Korean Job Discussion Forums

[teacherk]

I have been in Korea and at my Hagwon for three and a half months. Two days after arriving, I was moved into a very small, but brand new apartment. I am generally a healthy person, but have constantly been sick since I have been here. I sent my boss pictures of the mold in my apartment weeks ago which he ignored and then told me I was too sensitive. This past week, I have been throwing up every day. I pulled back all of my furniture to find that the mold problem is far worse than I thought. I brought new and worse pictures into my boss on Monday, but he is dragging his feet and will not put me in a hotel in the meantime. He said that his priority right now is the students that are leaving and does not want me to keep bothering him with this. I said that I am worried that I will have to call in sick because I am throwing up everyday which will not help with student retention. He said that if I call in sick he will fire me. I have been trying to do some research as to what my rights are. My US standards, this would be a lawsuit, but I know that things don�t really work that way in Korea. If he does fire me (before six months) will they take out the cost of my plane ticket here? Any advice would be helpful; I am really at my wits end here.

[caniff]

[Banana_Man]

First off, you have my sympathy - that's a horrible situation to be in.

As for solving the problem, sometimes when the boss just doesn't want to help, he won't. I advise to get out of the apartment as it is making you sick. Move into a friends or motel (not ideal I know but, you want to get well first so you can fight the director) and get well.

Then, contact the recruiters and see if they will help (in my experience this is unlikely).

Tell your boss that you will leave if he doesn't fix the problem, you can say that you will blacklist the school but, that could cause many more problems. If you take days off then he may realise and do something about it.

Regardless you MUST get him to move your apartment - if he says he will just fix the problem, DO NOT believe it as he will most likely just cover it up and you'll be sick again.

My advice is not great I know and others will have much better to give. Just take it easy - get out of the apartment and try to piece together an argument against the director. There are people you can call for legal advice, I do not know the numbers offhand though. Stay positive!

[NYC_Gal]

Here's a site on how to do it yourself (for the time being, it's your safest bet).

http://www.ehow.com/about_5063780_home-clean-mold-off-walls.html

Feel better!

[The Gipkik]

Document everything your boss says. Everything. Heck, carry a small recorder in your pocket and record his voice too, if he is such a sly and slippery one. Google home remedies for room mold. There are plenty. I had the same problem, but in a tropical country. You should be able to take care of the mold yourself, but you might need a dehumidifier or a good fan. If you do call in sick, get a doctor's note to cover yourself and as proof in case you need to go to the labor board.

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

Quit asap. Your health takes precedence.

[ttompatz]

Take the advice on this board with a grain of salt.

1st - the apartment, and mold, are YOUR responsibility. It is YOUR apartment. Your bad housekeeping is NOT your bosses responsibility.

You are a big boy now. Your mother is not here. Clean it up. Use bleach to kill the mold and air your place out. The mold (mildew) is caused by too much humidity. Open your bathroom window (and leave it open) so the moisture (from laundry, showers and cooking) can escape your apartment. Your mold problem should go away.

2nd - if you quit (or get yourself fired) before 6 months the labor board will NOT help you. The airfare is a contractual matter and it is a safe bet that you will be responsible for it.

3rd - if you leave before the 6 month mark it is a safe bet that you will NOT be able to transfer your visa to another employer for any number of reasons including but not limited to: immigration policy and a lack of a LOR from your unhappy boss.

Good luck to you.

.

[bobranger]

You should go to the labor board. Then go on strike and get a lawyer to sue him for every won he has. Take pictures as well as samples to sent to a lab (CSI Style). Document everything. Maybe call your embassy and(local,national,internationa) media.

Maybe you should just clean the mold.

[Senior]

Find a new job.

[DrugstoreCowgirl]

[kabrams]

[perelandra]

i'd say that mold behind the furniture is a pretty serious amount of mold -- the usual stuff in the bathroom can be "managed" by mold prevention and treatment, but there is a possibility that the mold in the apartment is not the op's fault -- the place could just be poorly designed -- could even have some weird hidden leak that's promoting the mold (bad pipes, maybe water dripping down from somewhere, etc.)

throwing up every day is pretty darn bad for you - if i were you, i'd get out asap, then try to figure out how to deal with the issue and your boss. i don't have specific ideas in mind, but maybe talking to a doctor and bringing the note in to your boss might help? getting some sort of "look, this guy is not kidding and he'll definitely not be able to teach if this keeps up" justification from an outside source might help.

if the mold is simply an issue of you not ventilating properly (but in cold weather like this, i'd doubt that's it?) -- consider trying some of the tips offered. maybe you can get things cleaned up on your own - it's hard to say.

[kabrams]

[DrugstoreCowgirl]

[kabrams]

http://www.epa.gov/mold/index.html

Here's a website from the EPA (US) that might help you with clean-up and prevention! I'm definitely going to be using some of the tips in the future!