Korean Job Discussion Forums

[recessiontime]

I think many of us have experience this in Korea. Usually you are asked to do something voluntarily like work an extra day or teach an extra class. You want to be a nice person, a nice employee so you comply.

Then, they come to expect it of you and start increasing the hoops. What was once a voluntary gesture is now expected of you. The hoops keep building on, what was a extra class is now teaching every weekend, what was teaching every weekend now also includes teaching your co-teacher's children English for free, then helping their family move or do farming. It's virtually endless cycle.

Then finally when you've had enough and refuse they get very upset. I used to think this was a Korean thing but this culture of escalation can be seen among other Asian groups.

My own story is that recently my Chinese friend has been asking me to buy stuff for him on Ebay. He doesn't have a credit card so I try to be helpful and buy things for him, he pays on the spot. I did this a few times out of charity. Before buying the 3rd item from ebay I told him this would be the last time I did this favor for him and made him promise it would be the last time. A week later he asked me to buy something for him again and I refused. He got really upset, reminding him of his promise just made him even more upset. He kept trying to get around the issue by saying it's not a big deal and that he'd pay me.

Where does this ridiculous attitude come from? I really detest it. Do other Asian groups do this too?

[Louis VI]

No sense of boundaries is what I used to call it regarding my Korean friends, but soon realized it's a cultural thing. As for Korean employers, indeed, give them an inch and they'll take a mile. If you put your foot down and draw a line in the sand, then they respect that, and all is okay afterwards. I spent multiple years at each of two hagwons and in both cases I said 'no' in the first couple of weeks to extra demands (a time when some newbies might mistakenly try to be agreeable) and the relationships after that were clear, boundaries drawn, and in the end, years of happy employer-employee relations!

[mc_jc]

You just have to be firm that the situation is just a one-time deal. Then when they ask you to do it again, you either say no or ask to be paid extra for it.

Remember you are an educator and they're business people- you need to think like them and remember there is no room to be nice without asking for something in return.

[Kurtz]

I like a bit of give and take in the workplace. When I did my crapwon year, I didn't ask for over time money because I stayed back a few times to help my students with a speech contest as a) I wanted to help b) I didn't have to make up missed classes.

I've read several threads from mercenary teachers demanding payment as they stayed after hours preparing for an open class or something, it kind of irks me as I doubt they take into consideration the fact they are getting well paid to do very little work, and possibly resentment from their co-workers or the school.

Some Korean employers I'm sure exploit the NET, and a firm foot should be planted down when repeated demands are made for no extra payment but I think there are those that put that foot down too often and firmly without looking at other factors.

[recessiontime]

[AsiaESLbound]

I've seen it outside of Korea in America many times. It's common work place competition. Many young naive employees are abused in this manner and many newbies are tested in what plays out to be a power struggle when they desist. Where this happens, they are not playing you to be your friend, they are trying to use you to make themselves look good. Be firm. If they get mad and start yelling, so be it. If they get confrontational with you in attempt to force you to do extra work with no appreciation or rewards, then let them, but don't back down. I'm not afraid to tell them they are wrong or acting out of place in this situation. They usually learn it's not worth pushing you where they wear out on trying you and then chill out. If they are crazy where they don't let up after a few months straight, it leads to disastrous consequences. Jobs are often a series of power struggles when you aren't a pushover for this use and abuse by selfish supervisors, directors, and co-teachers or co-workers trying to manage a good recommendation for themselves or just compete for power over you and the situation. I despite these kind of self centered people looking to challenge you instead of being a cooperative team player that can be found anywhere; not just Asia.

[oldfatfarang]

Escallation is a common management practice in Korea. Any hagwon survivor will tell you that. Most haggie veterans learn to say "NO," no matter what the request, or the level of politeness used. Saying "No" to everything that isn't in the contract can make for a very stressful first few months at any Korean job - but it will ultimately make your year at lot less stressful.

Good luck.

[Hotwire]

Very Dog eat dog here. Korean culture runs on hierarchical dichotomy.

They will constantly test you to see if you will be pushed. Once and I mean just one time - they smell weakness, that is the image you're stuck with and they will have you by the short and curlies for a year.

I learned this the hard way. I sued to put up with endless nonsense at ahakwan I worked at but this other American guy workign there used to always get the best schedule, best things in his apt, time off when needed without complaints etc. One day I eavesdropped outside the manager's door when they were talkingand HE actually was talking to the manager like he was the big dog and constantly reminding the manager how many kids he had in his class, how much the kids and parents liked him and that HE was good for business. Asked him about it and he said yeah I never give an inch and they respect me for it.

I play hardball from day 1 on a new job now, reasonable, never angry, but firm when an employer tries to break from contract or ask too much.

I'm friendly and sociable outside of any 'business' negotiations on the job.