Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sarbonn]

First off, I actually like my job...well, enough that I'm not planning to run away from it like I might have thought of doing when I first arrived here. I work for a private school (glorified hagwon) teaching debate. The pay is really good, and the coworkers are pretty cool (I get along with everyone). And the kids are okay; I mean, they're kids, so they're what you expect them to be.

I do a lot of reading of the boards, and one of the warning signs is when pay is late. Our boss, who has NEVER done anything to make me suspect anything bad of him, has stated that he has to pay all of the teachers late this time. Today, pay is 7 days late (and we haven't been paid yet). Yesterday, he said "next week" for pay as his response.

This is the start of my fifth month here (been here four months...this would have been my fourth pay check), and I just barely finished paying off a lot of my overwhelming debt that was consuming me before I got here. Now, I was going to be starting my savings (would have had about 2M after this check...right now, I'm lucky if I have about 500k). In other words, I don't even have enough to buy a plane ticket out of here right now.

I'm starting to worry that my boss has bitten more than he can chew with his lofty plans for this school, and he just doesn't plan to admit it, or face it. I'm even more worried that I'm going to end up with another situation where I'm going to be working without being paid. I'm assuming I'm going to get paid this month (assuming, of course), but I'm really worried about future payments.

I'm wondering what most others would be thinking about doing right about now. I know there are a lot of drama kings and queens who say to throw everything away at the first sign of conflict, but I'm looking for opinions of people who think logically, not passionately. People keep talking about getting another job, but they're good at talking about that, but everytime I look at how to do that, I get the impression that it's going to require me to have to go back to the states (the US) and then come back again. The logistics are rarely explained, and half the time I don't think even Immigration knows what Immigration requires.

I'd like to stick it out, but I have a bad habit of avoiding change at any cost, and I'm worried that the cost might be a bit high right now, because I have no idea how this whole situation is going to play out, but I'm scared to death I'm going to be stuck in Korea without a job, without money and no way to even get back home.

Please avoid the flames. I know Dave's is a breeding ground for that kind of behavior, but I'm not looking for pity nor condemnation. Just looking for logical advice and opinions that aren't insults.

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

Are there shackles on your ankles?

[VanIslander]

refuse to work until you get an exact date commitment when your late pay will be made... go into the office and just refuse to leave, calendar in hand and when? when? firmly but without anger

then when the boss says the date then you write it on the calendar in your hand, and say okay, thank you, bow, smile nicely, maybe say thank you again, and got to work

when that date comes and no payment, then the very next day stand in the office with that calendar and physically don't move until you're paid

that is exactly what i'd do... fortunately i've never been paid more than one day late... BUT YOU GOTTA DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE and it's important to give aclear but nice indication of where that line is

[Chris_Dixon]

IF your boss is nice, i think you can get another job and get the visa swapped over to that school or something....means you dont need to leave the country and can start work asap....a co-worker arrived in korea and two weeks later her school went bankrupt, my school took her on after the old school did something like i mentioned...

[polonius]

Agreed with Vanislander.

I would also start getting all your paper work in order. Get it all, just to be safe. If you are going to threaten to walk, then you need to be ready.

[sarbonn]

[plynx]

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

Sorry, I didn't actually read the entire post. I wouldn't worry too much if this is the first time. Although, in 10 yrs here I can't recall ever being paid late. My K-employers have always been aboveboard and I've never experienced any problems. Always received 100% of what due me and never late. Good luck w/ it. If you need a leg or two busted you got a discount bro..

[sarbonn]

Might take you up on the leg busting thing. Everyone here is tense right now because no one, Korean or me, has been paid, and we're now 6 days into the next week.

[moosehead]

got to be firm. show up early enough to discuss it. as long as you put up w/it - you are going to continue to have problems.

I posted on here just over a year ago how the company I was working for was evicted - quite the scene it was - no doubt bankruptcies are skyrocketing - hakwon owners change ownership by putting their businesses in other people's names -

how do they usually pay you? direct deposit or cash? if it's dd - maybe they don't want someone monitoring their bank accs - and are worried. if it's cash - they may have a cash flow problem.

if it's usually dd I'd put my foot down and insist on getting paid according to what the poster said about the calendar date and all. if they usually pay in cash, I'd say pay me now or I'm not teaching any more. if they fire you, go to the labor board.

either way, you can still go to the Labor office and just tell them you haven't been paid. take your contract and make sure you have the school's address on there and a phone number. but you really should insist first because Labor is just going to ask you anyway.

and yeah, best to start looking for another job. your hakwon is in trouble. who knows why - can be anything - just chalk it up and don't look back.

good luck.

[jdog2050]

[cruisemonkey]

Do not refuse to work until your pay is 14 days late, then file a complaint with the Labor Relations Commission (commonly, Labour Board). If you refuse to work, your action only gives the employer 'amunition' to counter your complaint - he/she will claim you are in breach of contract.

Put the employer in an untennable position, not yourself. After 14 days, tell the employer what you are doing: file the complaint and refuse to work... kick back... and wait for the hearing.

In war (and you will be at 'war'), loosing is not an option, fight to win - take no prisoners.

[Skippy]

First off keep calm. Second prepare for the worst. Do get your papers together and do start looking for another job. Hey if thinks do work out GOOD. But if thinks do go south you are off to a running start.

Also talk to the company/boss. If needed do it in a group. Do not let it fester or just sit all that odes is make the situation passive agresssive. But do not let it get there. You start worrying, thinking dark and nasty thoughts before you now it you are arguing with the boss and you are fired with nothing to show. FIND out what is happening! Maybe together a solution can be made. ALso it would be better to find out NOW that are you are never going to get paid rather then hanging around to FURTHER NOT GET PAID. Also when you are talking with the boss. Keep Calm, be polite. All it takes is somebody doing something RASH.

If your pay was late a day or two. I would say live with it. But it is getting up to about 13 days - you deserve the truth!

[Ya-ta Boy]

skippy pretty much covered my opinion. Get your documents in order and start checking ads. Send out some applications--those commit you to nothing.

Meanwhile, talk to your boss, individually or as a group. Be open about your situation and not confrontational. No doubt your boss is stressing about this too. Ask him to consider paying partially if that is possible. Do not threaten to stop working. That will not solve anything but it will make it more difficult to get out of the situation.

If you handle this nonconfrontationally, you should be able to transfer your visa without a trip home, if that is what has to be done in the future.

[Oreovictim]