Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bobbybigfoot]

Op, perhaps you reek of smoke and are unaware. It really is a nasty habit.

Quit and keep the job. Or don't and move on.

These are your choices.

[jvalmer]

[lifeinkorea]

You could just call their bluff. Will any renewal sheet or forms have not smoking mentioned in it? I doubt it.

Don't smoke for a while, then continue as usual. If you are going to leave anyway it doesn't matter. They can't fire you based on smoking outside of work.

They could, or any other school, could drum up another excuse to fire you. So, you might as well renew and then if they get nasty force the issue on them and find out exactly what the problem is. Another school could just have the same problem your current school has.

For me, my ex-girlfriend's parents wanted me to bow to them. I never knew this and when I found out apparently it was too late in their mind.

Something small and minor can make all the difference in the world.

[passport220]

[InDaGu]

[wiganer]

Two years ago - the wouldn't have dared do this, it shows you how bad the job situation has got.

I would tell them to sod off in a heartbeat. Typical Korean workplace mentality. Forcing you to adopt or lose habits against your will, don't eat the crappy school cafeteria food with the rest of them will make you a social leper. The more you go along with it the worse you get treated anyway - it is the law of diminishing returns - and totally not worth it.

[lifeinkorea]

[InDaGu]

[Troglodyte]

Is your boss a woman? If your boss is a man, I can hardly believe that he doesn't smoke as well. A middle aged Korean man who doesn't smoke? Ya, right. I'm sure he never drinks either.

If it were me, I probably would have denied being a smoker the first time that the issue came up. If you don't smoke near your workplace and your co-workers didn't previously know that you're a smoker, I wouldn't have told them. If it's not illegal, then it's none of their business what you do outside work. For men, smoking is not only acceptable in Korea, but encouraged. There is NO social stigma at all attached to being a chain smoker - or even an alcoholic for that matter. If you aren't smoking before or during your work hours, I can't even see how they would smell it on you or otherwise find out without your telling them. The students in particular would have no way of knowing.

My advice - if you want to keep the job (e.g. you don't want to look for another 6 month gig) then just tell them that you'll stop smoking until the end of your renewed contract. Tell them that you plan on using nicotine gum or something until you leave Korea. How are they going to know if you really have stopped smoking? On the other hand, if you don't care about the job, then tell them outright that it's none of their business and that you highly doubt that the other men at the school don't smoke. Either way, next time that they want you to hang out for a group party or trip to the bar, you've got a good excuse not to - it's too smoky in the bar and it would make you feel bad that you can smell the smoke but not have one yourself.

[Privateer]

Tell them they have no right to dictate your personal life and quit.

And then maybe give up smoking anyway cos it's bad for you.

[lifeinkorea]

[FMPJ]

[Cerulean]

[InDaGu]

[InDaGu]