be entitled to a vacation period of a total of thirty-five (35) calendar days, per 1 year of employment, during the Term of the Employment set forth in Article 5 hereof. Employees working in a school system shall be entitled to 14 calendar days of vacation period during the summer recess. In addition, the Employees will be also entitled to 21 calendar days of vacation period during the winter recess.
② Each vacation period assigned to respective recess must be taken during that appropriate recess. The vacation periods may not be added together to be taken as a lump sum. An exception may be allowed if an Employee's obligation to the Employer, for the summer recess, limits the Employee from taking the 14 days of vacation in full, during the summer recess. Here, the Employee may add up to 7 unused days of vacation period for the summer recess and add it to the 21 calendar days of vacation period for the winter recess.
③ For those Employees who do not sign a new contract, all remaining vacation days must be taken 1 calendar week prior to the contract end date.
④ If the requested vacation period interferes with smooth work operations, employer/employee negotiate alternate vacation dates.
⑤ Employee shall apply for and obtain Employer's consent to take a leave at least fifteen (15) days in advance.
⑥ The vacation period stated above is aside from the home leave stated in Article 10 (Renewal) section 2. "

[icicle]

In your paid vacation time you will NOT be required to work ... but your paid vacation time is not the total length of time that the school students are on vacation ... So you may need to do a summer/winter camp in the school vacation time that you are not on your paid vacation time ... And it is possible that they will tell you when the summer/winter camp is ... and that will effect when you can take your vacation .... There is nothing that your recruiter can do about this ... It is going to be something between the specific school that you end up working for and you ... Your recruiter will probably not know the specific school at this stage ... But in your position I would be very clear about what you are prepared to accept in terms of a school .. ie within a certain distance of X and in X type of school. As someone has already said you will possibly also be better of going directly through EPIK as they are going to have the most influence on where you end up ... compared to the recuiter who is effectively just finding them teachers.

[PRagic]

Just a friendly heads up to the OP. From a communications point of view, you're going to have a blast here. While the 'marketing manager' at the recruiter has a tough time with basic English, you use vocab and expressions such as these in your e-mail to the recruiter:

-set in stone
-stuck out
-crucial
-open to
-solid answer

In general, it helps to internationalize your English in these communications. Think hard about the terms and expressions you use, and keep them simple and direct, with little connotative ambiguity.

Just a thought, and just done out of fun. Good luck in your transition here.

[sojourner1]

Yes, my EPIK Gangwondo contract states 35 calendar days which is their standard contract right now.

I wonder if Korean teachers get that much time off? If not, will they understand and honor the contracted employment conditions we signed to without resentful feelings towards us?

Are you given your vacation time at the spur of the moment or told when to take it or do you have to apply through the POE or school ahead of time?

Can non-teaching days as well as Saturdays off be considered our vacation time? Anyone having problems with a principal seeing it that way?

[nene]

[nene]

[Ramen]

[icicle]

But ... non-teaching days in normal school time ... so during the term ... will not be translated into being part of your vacation time ... which is taken only when students are not in school ...

Regardless of which school you end up in you will probably end up with days that you don't teach because of special things school is doing or exams or ... Sometimes you will be required to come to school ... occassionly you may not be required ... That all depends on the school ... the principal ... And .... But none of these will use up your vacation time ... The best way to think of these days is as days that you don't have to teach ... And if you are lucky enough to be given the day off ... Then be happy that you have been given a bonus day ... But don't be upset if you don't ...

I wouldn't worry about Korean Teachers being "upset" at the days paid vacation leave you get ... It is still less than what they get ... Though there are still usually times / days when they are required to work during that time ... (I know because in my school last year I was required to come into school when not on my official vacation time and there were usually several teachers working on a given day ...)

[oots]

Just clarifying the 35 days vacation thing. The current Gangwon EPIK contract actually states "35 calendar days" meaning 5 weeks. 2 in summer, and 3 in winter vacation periods.

So 35 days is simply referring to 35 calendar days, including Saturdays, sundays and whatever public holidays fit in those time periods.

Either way, you can't argue with 5 weeks vacation, plus the 2 extra's if you renew your contract.

micro