Korean Job Discussion Forums

[afsjesse]

So I've been teaching overtime for most of the semester and I am entitled to 650,000 won OT. My school acknowledges this and said that I am going to be paid like every other Korean teacher and that is that nobody get's OT pay until all of the students have paid their dues. And they stressed ALL the students.

I then explained that I am leaving in 3 weeks and that it's unacceptable for them to hold me to this stipulation as they know I won't get the money and will probably be used on Soju and Samgyupsal compliments of my departure. They said there is nothing they can do.

So with the fact that I'm leaving soon and an administration that is putting up a brick wall between me and my deserved and much needed money, does anyone have any suggestions?

[ekul]

Find the kid who hasn't paid and get on his case?

[TheUrbanMyth]

Do you HAVE to leave right away? Or could you say go to Japan when the contract expires, come back on a tourist visa and stay at a friend's place (near where you are now)? Then go back to the school and demand your OT.

[dean_burrito]

"I want my 2 dollars!" Go after that kid with a vengeance.
Seriously though if you are on good terms with the vice principal put on your puppy dog face and talk to him/her. Mine seems to be the only one that has ever helped me out with anything. It's sort of their role to keep the peace from what I've gathered.

[afsjesse]

I don't know how many kids haven't paid and I'm not going to hound down my students, it's not their fault per say.

Yes I have to leave right away because I have only 1 week to get home, say hello and move to Minnesota for grad school.

I'll try the VP thing. Thanks.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Tell them that it's too bad all the students haven't paid, but it's no reason not to pay you. Sit in the office and don't budge until they agree to pay you. You are not from Somalia. If they continue to refuse, tell them you'll go to the labor board.

[harlowethrombey]

[Countrygirl]

If it's a public school then just the threat of labour board is enough to cause a positive reaction. You can be diplomatic by saying you have no choice and you don't want to but you don't know what else you can do.

But seriously, you are wasting time by being diplomatic. With three weeks to go, you have to talk to the person who can fix these things quick (ie Dain Bae - GEPIK) or labour board.

Only someone who owns a business has to wait until all of the kids have paid their dues. It's called the cost of doing business. Employees don't have to pay this cost which is why employees make less money than owners. Higher risk = higher returns and less risk = less returns. Although in Korea, mostly everything is opposite of what it is in the West.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[marlow]

They must pay you all funds owed at the end of a contract. I'm sure that overrides their students must pay rule.

[livinginkunsan]

If he is working at a public school (and doing after school classes), they are not paid by the school. They are indeed paid by the students. Extra classes cost the school nothing. Why should they pony up the money?

If I were you, I would ask them how many students didn't pay. If the number is small, just ask for the other money and get them to send the rest (and if they don't you aren't losing as much)

[CentralCali]

Wrong! He is paid by the school, just in this case the money's not coming out of the provincial funding. The school is his employer for the OT/Camp and is responisble for paying him for the work performed. It's up to the school to go after the money owed to them. Those are actually separate issues.

[livinginkunsan]

[geldedgoat]

[afsjesse]

My concern is that I won't get paid for work I've already did. I understand the problem with the student paying and all, but I think with me they're going to have to make an exception, atleast that's my hope. They've known for almost 2 months that I'm leaving so it's not lack of knowledge on their part.