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raketbaler
Joined: 14 Apr 2008
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 Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:25 pm Post subject: Need advice. working for a snake. |
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I just started working at a hagwon where the owner/manager is evil snake. This guy has lied about everything. I signed a contract for 2.4 and he decided that I'm not worth that much and wants to pay me 2.2. He said I would be off work at 5pm two days a week and those days I get off after 6pm. Now he expects me to not even take my breaks each day, but to observe other teachers instead.
I have a year experience, and although I'm not the best teacher in the world I know I'm not the worst. the kids I teach are learning and I think I'm doing a great job.
What are my options? I would really like to find a new job. I'm not sure how the visa thing works. Could I do a bad job, let him fire me and then work for someone else? I really want to screw this guy over for screwing me over so much. I also want to badmouth his hagwon on this board and let other potential teachers know not to trust this guy. Are there legal issues I would need to worry about?
thanks. |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject: Re: Need advice. working for a snake. |
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| raketbaler wrote: |
I just started working at a hagwon where the owner/manager is evil snake. This guy has lied about everything. I signed a contract for 2.4 and he decided that I'm not worth that much and wants to pay me 2.2. He said I would be off work at 5pm two days a week and those days I get off after 6pm. Now he expects me to not even take my breaks each day, but to observe other teachers instead.
I have a year experience, and although I'm not the best teacher in the world I know I'm not the worst. the kids I teach are learning and I think I'm doing a great job.
What are my options? I would really like to find a new job. I'm not sure how the visa thing works. Could I do a bad job, let him fire me and then work for someone else? I really want to screw this guy over for screwing me over so much. I also want to badmouth his hagwon on this board and let other potential teachers know not to trust this guy. Are there legal issues I would need to worry about?
thanks. |
Wow. Another Korean sad sap who wants to blame a foreigner for his shortcomings. Let me go off on another 'jaded' rant here, if I may. Understand I've been accused here of being a jaded pscychotic by an armchair teacher and psychologist....
Your boss made the choice to hire someone with no education degree (I assume your major is non-ED) and now wants to claim you're not worthy to walk his hallowed halls. I tell you what, some of these Korean Hogwart owners are some of the dumbest business people. They'll hire 'teachers' with no experience, no education degree, no English degree, and not even a cert. Then they bitch they aren't getting results. This guy, and all like him, needs to look in the mirror when it's time to assign blame. Don't you agree?
To top it off, to put the icing on the cake, to put the flag toothpick in the bun, he wants to disregard the contract at your expense.
Get out of there. But leave the anger behind. Don't let him drag you down into the snake pit. Find out how to do a visa switcheroo and take off for a new job. Make sure you get paid what you're due, though. |
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The Gipkik
Joined: 30 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:05 am Post subject: |
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| You've only got a year's experience? That means you're inexperienced and 2.2 is a very good wage for you--depending, of course, on your contact hours. You say he wants you to observe other classes? That sounds good. You'll learn a lot. You say he want's you to work til six with no breaks? Tell him you will take breaks, you will not work till six and you will happily observe other classes AND take notes. Again, I have no idea what time you start work each day, how many contact hours you have, how long your contact hours are AND how much you care about improving yourself. |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:17 am Post subject: |
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One time I got fed up with a dingbat director,
so I said, "Can I give you two months' notice?"
He said "fine."
Try it that way. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:30 am Post subject: Re: Need advice. working for a snake. |
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| raketbaler wrote: |
Are there legal issues I would need to worry about?
thanks. |
Yes.
I don't know what country you're from; however, I can guarantee the law is different here. The concept of 'fault' does not exist under K law - the truth is no defense to an accusation of slander/libel... and a K judge can admit hearsay as 'evidence'. If (more likely when) found guilty... you pay!  |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:44 am Post subject: |
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| Pull a runner and never come back to Korea. That will show him. Bye. |
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Straphanger
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:33 am Post subject: |
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| T-J wrote: |
| Pull a runner and never come back to Korea. That will show him. Bye. |
Wonjangnim, he did, in fact, sign for 2.4, and now is getting 2.2. We're talking about 2.4 million he's getting short-changed. This is an issue. |
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AmericanExile
Joined: 04 May 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:51 am Post subject: |
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Do not work without full day. Have a letter of resignation ready. The day after your pay is due if he has not paid you in full you hand him the letter in front of as many people as possible and say "I'm sorry you can't afford my services. It's a pity we can no longer work together." Walk out. By law you have the right to terminate a breached contract immediately under Korean labor law.
One of two things is going to happen. 1) He will let you go. In that case you are out of a bad situation and not actually a runner. 2) He will try and get you to stay in which case you own him. Listen to all he has to say. Be polite no matter how he acts. Simply repeat "I'm sorry you had to breach the contract because you can't afford me." When he concedes everything, and he will if he is making the attempt to get you to stay, that's when the negotiation begins.
My boss sucked last year. At some point I realized I'd be better off out of that situation. The next time he gave me grief I told him point blank to fire me if he was unhappy. I was prepared to walk out. I made that clear and things changed. I was even offered more money to stay.
The sad thing is some people think being a boss is about domination and abuse. They will push you to see how far you will let them push. The only response that can lead to your happiness is to push back harder than they pushed. If you can't do that, then be prepared to be screwed over the rest of your life. Say what you want about Korean bosses, but I worked in factories putting myself through school. Koreans are amateur jerks compared to American bosses.
The other side is my boss this year is amazing. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop but it hasn't. Because of that, I try to go above and beyond when given the opportunity. Fair is fair after all. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:01 am Post subject: |
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| Confuse your 'boss' with a dismissive flick of the wrist while bowing and using the formal term of address. He'll get 'it' when you give him the finger on the way out the door. |
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T-J
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 3:27 am Post subject: |
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| Straphanger wrote: |
| T-J wrote: |
| Pull a runner and never come back to Korea. That will show him. Bye. |
Wonjangnim, he did, in fact, sign for 2.4, and now is getting 2.2. We're talking about 2.4 million he's getting short-changed. This is an issue. |
I'm just in a mood today. |
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Straphanger
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Location: Chilgok, Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:19 am Post subject: |
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| T-J wrote: |
| Straphanger wrote: |
| T-J wrote: |
| Pull a runner and never come back to Korea. That will show him. Bye. |
Wonjangnim, he did, in fact, sign for 2.4, and now is getting 2.2. We're talking about 2.4 million he's getting short-changed. This is an issue. |
I'm just in a mood today. |
Crank open a bottle of Cass Red to get your mind off it.
Hey man, you looking for a foreign teacher for next May? |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Say what you want about Korean bosses, but I worked in factories putting myself through school. Koreans are amateur jerks compared to American bosses. |
I had only temporary jobs in factories, but I had day care jobs which were supposed to be permanent but turned out to be temporary. Those bosses were jerks, too.
Here in Korea, I have worked for two wegukins who were married to Koreans. (One wasn't really, but pretended to be.) They were jerks, too.
I wonder which came first, the chicken or the egg. |
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Rory_Calhoun27
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:42 am Post subject: |
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What worked for me at my hagwon was "the broken record technique" of simply repeating yourself, and in the case, of a contract matter, pointing to a copy of the contract on the page in discussion. I'm surprised how well it worked!
It also works well with insolent middleschoolers in class. and the great irony of it- I learned it in a special education class Stateside.... taught by a Korean professor. Thank you, Dr. Koh! 
Now... the ubiquity and validity of the discipline amongst special ed students, Korean students, and hagwon owners.... discuss amongst yourseles...  |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| AmericanExile wrote: |
My boss sucked last year. At some point I realized I'd be better off out of that situation. The next time he gave me grief I told him point blank to fire me if he was unhappy. I was prepared to walk out. I made that clear and things changed. I was even offered more money to stay. |
I walked out too-and was suddenly showered with money in order to stay on.
Thing is though, by the time things have gotten to that point, you have realised for sure that the boss cannot be trusted and is not a secure person to work for, no matter the money.
Koreans often have that way of pushing you, bit by bit, to your absolute limit. When you're ready to throw down, they suddenly back down and turn into mice. Its like a game to them- they provoke, irritate, and generally see how much they can get away with- it almost seems a national characteristic at times. Bluster and brinkmanship. |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| tomato wrote: |
| I wonder which came first, the chicken or the egg. |
It doesn't matter... because Mr. Kim is secure in the knowledge a Korean first gathered an egg and domesticated chickens. |
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