Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sector7G]

Last year I worked for the public schools and my vacation time was cut and dried. The contract called for 2 weeks in the winter break and 1 week in the summer break. I also got off work a couple more weeks due to test days, field trips, and school functions. It seemed like every other week I was getting an extra day off. But that is beside the point. For now I want to discuss only contract vacation days.

I started working a hagwon February 23 and the very next week it was sold. I posted about it before but to make a long story short I almost left at that time but after a sit-down with the new owner I decided to stay.

Two days ago I went in to request one week vacation(5 working days) 6 weeks from now. I want to emphasize the word request- I was very respectful and not demanding. I realize hagwons don't have the down time like the public schools, and so I was prepared for him to suggest another time. If he said no, fine, my back-up question then would be "when would be a good time?"

Well, he doesn't speak English, but when my Korean co-teacher asked him for me I could tell something was wrong. Turns out he never looked at the details of my contract when he bought the place, only the salary I was making. He assumed I only got the 2 or 3 vacation days that your average Korean hagwon teacher got, not the 15 days my contract calls for. Can you believe that?

So he rushes to get a copy of my contract to study and finds that I am supposed to give 2 months notice for vacation. Ok fine, I think it over that night and decide to postpone my vacation until August, which is over 3 months away and so everyone should be happy, right? But no, it's not that simple-he wanted me to wait until today to discuss my entire vacation with him.

I am sure you can guess where this is heading by the subject line. He gave me a real sob story that he didn't realize I got vacation and try to put myself in his shoes and understand his situation. He doesn't want me to take more than a day or 2 at a time because he can't afford not to have me there. And you know what, I am not opposed to working out a compromise with the guy. It's not my first preference but I would not be 100% opposed to a series of 3 or 4 day long weekends. It helps to break the monotony. But here is what I find galling. Even then I will have no real say when I get these days-it will be totally up to him. And he won't even say when, as of now he will only give me the "probable" months I can take these days. Which gives me this strange feeling he will try to hose me out of some of my days.

My question is, if a contract is not specific as to when and in what blocks vacation days can be taken, can an owner dictate what I described above? Has any one else had a similar experience? Do I have any recourse? Or is it a matter of either accepting it or giving notice?

[John_ESL_White]

Book your vacation. Bring in the e-ticket. Explain it's paid for and you are going and that you've given enough notice. Anything less and you will lose most of your vacation. I've lost days because of guys like him.

First, book, then show, then explain, well in advance. As long as your contract says 30 days or 60 days and you give it, then that's that and he can cover your classes with a korean teacher.

[bobbybigfoot]

[Sector7G]

Hmm, a bold move. Better than giving notice (if I got to that point) because it's within the contract and would put the ball in his court. It would definitely sour the working relationship, but if I was at the point of giving notice anyway, what would I have to lose? I guess he could make my work life a living hell.

I will have to consider that some more. Any other suggestions out there?

[Sector7G]

[John_ESL_White]

[bobbybigfoot]

Just because you have a right to vacation providing you give sufficient notice, doesn't mean you have a right to specific days. Showing an e-ticket presumes which days you will take off.

[John_ESL_White]

[cruisemonkey]

Op,

You now slaveee.

What posesesd you to transfer from a PS to a hogwan?