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Morton
Joined: 06 Mar 2007
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 Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:41 am Post subject: My tender ass is in the air................... |
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and i've a feeling i'm about to be f@cked.
I work for an afterschool program at an elementary school in Seoul and thoroughly enjoy my job. My co-teacher is great, i like my kids, and i like my bosses.
Unfortunately i heard from a friend that the company is in serious financial trouble. I usually get paid on the 5th of each month but today i was told my wages will be paid on the 10th. The reason given was that everyone else is paid on that day. I said to the company that i am willing to work until the 10th but if, on that day, i am not paid my normal wage i will stop teaching until the situation is resolved.
My contract ends in April but my lease on my apartment ends in early January. This means in January i will get my key money back.
What i am thinking is if the company does not pay me on the 10th then there is a good chance i will never see that money. Therefore i will cut my losses and start making arrangements to go home. I will use the key money to pay for my airfare. I will apply for a similar job from home and then come back over.
However, what happens with the visa if i leave? Can i have it canceled due to breach of contract? What is the best way to handle this?
I realise that many companies have financial problems and am not angry, but i need to look out for myself.
I have a feeling that the advice may be "Don't just walk, RUN YOU FOOL!"
Thanks.  |
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John_ESL_White
Joined: 12 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:25 am Post subject: |
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Has your AS program lost a lot of students compared to last month?
If not, then the financial problems are BS.
The gov pays for most of an AS program and the parents pick up the remainder. The recruiter takes a huge chunk of that monthly. A lot of AS programs pay 3 million for 4 hours/day. And some pay 2.2 for 6 hours/day. They all charge roughly the same amount of money and get the same money from the gov., (unless rural areas get more).
Sounds like you are just being lied to. I hope you get paid on the tenth.
If you do, then take off anyway and come back in April when your original visa expired. You'll have no trouble coming back in April. |
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Morton
Joined: 06 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:35 am Post subject: |
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My after school program has been staying at a pretty steady level. A lot left during summer vacation but since then it's been a steady ship.
I have been reassured that the parents pay my wages and that i should not worry, but for some reason i'm getting a little nervous.
Your message has eased my mind a little, however if they don't pay me on the 10th i think i'll have a little strike. No pay = No me.
I don't feel that's unreasonable. |
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John_ESL_White
Joined: 12 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:40 am Post subject: |
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pay or no pay, a strike is called for just for them being late. you should not even think of resigning with them after a late pay fiasco... it's a set-up for a costly loss.
just move on now or, get your pay and demand a LOR so you can move on and keep your apt., if that's what you want.....
one late pay, in my mind, is reason enough for early termination.... |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:49 am Post subject: |
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| Morton wrote: |
My after school program has been staying at a pretty steady level. A lot left during summer vacation but since then it's been a steady ship.
I have been reassured that the parents pay my wages and that i should not worry, but for some reason i'm getting a little nervous.
Your message has eased my mind a little, however if they don't pay me on the 10th i think i'll have a little strike. No pay = No me.
I don't feel that's unreasonable. |
If you strike they can fire you. And then you may be forced to leave. And if you have to leave before the lease is up, you may not get your key money back. |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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| If you don't get paid, then go to work, but just sit in the classroom (or the office). |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| bassexpander wrote: |
| If you don't get paid, then go to work, but just sit in the classroom (or the office). |
That's EXACTLY what I've told myself I would do if I ever am not paid. I think it's important to actually SHOW UP and BE THERE. But NOT TEACH until paid, on principle.
Firm, polite, not at all angry though clearly showing concern and restraint.
Sit there stoic and say when asked "I'm waiting to get paid. Then I teach. I love to teach. I just need to get paid." Being as nice about it without smiling as can be.
It's a question of integrity. It can be matter of fact. No need to arch one's back or raise one's voice. Everyone can save face once you're paid. Until then you sit in the office or the classroom but do nothing. Bring a good book. |
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jbpatlanta
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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bassexpander wrote:
If you don't get paid, then go to work, but just sit in the classroom (or the office).
That's EXACTLY what I've told myself I would do if I ever am not paid. I think it's important to actually SHOW UP and BE THERE. But NOT TEACH until paid, on principle.
Firm, polite, not at all angry though clearly showing concern and restraint.
Sit there stoic and say when asked "I'm waiting to get paid. Then I teach. I love to teach. I just need to get paid." Being as nice about it without smiling as can be.
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I actually did something similar to this once. My director at a hagwon did not pay us on payday. So the next day we all asked her where our money was. There were 6 native teachers. She said it would be in our accounts that afternoon.
The next day still no money. We told her she had to lunch time and we were going to stop teaching. At lunch we checked and still no money. Our afternoon classes we went to class and played hangman or other games with the students. The director went nuts to which we all replied "We want to teach but we can't teach for free." At this point the director left. She came back in ten minutes saing we were paid. One teacher went to check her bank account. Money was there so we went back to teaching.
BE FIRM but never lose your temper. Be bette than them.  |
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Morton
Joined: 06 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:46 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies. I think if the company doesn't pay me it is due to insufficient funds rather than trying to mess me around. Does anyone know how long you have to wait after not being paid before it nullifies the contract?
The apartment is in my name so the key money is not a problem (hopefully). |
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Donald Frost
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:11 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| bassexpander wrote: |
| If you don't get paid, then go to work, but just sit in the classroom (or the office). |
That's EXACTLY what I've told myself I would do if I ever am not paid. I think it's important to actually SHOW UP and BE THERE. But NOT TEACH until paid, on principle.
Firm, polite, not at all angry though clearly showing concern and restraint.
Sit there stoic and say when asked "I'm waiting to get paid. Then I teach. I love to teach. I just need to get paid." Being as nice about it without smiling as can be.
It's a question of integrity. It can be matter of fact. No need to arch one's back or raise one's voice. Everyone can save face once you're paid. Until then you sit in the office or the classroom but do nothing. Bring a good book. |
Word x 10k. |
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Donald Frost
Joined: 20 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:22 am Post subject: |
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| Morton wrote: |
Thanks for the replies. I think if the company doesn't pay me it is due to insufficient funds rather than trying to mess me around. Does anyone know how long you have to wait after not being paid before it nullifies the contract?
The apartment is in my name so the key money is not a problem (hopefully). |
Late or non-payment of salary has been protected by the Labour Standards Act as a Quitable Offense since the late '70s, no? Anyway, Labour Board is your next step, and contact the Sage known as Ttompatz for much more reliable information.
Respectfully,
DF |
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poet13
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Location: Just over there....throwing lemons.
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:01 am Post subject: |
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"Thanks for the replies. I think if the company doesn't pay me it is due to insufficient funds rather than trying to mess me around. Does anyone know how long you have to wait after not being paid before it nullifies the contract?"
insufficient funds.....so what, not your problem. Don't make excuses for them.
Don't know about your question though.
I was stern in the first statement because haggie owners are often Jekyll and Hyde. They paint a sad picture of struggle and sacrifice to make their business barely successful, with smiles, trinkets, and baubles proffered as friendship and peace offerings, but the moment it ceases to suit their own ends, watch out, cause then you might as well be the homeless person begging for 100 won coins on the corner that they've seen and ignored every day for the last ten years. |
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Jeff's Cigarettes
Joined: 27 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:12 am Post subject: |
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You co' "financial problem" is not yours...I would have already contacted the Labor board if my pay was a day late.
"I realise that many companies have financial problems and am not angry"
You sound like a Korean employers dream...a real push over. |
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