Korean Job Discussion Forums

[whome33]

a friend of mine wants to quit his job, get a letter of release and transfer his visa to a new job in seoul.
he's worked at the school for over a year, and the small town he's in isn't doing it for him anymore. on top of that, he gets the feeling that the new vice-principal doesnt like him, and apparently that towns school board has put out a notice to not hire any more black teachers (although thats a rumour i suppose). btw, he's black (being black in the countryside is alot different than in seoul-but lets not digress)
but the iceing on the cake is them paying him late for the 3rd month in a row. last month they were a week late. (this could coincide with the VP not liking him-not sure). so they have violated the contract, he hasnt.
what are his rights? whats the best way to word a letter of resignation, and get a letter of release? he's willing to give a month or 2 notice.
cheers

[thoreau]

He's at a public school at being paid late?

If so he should call the local POE asap.

[ttompatz]

[whome33]

POE stands for public office of education? excuse my ignorance, iv never worked for a public school. he's been at the school for over a year, i think he's 2 months into his 2nd contract. but theres a new VP this year.
yes, public school is paying him late.
is 2 months proper notice?
Is there any way to findout if there's a prereqquisite of his POE giving LOR's? He's in yeosu

[ttompatz]

[Snowkr]

Getting the LOR from a public school can be tricky if the principal or VP doesn't like you. I had to somewhat manipulate mine into giving it to me.

Your friend should submit a formal letter of resignation immediately (either 30 days or 60 days, depending on his contract). Then I would suggest typing up his own LOR, signing it, and leaving a space at the bottom for signature of supervisor/VP.

At first, my principal did not want to sign mine either. They were very upset with me when I submitted my resignation and tried to threaten and bribe me into staying. But I wrote the LOR in such a way as to make it look like I was
"the bad guy" for breaking my contract early and that I was prepared to take full responsibility for my actions. I did not label it as a "letter of release".

I've copied and pasted the actual letter below. I had it translated into Korean as well, as my principal probably understood 5 words in English:

January, 4, 2008

It is the decision of the administration and principal of *** High School that the GEPIK employed Native English teacher, Miss ***, will be released from her contract with this school at the end of this month. Upon receiving signatures from both parties involved, her employment in *** High School will be officially terminated on January 31, 2008.

Whereas it was the employee�s decision to unexpectedly break the contract six months prior to the completion date by announcing that she would leave her position in March, the employer feels that it is not in the school�s best interest to employ her until her original resignation date of March 2, 2008 due to financial costs accrued by employing a foreign teacher.

Therefore this document will serve as a mutual agreement between the employer and employee to terminate the contract on January 31, 2008 thus requiring the employee to return the airfare reimbursement given to her upon arrival in Korea and to relinquish her E-2 visa, as she has fallen short of her contractual obligations.


Signature of employee:


Signature of employer:

[bish]

[ttompatz]

[salgichawa]

[ttompatz]