Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jajdude]

I did the so-called right thing and gave notice a few weeks ago, and offered to stay until May if necessary. Today I was told that they may have a new teacher as soon as next week. But the boss thinks I should help him pay the recruitment fee (1,500,000 won) and perhaps part of the Japan visa trip (400,000). So I'm thinking he may just want to keep up to half my pay for my last month. In which case I may say, "OK, I can stay until the end of my contract (another six months)," to avoid getting burned. Makes me wonder though that perhaps the boss will want to get out severance pay later. I don't understand why he's so cheap considering he has a successful business other than this one, and I'm sure he has a lot of money in the bank. I guess in his mind it's business and any expenses he can avoid he will, although I think it would be illegal for him to keep any of my pay after I gave notice. Hell, if I didn't give notice I could just leave without this concern. Now I'm thinking I might stick it out another 6 months and see if I can avoid getting burned then. Several years and several jobs, any every one a cheapskate!

[Captain Obvious 2.0]

The correct answer is that you have to pay back your airfare.

[mack the knife]

you don't have to pay anything....but, as captain ostentatious 2.0 mentioned, you should pay back your airfare...forget the other crap, which is just blackmail from a cheap bastardo (your boss)...

as soon as you quit your job you need to report it to immigration...

[jajdude]

Just a note. I wasn't given airfare, just the ticket to Osaka for the visa run. Also the boss has withheld 10% of my pay every month (OK I was pretty broke when I accepted), and I think he has no intention of paying that to me (over a million won). So it seems strange he would suggest I should pay anything at all for recruiting a new guy or sending him to Japan. If he does keep money from my pay, to help pay for the new guy, what should I do? What gets me is this boss guy makes it sounds like he's got it so tough having to pay a recruitment fee, etc.... but it's easy to tell he's actually pretty well off.

[Rey Mysterio 619]

[query29]

If you could either pay 1.5 mil and more or try to get it from a helpless foreigner, wouldn't you. If you would, I'd consider never opening your own business.

[rawiri]

Next time get a friggin public school job! Instantly all these hassles dissapear. How long have you been here?, you know wongjangnims aren't to be trusted!

[poet13]

I don't understand why he would keep 10% of your pay, unless that was to cover taxes, medical, and pension. 1.5%, 2.24%, 4.5%. Still less than ten%, but whatever. If you're ALSO paying taxes and stuff, then you're really getting ripped off.
You received no airfare to get there. You saved him a bunch of money already.
Recruiter fee? No way.
It sounds like he's seeing what he can get away with. You're worried about also losing your severance at the end. Is airfare in your contract? Do you worry that you also won't receive that either at the end of your contract? Speaking of contracts. Is there a clause in there that says you have to pay part of a recrutiers fee or visa run if you leave early? Doubt it. I have heard of a scam before where the employer deducts money every month from a person pay, and uses that at the end as their severance. It's BS, but I've heard it's been done. If he calls it 'deposit' money, is it in your contract? I've heard they're not legal if you didn't agree to it.
You're at six months, or close to it. It sounds like you could be getting set up to lose a lot more. You have given him proper notice. The only difficult part now is to get a LOR.

[jellobean]

The real question is whether you plan to continue working in Korea... If so, you can get back anything he has kept that isn't in your contract by going to the labor board (as long as you don't agree to him keeping it).

If you are staying, I would tell him no, you won't pay anything that wasn't specifically stated in the contract. Record what he has kept (including anything he deducted previously - you can burn him even more if he was taking out taxes and not reporting them) and then take it to the labor board after your contract is over. They are not so much help during your contract.

The same goes for the severance you are worried about if you stay. If you plan to leave Korea, do it now you'll just get burned for more later. If you plan to stay, you'll be looking at less money you have to go after through the labor board if he keeps your severance.

You will, however, need to worry about a letter of release if you are quitting now and plan to stay.

If he doesn't give you the letter of release, immigration will want you to leave within 30 days or so. You might be able to get this extended by saying you need to be here to go after your money.

[Missile Command Kid]

Am I the only one that noticed that this thread started in 2003?

[Zoot]

I was just about to respond to it until you mentioned it. This guy doesn't sound like the sharpest spoon in the drawer. However, I do have some opinions about cheapskates in this country. What's with that?? Recruitment fees and visa runs are all part of running a legit hogwan business but schools constantly try to get out of paying all this stuff as well as other stuff as we all know.

My conclusion: they don't care about legitimate business.

Business ethics? It's all ok as long as it makes me money. That's the only ethic at issue here.

I worked for a number of small businesses back home and it's all the same, no matter where you are. You're just more vulnerable here cuz it costs so damn much to get in and out and there are so few resources to help you if you're stuck whereas back home, you speak the same language, know how to find the right help and can argue your case a little more easily.

[Satin]

For the past week, someone puts in an old thread almost every day!

Guess the person does it to see if we read or to point out that past problems are still today's problems! It'd be nice if the person took their talents and used them elsewhere!

[seoulsista]

[jajdude]