Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cerberus]

Hi.

I'm curious as to the consequences of leaving early during one's later years.. for e.g. at the same public school.

I may have a situation where something I can't afford to pass up may arise later this year, but I can't "bank" on it just yet as the wheels seems to be moving slower than anticipated , so will probably stay here teaching until it does come up.

My basic questions are - what are the financial consequences of leaving early if you've been here more than one year?

I assume the severance is prorated for the years you've been at the same place. Eg.. if I leave after 2.5 years.. I get 2 years severance and give up my 3rd year's, etc.

I assume national pension is prorated and I simply take out what I've put in.

the biggest question is what about the take home leave and flight money given for flight home, etc. Would I have to give that back before 6 months was up? if I didn't complete the entire year?
or what?

I don't want to screw anyone over, especially at my current school where I have been magnificently treated, and should this arise, I will recruit my replacement personally to spare them the trouble. However, I can't be 100% sure my can't miss opportunity may arise, so I have to cover my bases in the meantime.

if anyone can elucidate re my questions, I'd appreciate it.

[lifeinkorea]

If they paid for you to go home and come back, then that was done because they expected you to finish that contract period you are in coming back for. So, you should pay it back.

However, if you stayed in Korea, then they haven't given you anything extra.

The other stuff you mentioned seems to be correct, establish a letter of release being given if you want to come back before the year is up.

If you can explain more of what this opportunity is, more feedback can be given.

[tokkibunni8]

If you leave before completing 6 months, you must pay back half of that roundtrip ticket.

On severance pay, you haven't recieved your severance for teh first two years completed? You're suppose get that on the last day of each contract.

For pension, you get what you have put in plus what your school has matched.

Give them 30 days notice if you're leaving early and get a letter of release.

[Cerberus]

aha.. 6 months.. That makes sense. Thank you!

it's basically a non teaching gig in a different Asian country, that I couldn't pass up because my pay would be double or more, I'd get housing and the cost of living would be lower.

However, though I've been provisionally hired, I can't get a formal job offer until my small group/project receives their funding and has money in the bank. They're already lagging by 2 months on when they were supposed to get their money.

So, my stance now is I'll believe it when I see it and won't count on it.

thanks again.


no... I haven't gotten any severance pay, but I've been with the same school, so my assumption was that I'd get the entire severance, for whatever number of years owed when I left.

[lifeinkorea]

[Cerberus]

[lifeinkorea]

[Cerberus]

[Senior]

I don't think your severance is likely to be pro-rated. You should get full severance for the 2 completed years (this is how it's meant to work, but most schools pay the severance at the end of the contract rather than the end of employment at that school(how is it "severance if you continue working there)), but if you leave half way through the the 3rd contract you shouldn't be eligible for severance for that year. Though, if it were me, I would definitely ask for it. They might be ignorant of the rules or generous.

[oldfatfarang]

To cover your bases:
If your school is going to pay for a return flight - make sure they pay to your country - not your new Asian destination.

I always get my airfare to my orginal home country - but I include a stopover in Thailand (where I actually live). That way, if I have an emergency in Thailand, and I have to return home, my school has already paid for the complete flight.

This strategy works - as once a Thai hotel owner robbed me of everything - (all I had left was busfare to the airport and my flight ticket to my original home country).

This could happen to you (if your new job doesn't pan out). As we all know, there's a big difference between what Asian employers say - and what actually happens.

Good luck.

[cincynate]

If you haven't received a severance yet, and have been working at the same school for 2.5 years, then you would receive 2.5 months of salary. It isn't paid per year, but for your total time there. You just have to be with the same employer for 1+ years to be eligible. Good luck!

[Cerberus]

[Morgen]

What cincynate said is correct, and the law. If you make, for example, 2 million a month for 2.5 years and have never gotten a severance payment, you're owed 2.5 months' salary, as an average (I believe) of your last three months of employment. If you're American your pension is a straightforward payout, so as long as it's deducted from your paycheck (all the months of your employment), you can have that refunded.

You won't have to pay back any of your roundtrip flight if you can hang on until six months, but your exit flight won't be paid for unless you finish your contract. Speaking of that, a perusal of it should answer some of these questions for you.

[Cerberus]

[Senior]