Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Alvy Singer]

All advice, help, tips and what-have-you on this matter is greatly appreciated. Thanks much, in advance.

This is a story about the school at which my girlfriend and, by proxy, several of my friends work. It's in Bundang, and it's a private kindergarten.

My girl, like all of the EFL teachers at this particular institution (like an EFL teacher, generally), is under contract. Salary, benefits, housing--all of the standard clauses and articles.

Some children at her school came down with the hype-dreaded flu, and after several weeks of staying open for a handful of students the school decided, finally, to close for a week.

Several weeks ago, all teachers at the school were brought together for a meeting--to address in particular the prospect of a closing. At this meeting, they were told, "If your classes get canceled, you will still be paid."

Now today. The teachers received announcement of the closing. Then they were told, "You will not be paid for this week."

In sympathetic fury, I suggested to my girl that she notify the labor board. I suggested this after several of her co-workers, I'm told, met with the employers to deal with the matter. (My girl, because of a pressing, prior obligation, could not make it to this meeting.)

I do believe, out of caution and reasoning, that my suggestion was hasty.

But--what?

What can these teachers do in this case? (I ask sincerely.)

I thank very much anyone who can help them out.

[lifeinkorea]

I was told the same thing, but they gave me a "choice" to not be paid or make them up on Saturdays.

Personally, I figure they didn't cause it and financially I am not hurting. If they close it down for a week, take a vacation somewhere. Go somewhere, be a non-teacher for a week. Be Ferris Bueller for a week.

[ChopChaeJoe]

If you really, really, REALLY made a stink about it, you would probably be paid (for work you didn't do, even though your apartment is still being paid for), but it would poison the relationship at work. Bum it for a week, eat ramen, turn the heat down low, don't buy anything. You can make it through these lean times.

[jpotter78]

[cdninkorea]

Were the students refunded their tuition that week? If the students were still paying, teachers should still get paid too.

[air76]

I can't believe that people are actually suggesting that she eat the pay. Virtually every contract in Korea is based on a salary. It is unfortunate that the school may lose money because of the closing, but that's the risk of being a business owner. You reap the rewards but you also must weather the storms.

Even the best hagwons are always looking for a way to get out of paying you the money that you are owed. I am not being a cynic, it is just the way that business is done here. If you bow down to this closing then what will be next? The school is closed for a day to fix the plumbing or whatever and you get docked a day's wage? Not to mention it could easily snowball into lowering your wage when you don't teach the minimum hours in your contract when it is out of your control.

When people don't stand up to these hagwon owners it just means that they are more likely to screw over the next teacher.

Absolutely she needs to go in there with her contract and explain nicely that she is sorry that they had to close but that she is entitled to her monthly salary nevertheless. If they refuse then again nicely mention that you don't want to have to go to the labor board.

I disagree wholeheartedly that doing this will 'poison' the relationship with your boss. EVERY time I have had it out with a boss in Korea over something like this my working environment improved. Once you fight them over something once (assuming that you are in the right) then they don't want to fight you again. Stand up once and the incidents of them trying to pull the wool over your eyes drop dramatically, but every time they successfully are able to screw you reminds them that they can do it again at their pleasure.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Is the director going without pay for a week? Seems unlikely.

[nathanrutledge]

My school paid me extra money for living in a rural area for 6 months, then found out that our school didn't qualify for this (the school literally across the street did, however) and they made me pay it back (well, they kept it from my next check).

My school is great, but when it comes to money, they stuck it to me before. I'd do the same thing. Contract contract contract. If we are not good at are word, we are no better than the animals!

[runthegauntlet]

[cdninkorea]

[runthegauntlet]

[lifeinkorea]

[jpotter78]

[air76]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[quote="jpotter78"]