Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Nierlisse]

Are schools pretty open to this? I know it really depends on the school but I'm wondering how much I can ask to change before they get annoyed and tell me they don't want me anymore. There's just a few things I would like to get removed or clarified; for example, a housing deposit which I don't really want to pay (although I understand their reasoning) and I definitely don't think my husband and I should BOTH have to pay it. Just one would be plenty.

Just curious as to what you think my chances are of getting what I want vs. getting the shaft.

[cruisemonkey]

Public school or hogwan?

With public schools you usually can't negotiate anything until you re-sign for a second year.

Wth hogwans it just depends on the owner/company and how badly they want you.

[jellobean]

I had a friend trying to do some negotiating and the school seemed good initially (the contract had about 5 really bad clauses and 5 questionable clauses), but eventually when he put his foot down on some of the bad ones they balked. I think my friend is better off with a little less money and more security in case of emergency. (He has another PS offer and the PS he was negotiating with was hiring independently with their own non-EPIK contract)

The school was refusing to amend a clause that he could be fired after six consecutive sick days. He wanted them to agree to leave him on unpaid sick leave until he was medically able to leave the country. (Nothing like being put in the hospital and then being fired and having your insurance terminated.)

The other clause said that if he left before the end of the contract (even with notice) he was responsible for 400,000 per month left in housing costs. He wanted them to agree that he was only responsible for the costs until they got a new teacher (who would likely use the apt).

Personally, a school who won't take care of you in an emergency and wants to screw you if you need to leave (say for a family emergency) isn't a place you want to work.

[Gnawbert]

My experience was rather amusing.

Hagwon just asked me to renew, so I asked in writing for an increase in sick days from 3 to 5, a 20% pay bump, and a 2 week non paid vacation 3-4 months from now to visit friends and family visiting Asia.

They never said yes or no, but a day later they posted job openings for when my contract ends across almost every EFL website.

So I guess the negotiation didn't go so well.

[Nierlisse]

Sorry, should have mentioned it's a hagwon. There's only a few things I would like to fix so hopefully they won't have any problems with it. They also have the tax rate at 3.3% which I thought was the independent contractor rate so I'm going to ask about that as well.