Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sector7G]

Submitted to the elders of the board, or anyone else who may know.

Ok, the hagwon I've been at for all of 4 days has been sold, and I am not sure how it will all shake out. I just found out yesterday from the western teacher who I am replacing. He only found out the day before and felt obligated to tell me because I based much of my decision to accept the school's offer on his testimony of how great the school and owner were to work for. Well that, and the 2.7 a month I was able to negotiate.

Now it may end up being a seamless transition with nothing to worry about. And the guy who I am replacing seems to think I have security as I will be the only western teacher there. But what if the new owner turns out to be a total horror story like one hears about on this very board? And what if he doesn't like the higher salary I am getting? As new owner can he make a clean sweep? And speaking of that, would I have a legal way out of the contract now too if I wanted it since my agreement was with the old owner( not saying I do, but if I did)?

Also, it seems like I have read somewhere on Dave's that with a change of ownership I would also have to make a visa run to make the changes on my visa. Does anyone know anything about that?

Thanks for any light that can be shed on this situation.

[Xuanzang]

Play it by ear. I wouldnt get too comfortable in the transition period though.

[dean_burrito]

2.7 seems a little high for a hagwon unless you have to teach extra classes. The new owner may not like that wage. That's just a hunch though.
On the other hand the new owner may be relieved that he has native speaker guaranteed for his first year in the business. I'd give the new owner a small gift and make friends from the start.

[Fredbob]

Pretty sure you could still demand severance pay and return airfare from your original boss and that you need to have a new contract/visa from your new boss. That's pretty easy money, if you already have your visa. Good luck actually getting it, but I'm pretty sure it's within your rights, so.. you could ask for the lump sum or try to get the new boss to up your wages pro rata for the money they aren't giving you, which they legally need to do, IF you already have your visa that is.

On another note, BE CAREFUL, I'm pretty sure that when a school changes owners, they need a new business number, don't ask your boss this, new or old, find out from esllaw or immi. That's important because if you let it slide, you could suddenly find yourself working illegally. Chances are your new boss won't have a clue about any of this, being that he/she is jumping into the hagwon biz now, of all times.

[Sector7G]

[bobbybigfoot]

[Sector7G]

[Fredbob]

Sorry it took a while to get back to you, technically, New owner=New school=New visa=New Contract. So, you were terminated early, through no fault of your own, according to the law, you deserve some kind of severence payment. But there could be some kind of clause since you weren't there for very long.

[Sector7G]

Yeah, it looks like I am getting screwed.

Since I last posted the old owner practically got down on her hands and knees begging me to stay, swearing that the new owner would honor the contract, swearing that nothing would change.

So even though I didn't hold much stock in her promises, I figured the new owner would not change things or go belly up for at least a few months. You see, I was in need of a paycheck, and I figured that it would hurt me just as much or more to leave now as it would to leave later. So I weighed the risks and decided to stay.

Fast forward to today. The old owner, who has still been coming in during the transition, told me right as I was preparing to teach that the new owner wants me to teach 7 classes a day starting in April. And since it's technically under the 30 hours in my contract, because the classes are only 45 minutes long, I will not be receiving any additional pay, as she had promised when she was begging me to stay.

Well, I ain't gonna stand for it. I am going to immi tomorrow to cancel my visa. But even if they don't cooperate I will leave the country before I let this happen.

[geldedgoat]

So you would be teaching an extra class in exchange for shorter classes? Did they tell you there would be extra work involved? Are you losing break time or something?

If your total teaching hours are remaining unchanged it doesn't seem like that big of a deal (especially considering you're going to have to pay for a flight back home).

[Sector7G]

[Straphanger]

[Sector7G]

[mekku]

[Straphanger]