Korean Job Discussion Forums

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

My hagwon wants to change my contract because the elementary part of the school doesn't have enough students for tuesday and thursday classes. For nearly six months, I have only worked in the elementary part of the hagwon. They have no students on tuesdays and thursdays so they want me to work tuesdays, thursdays, and now saturdays. It states in my original contract that I do not have to work saturdays. I really do not want to work saturdays.

I have disliked my school since the beginning and things have steadily gotten worse. They have paid me late and I have heard from old teachers that they had huge problems getting severance pay. The school(at least the elementary portion) seems to be failing. I know I want to leave the school, but what is the best way to go about it?

If they are changing my contract, does that mean I can opt out easily if I don't agree? How does that affect flight payment(I'm still under six months) and any unpaid salary? Do they have to give me a positive letter of release?

I'm debating whether to leave Korea for good or to come back in February, so I can't just burn my bridges.

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

I don't know if there is going to be a new contract. But my first contract explicitly says that I only work Monday through Friday. Should I then ask for a new contract? I feel like this Saturday thing is the only leverage I have.

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

You already hated your school and now they dropped this on you. Tell them you're not doing Saturdays. If they fire you, do your best to get paid. Screw the release letter. Dangling carrot crap.

Just out of curiosity, do they want you to work Mon to Sat?

By the way, Saturdays are kind of unusual in Korea.

Hugo85 · Joined: 27 Aug 2010

Exchange saturday for tuesday and thursday. 3 days off per week!

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

Yes, they want me to work 6 days a week. I do not know how many hours a week it is, because the school doesn't know yet(they aren't very organized). But they are offering me an additional 300,000 per month for an extra two hours of work per week. I still don't think it is worth it. I need my Saturdays.

Also, I am the only foreign teacher at the elementary school. I am not sure about the middle school.

So what I gather is that, despite the change in contract, I still do not have a real legal advantage. Is this correct?

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

Xylox · Joined: 09 Jul 2010

Just fly home next time you get paid, it will hurt them more then it will hurt you.

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

I don't mind getting fired as long as it is on good terms. I want to get all that is owed to me(salary, not airfare) and walk away.

m3erds · Joined: 22 Feb 2010

Also, is there anything different about collecting pension if you quit/are fired? I am an American citizen.

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

I'm kind of skeptical that they would fire you. Look at it this way: you are currently more expensive than they would like, for sure, given that they don't have enough students to justify you on Tuesday and Thursday. At the same time, even with the market as it is, I would imagine it's not going to be that easy for them to find a teacher willing to work six days a week, even if they're paying 2.5 or so a month, if they're only offering ten days vacation. While I'm sure they can find someone, for a job requiring that you work six days a week there's a solid chance that the someone they find is not going to be in Korea at the moment, which means they'll have to pay to get them over here, plus recruiting fee six months after they just paid a recruiting fee to get you.

Given all of the above, I'd call their bluff and cordially refuse to do it. I wouldn't be surprised if you continue with your normal schedule when all is said and done.