Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bundangbabo]

I was told that the VPs in Yongin all had a meeting about what to do with the waygooks in their charge and it was decided that they all had to seat warm in the winter vacation from 8.30-16.30.

There was some discussion that they could let us have a 8.30-12.30 workday after our winter camps but no! That would have been bad for.. who knows?

A mate of mine just up the Bundang line has got 4 weeks off without using one of his 14 vacation days - I'm pleased for him (no - seriously! ) but it looks like that different districts in GEPIK and not GEPIK itself decide if we sit in an office for 8 hours or do the decent and sensible thing and give us some of the winter vacation off.

I'm not complaining - my pal deserves his 4 weeks off. But Yongin and their arsehole VPs can SOD OFF if they think I will even look at one of their schools for a new contract next year.

[farrepatt]

I'm not sure that's actually true for all of Yongin. My wife and I teach in Yongin (but the actual city part and not Bundang) and she's allowed to leave after Winter Camp this week (12:30ish).

My winter camp starts on Friday and I'm pretty sure I'll be allowed to leave as well since I have for my last 2 camps. Of course, I'm not going to ask, I'll just leave when I'm finished camp. But my VP made sure last winter that I knew I could go. He came up to my office on the 4th floor and told me once I was ready for camp the next day to go home.

We're at elementary schools. Not sure if that makes any difference.

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

Depends on the school. I've never had to be at school during break unless for camp. Even then only half day.

[Xuanzang]

Mine (SMOE) must have read that memo.

[Fishead soup]

Make them regret their decision. There's absolutly nothing for them to gain. It's all spite. They don't care about your lesson plans they don't even read them.

Turn the heat on really hight and open all the windows.

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

Who are "they"?

[Xuanzang]

[Dutchboy12]

I have a similar situation with my EPIK school.

THere is no winter camp and I will have to come in and sit at my desk and keep the seat warm up to a comofrtable 25 (celcius) or it will self destruct.

All kidding aside, its the most absurd policy I've heard of. None of my EPik friends have the same problem and are free to do what they want!

When I asked for a letter of permission to work at another camp, I was told, 'no it isn't possible' because my contract is with the school board and I can only work for another school within the same juristiction.

I guess I can't really complain because I have it farily easy, but this one point irks me to no end! There is apparantly no uniformity within the board and is managed by a complete bunch of retards. My coey is a big by the book nerd who is afraid to say 'boo' to the principal.

Anyway to approach this with a 'positive' solution? I don't think whining to the EPIK head office or board will accomplish anything.

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

Well, they kinda have a point. I guess if you didn't want to warm a seat you shouldn't have signed that contract.

[afsjesse]

Well let me add my pitiful story to this thread....

I'm sitting in my seat 8 hours per day also. Plus my principal is setting up one week of conversation classes at the school, not a camp in which i will teach 6 hours per day

For the other 2 weeks i get to jack off at my computer staring into cyberspace.

When my school asks me to resign I'm going to give them an earful about how I will never resign if I have to do this crap again. And these conversation classes are with Parents and students

Not very sparkling Korea... not Sparkling at all.

[R. S. Refugee]

Yes, I was also informed of this meeting of VPs in Yongin schools. Apparently, it was decided to equalize the suffering since some wayguks have been complaining (somewhat understandably) that some other FETs were getting treated far more humanely than they regarding not being required to come in and sit in an empty school as the contract requires.

So, the people in charge instructed the VPs to enforce this contract requirement uniformly, so that all FETs may suffer equally.

Well, there are other school employees that have to come in as well. Certain non-teaching staff. So, the wayguks aren't the only ones required to do this.

In any event, here are a couple of suggestions that might help some of the FETs find a loophole that maybe they've overlooked.

1. If you're working in a designated rural area, the 2008 contract stipulates 5 additional vacation days in addition to the standard 14.

2. If you've been prevailed upon to come in some Saturdays during this contract, it is stipulated that you would be paid overtime or may get may get extra time off (comp pay it's called in the home country, contribution leave it's called in my contract). Since it's unlikely that you were paid extra for any such Saturdays, then you have this contribution leave that you can use to extend your vacation.

Good luck and have a happy semester break whatever you do.

[afsjesse]

I've scoured my 2008 contract and i dont see anything about 5 days added for rural areas... and trust me, I'm rural

[R. S. Refugee]

[jkelly80]

[D.D.]

If I had to seat warm I would have a meeting with my principle and a person who could translate. I would have my 30 days notice in my hand and would give them the option of receiving my notice or letting me out of school when I am not teaching.

Its bad enough that they get us to do camps while the Korean teachers get all those holidays, but seat warming is just b.s.

I would walk if they did that to me. In asia standing up for yourself works. I will have 5 weeks off and then teach 8 days of camp.

Camps end at 1230 and I go home.

Tell as many teachers in your area as possible to refuse to seat warm.