Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mld]

A friend of mine is reviewing a contract to sign at a new school. It's apparently a big chain.

Mostly it looks ok (better and more official looking than our school's contracts), but she asked me about one clause in it. Apparently they will count the price of the airfare as her first paycheck (it says they will provide the flight, so I'm assuming that they buy it and no reimbursement is necessary, but again, I'm not sure). But it goes on to say that tax will be calculated on the flight and that she will be responsible for paying that.

Is this a normal/legal thing? I didn't know and I figured someone on here could help her/me out. Our current employed just bought our tickets here for us and that was that (getting our tickets home took a bit more effort, but it was less complicated than this contract).

Any helpful suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[Karea]

Sounds like a rip to me.

Sometimes the flight tax is more than the "actual flight cost".

[mld]

I think what I wrote was confusing. She would be paying income tax on the flight, not the various taxes that are usually included in the cost of the flight (at least that was my interpretation).

[polonius]

It might help to have the exact clause as it is written, so people can give an opinion. I don't understand "they will count the price of the airfare as her first paycheck." Does this mean that the airfare they pay will her first paycheck based on what the airfare is?

What is sounds more like to me is that your friend will have to pay for the plane ticket, and that price of the ticket will be added to her pay. They will then tax her based her salary and plane ticket combined.

Have your friend ask who needs to pay for the ticket upfront.

I have spoken to people who have paid for their ticket, and have been reimbursed, but also taxed on that reimbursement as if it were salary. I have also spoken to others that have paid for their ticket, and received reimbursement without being taxed on it.

Best to go to a place that pays for the ticket upfront. Unless it is a public school, which to my understanding (not 100% sure as I don't work for one) reimburses the price without taxing it. And you are almost assured to get reimbursed from the PS. If a hagwon is asking you to pay for the ticket, then there could be a few reasons why. I wouldn't want to waste my time thinking about those reasons.

Your friend could also contact a current teacher at the school to try and get the low down on it, but, you might get a tainted opinion.

[TheUrbanMyth]

It sounds like they are saying, that they will pay the airfare, but she will have to work the first month for that...no additional salary just the price of the airfare. But she will also have to pay tax on top of that.

Tell your friend to work elsewhere.