Korean Job Discussion Forums

asams · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

I called in sick to try to finally get over this sinus infection I've had for a week and now they're trying to make me go to the hospital because apparently I need a note or something. The guy came here and I showed him the medicine I'm taking and I'm hacking up my lungs and crap but they're insisting I go.

Anyone else encounter this? The school said it was ok, that they already had a sub, but I don't know why they need me to go to the hospital.

espoir · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Incheon, South Korea

If its public school, then you dont need a doctors note until after 3-5 days missed I believe. I dont know the rules for hagwons, but just review your contract and you should be able to see it all in there.

oldtactics · Joined: 18 Oct 2008

Paperwork. That sick day will get written down in some book and at the end of the year the auditors will want to know why you weren't at work.

asams · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

i'm not paying to go to the hospital just to get a stupid note.

is this a ploy to discourage native teachers from taking time off. if you're sick you're sick, end of discussion.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

I know lying down seems like the best thing, but it can also make your situation worse by giving all the bacteria a warm place to grow. This happened to me one winter, and because I lied down for a week, my sore throat grew to my chest where I couldn't stop coughing. The next winter, I felt the same thing, but I caught the early signs and kept my body moving.

If you can, you might want to go to the hospital for the exercise and the same.

nomad-ish · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject:

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Hospitals are normally for very sick people in the West, but it's just a doctors surgery in Korea and it's called a hospital.
Medicine they prescribe is short and usually works well.
I like it if I have to go for a sore throat or flu symptoms.
Very cheap as well, nothing to lose.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

In Korea it's very bad form to miss work unless you're in the hospital. Sorry but that's just the way it is here. On the plus side, at least you don't have to deal with substitute teachers every other day. Imagine what a mess it would be if your co-teachers and the homeroom teachers used sick days like holidays as if they were lazy and negligent Canadian civil servants.

Robot_Teacher · Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Location: Robotting Around the World

I've seen several of my Korean co-teachers missing class several times during the 1st 2 weeks. Maybe they're out on business matters, tending to their kids, or are sick, but people are not robots with 100% attendance and when they are, they usually fail to take care of themselves by taking care of personal business matters, eating adequate diet, and getting adequate rest. Said people are workaholics and most people are simply not even though there's an element of workoholicism in Korean culture.

They don't tell me anything, nor were ready for school and still aren't, just playing it by ear, and all I know is what I can see and think as having a discussion on anything means little which can be a problematic miscommunication issue.

If I'm sick, then I call in and no I'm not going to the hospital for the flu unless it's still really bad after 3 or 4 days. I know you need rest and lots of water. Contract states a letter is only required if missing 7 or more consecutive days.

ontheway · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:33 am Post subject:

asams · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

ended up getting it straightened out...

the headteacher wanted me to go to the hospital and I kept saying no, finally the guy that helps us went over her head and they said I didn't need to go to the hospital, and had him come back and make sure I had medicine and everything. They were really helpful, I'm feeling better tonight - although I slept a lot of the day so I'm not really tired