Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

I've had a pretty rotten day, so I don't need any flames from Corporal or kiwiboy about how it is all my fault.

Last summer our boss told us his wife had a new job. She is now working for an insurance company. Fine. It doesn't affect me. I don't care one way or the other.

Just before Christmas he caught me in the hall and told me that my next car insurance payment would be due in February. I was more than a little startled that he would know. I mentioned it to a Korean co-worker and he said that there is no such thing as privacy in Korea. I'm not sure I believe him, but it would explain why my first boss would say that he would delay paying me because my bank told him I didn't really need the cash.

Last month the boss mentioned again that my car insurance payment would be due soon. I asked two Korean co-workers what was going on. They both said that I am expected to change companies to 'help' my boss. One of the co-workers said he would be changing his company when the time came. "It's the Korean way to help each other."

This morning that guy called me out in the hall to ask me if I had paid my car insurance yet. "The boss is asking me about you."

I think this is 150% unethical. It is outrageous to use his position to get money out of me (in the form of commissions for his wife).

At lunch I asked a Korean who has lived abroad for most of his life. He said I am expected to change companies. And that the very least the boss would do if I refuse is to tell his associates that I am disloyal and stingy. At worst, my job could be in danger. (I think he was exaggerating about the job. Our boss will be transferred in a couple of months.)

I know what I would do at home. I would hire a lawyer and sue the jerk for every penny he has and retire to Jamaica. I also know that I will refuse to change insurance companies. What I am NOT sure of is how to actually handle the situation.

[Note: My insurance company has an office two blocks from my school. It is easy to pay and deal with them. My boss will be leaving. When he goes, his wife will go. I have no clue where her office is. Why should I trade an easy and efficient company for god alone knows what situation?]

Any advice on how to handle this situation?

Whine #2:

Today at 3:01 I was leaving my class. One of my co-workers, Ms. Fernande, passed me on the way to teach the next class. (She was on her way to teach the same group)

At 3:03 she came into the office and sat down. At 3:04 she said, "Ya-ta Boy, thank you for telling me that your class went late."

I paused, looked up at the clock and said, "It is 3:04. Your class doesn't begin until 3:10...the same as it has for the last year. What's your problem?"

Tonight at 6:35 she begins to sing. (She lives across the hall.) "God, please forgive my co-workers at my present school. They don't know how they hurt us. Please forgive them." [I should mention that this is the woman who insists on quiet in the apartment from 5:30 to 7:30 while she meditates, but if you upset her during the day will stand right in front of her door and sing (or caterwaul ?) to punish you.] She is moving to a new school in 2 1/2 weeks. I am planning a party for March 1 to celebrate her leaving. My sympathies to anyone who gets her as a co-worker. A clue: she has a red leaf on her backpack and speaks in extremely convoluted grammar that is not completely correct. Be warned.]

~moved to General Discussion Forum by waterbaby~

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

[Imbroglio]

[Son Deureo!]

Situation #1, it looks like your boss is trying to hint at what he wants, rather than actually telling you what he wants. Since the only reason you know that he wants you to change insurance companies is because your Korean friends are telling you, I'd just play dumb. You are, after all, just a stupid foreigner. Maybe something like this...

[Ilsanman]

You insult Canadians from the backdoor. Classy.

Your boss is an ass, plain and simple. I would ask him some poersonal questions right back, like 'how is your sex life? The neighbours told me it's pretty good.'

Or something totally serious..maybe closer to the time he leaves..like 'unless you wanna pay my insurance payment, its noit your business'.

[J.B. Clamence]

[Butterfly]

The first situation I would just leave it, don't do anything. It is their custom to do such things, but you know how indirect Korean people often are, the way they don't tell you things directly and expect you to figure everything out. He is just hinting that you change your insurance I think, but he hasn't told you directly, because it is not an order. I think he'll be disappointed if you don't, but he won't make trouble for you. A native speaker teacher is too much of a commodity to lose over an insurance policy.

The second story sounds like you got the single most annoying person in chrisendom working with you.

[Squid]

I heard she'd moved to Pusan.

[Corporal]

[Butterfly]

[Corporal]

Is he a pinko? well, of course, that changes things then.

[Butterfly]

[Corporal]

[ersatzprofessor]

I don't get you and the other posters on this actually. What's the big deal about changing insurance companies as a favour to someone you know and work with, anyway? It sounds like the boss's face is at stake here a bit - he may have promised his wife to get everyone at the office for her, who knows? Anyway, at least give his wife the chance to quote you - if it's for more you're off the hook (I say that as a former insurance manager ?myself - I didn't hassle one of my own employees when she kept her house at our competitors) . And you might even save a few won, who knows? So you pay your insurance at the bank instead of at the office- big f**ing deal.

Butterfly is right, there will most likely be no consequences if you don't, although you will have earned a favour from him if you do. By all means play dumb to avoid confrontation, but don't think he will really buy it for a second unless he really is dumb or thinks you are.

You're not in Kansas anymore, Toto, and any small favours you can do to other people might end up coming in handy later on and sometimes they pay off in spades. Here personal relationships are everything and what you are doing is basically giving someone a slap in the face because of a minor inconvenience where you could have gained a possible future asset instead. If that's what you want to do fine, but don't kid yourself that it isn't what you are doing. And you can yammer on about invasion of privacy and coercive pressure as much as you want and of course you're right about it- but so what?

[J.B. Clamence]