Korean Job Discussion Forums

[korea.teacher]

Can a Hagwon fire a teacher for not attending an institute event on their day off?

Yesterday (day off) my institute took employees on a recreation trip by bus for some hiking and lunch. I stayed home because I had the flu.

Today, I went into work (I teach on Saturdays) and the manager scolded me and hinted I might be fired. She quoted my contract, saying I'm supposed to attend employee functions (contract says "should" not "must").

When I asked her about not being paid for the extra hours the school has me put in between classes assessing new students, she said, who is supposed to do it?

On one occasion, she had me come in on my day off to teach a sample class for potential students but didn't tell me I wouldn't be paid. When I asked her about this, she said we're a kind of servant at the school and didn't think to tell me.

[bobbybigfoot]

Of course they can fire you. They will just say you are a bad teacher. Sounds like you are ruffling some feathers. Wanting overtime, not falling into line like most (all) Koreans do. I wouldn't be surprised if you are canned around the 9th or 10th month. Avoid severance, plane ticket etc...

Koreans march to their own drum. Waiving contracts in the face of employers can be a ticket to unemployment. In some cases, it works. It's the chance you take in K-land.

[lifeinkorea]

You should start becoming less "functional". What I mean is, we can perform at our best and we can perform somewhere in between.

I look at the core classes I have to teach and try to perform as close to 100% as I can. When it comes to overtime or extra outings, I don't put 50% into it. Eventually the school will see that and can either choose to can someone who is doing the job agreed to but none of the extras, or they will keep the person.

In your case, you are probably putting 100% into these extras so that's what they are expecting. Forget to print something out for a trial, or go back to the office to get a pen. Disrupt the flow of what they expect you to do so they don't hold you to it when you are sick and need a day off.

If they never saw you outside of the classroom when they needed you, then they will become dependent on you. It's bit of a weird psychological game but one I found can work if you aren't too aggressive with it.

[SandyG21]

Life in Korea is correct - they are seeing how high you will jump for them.

Same things go on in a job in the USA.

During extra stuff - non contract - act tired, fall asleep, mess it up slightly or alot, bring food and beverage to class/work.

[John_ESL_White]

How many other foreigners work at your school?

[bassexpander]

You don't want to work for this place.

Kindly inform her that if you are not paid for your overtime, you will be contacting the Seoul Labor Board. In fact, I might even contact them first.

You have to play hardball. So what if they fire you -- it will be a blessing, because they'll have to pay you 1 month's salary. Get an exit order, use it to fly to Japan and back the same day, return and get a new job.

[wylies99]

See if they'll give you a letter of release. Make sure you get the firing in writing- verbal doesn't officially count.

Sounds like a typical crapwon. You can do better.

[soviet_man]

[some waygug-in]

The answer is.... they can fire you at any time for any reason they want. If they don't have a good reason they will just pull one out of their arse.


I once had a similar situation. I was dying with the flu, but still managed to drag myself to all my classes. The school decided to have a staff lunch between classes. I didn't want to go coughing and snorting all over everyone so I went home to bed. The next day the boss called me into his office reaming me out for not attending. I told him I was very sick, but he didn't see that as a valid reason.

God only knows what these idiots are thinking. They would rather have a sick teacher come horking up germs all over the place than take a couple of days off. And in cases such as the OP described, it's even more ridiculous. They're getting their turds in a knot over a teacher not attending an "extra-curricular" event.

Morons.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Underwaterbob]

[jiberish]

Dude, just tell them you will quit. Then mention how bugger all teachers across from other countries any more because the won is so bad.

[Straphanger]

[some waygug-in]

Where I'm from if a school tried to fire someone for such a bogus reason, you could take them to the labor board and probably win.


To the above poster, what part of " because I had the flu" did you not understand?

[Goku]

Do you guys ask permission to have the day off?


Did you call your boss letting them know?


Or did you just take the day off?