Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LostinKSpace]

I work at a PS. Things have been pretty good. It is time for contract renewal and they say they cannot give me a pay raise because they have no money in their budget but they really want me to stay for another year.

I'm a little angry to say the least, am always on time my lessons are well prepared and I have made loads of materials for the school.

Am I being played here ? Most other people I know in the same situation got the raise no questions asked.

The school has genuinely been great

[RJjr]

Try to hurry and get some job offers elsewhere (or make one up) so you can tell them something like, "Wonderland has offered me a job for 2.6 million, so as much as I've enjoyed working here for 2.2 their offer is just too good to refuse," and see what their reaction is, if they're more open to negotiation. Surely, they can at least up it a token 100,000 or two.

[Ilsanman]

If you have to ask, the answer is yes.

[Ramen]

Let them know you won't be re-signing under same condition. Be firm about it and start looking for another job. Watch them start changing their tune near the end of your contract term.

[LostinKSpace]

They were not aware of the increase clause in the contract until I pointed it out. I am the first FT at this school, and my co teacher is fresh out of uni so is learning everything as we go along so to speak

[spliff]

GEPIK?

[LostinKSpace]

Yep it is GEPIK

[Jandar]

The longer you hold off signing the better chance the money will appear in the budget.

[dmbfan]

O.P.

What is more important to you?

1. Staying at a school for the same amount of money, while......
A. Having a bit more vacation time.
B. Teaching students you know.
C. Working another year with a school you are familiar with.
D. Secruity, working with a school that would probably be thankful
you stuck around.

2. Starting over
A. Taking a gamle with people you don't know.
B. Starting knew classes with students you have not before.
C. Not knowing what you will be walking into.


O.P., if the school has treated you right, then I would stay..........HOWEVER, I would ask for a bit more vacation time in return for the same salary.

Best of luck.

dmbfan

[reimund]

I agree with dmbfan. As someone who's been burned by the "ESL" industry here, I think the chance of getting terrible coworkers is not worth the bump in salary. If you like the people you work at your current school, I'd stay and try to negotiate the fringe benefits.

[spliff]

R u category #1?

[nautilus]

[Boodleheimer]

you are being given the run-around.

i was in exactly the same situation -- my contract ends on sunday. they delayed the new contract until three freaking weeks ago. then they couldn't give me the raise they had promised. so after a few attempts at negotiation, i found another job.

NOW not only did they wind up offering me that 'impossible' raise, but now they're retroactively taxing me for the past year because i did not supply them with a tax residency certificate before the first paycheck (which, by the way, was 5 days after i arrived).

do NOT sign on with them again.

ps- they may try to screw with you in other ways as well. just a warning from experience.

[Dome Vans]

As dmbfan says, better the devil you know when it comes down to it.

If they want you to stay then they'll cough up the bit extra. I got a 50 000 won increase on my new contract and that was only because I work in three schools. My schools are great so the negotiation only included getting Christmas week off (including the two months after) and not moving me from my three schools. That was it.

If you're onto a good thing then stick it out, but in your case I'd make them feel a bit guilty and sweat first.

[nobbyken]

I'm sure the 100K annual raise is totally between you and the school.
It's performance related.