Korean Job Discussion Forums

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

OP. Forget this Christmas Eve vacation-day-stuff. Keep your head down. Don't make waves. Don't bite the bear. You are looking at losing a lot of money if you give your employer a reason to fire you.

Good luck.

Bondrock · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Location: ^_^

I suppose you'll be wanting half a day off again this year?

<if it's not too inconvenient sir >

Make sure you're in that much earlier the next day Cratchet.

le-paul · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Location: dans la chambre

this might be a little bit dramatic but one thing I always learned is - cover your back.
Confront her and ask what have I done wrong and how can I rectify this? (most contracts state that all persons have tried to solve problems etc.).
BUT before starting the conversation - take out your video camera, camera or what ever - and record the conversation.
Its probably not necessary - but its evidence if its needed and it will either put the sh-its up her or stop her from having a hissy fit in your face.

s.tickbeat · Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Location: Gimhae

It never hurts to ask for a day off. In fact, you're legally entitled to 16 vacation days (not 10), and you're supposed to be able to choose them yourself. That said, the practicalities are a lot more difficult to navigate. Additionally, if you've been an employee of the hagwon for 6 months or more they HAVE to pay your return airfare, no ifs and or buts. You could quit tomorrow and they'd still have to pay it. It's somewhere in the E2 regulations. Moreover, I'd check on the severance - they'd have to pay 11 months worth of severance even if they fired you.

On the leverage end. . . make sure they've been giving genuine reports to x government body concerning your pension, health, and taxes. I've had friends who've been screwed on their pension refunds because their boss claimed their income as 1.4m instead of 2.4m. . . and that's a HUGE deal to the Korean government so if you can find out, you may have leverage.

Fox · Joined: 04 Mar 2009

marina_ballerina · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Nowon, S. Korea

Well, here's the thing: she didn't equate me taking half of x-mas eve off with firing me. I mean, she gave me the half day. She didn't say, "this makes a case for firing you stronger." It seemed almost unrelated.

I can't stay at this point, the tickets are bought, and I have a reason that I need to be home. Getting home on that day is more important to me than my job.

I don't want to post my sob story to this forum, but I was forced to pose it to my boss, and she seemed really understanding of the actual Christmas Eve thing. Or at least, as far as I could tell she was.

Oh, and the plot thickens: since this conversation a few weeks ago, she has been all smiles, butt slaps, and hugs to me. Whyyyeee?

BTW, Dickens post was hilarious. I'm imagining this scenario where I'm like, "Give the children their examination scores? But tomorrow's Christmas day!" and my boss will reply sardonically "Very well, you may giftwrap them."

Xylox · Joined: 09 Jul 2010

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

seoulsucker · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:35 pm Post subject:

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Los Angeloser · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Location: Korea

Of course you don't go to the labor board just because your employer was thinking about firing you. Whoever stated that is ridiculous.

You should receive a warning before you get fired(per labor law) and be given a chance to improve on whatever you supposedly aren't doing well enough. And, you should ask for input on how to improve whatever it is that you aren't doing. Your employer is suppose to give you a written notice if/when you are fired(per labor law). You should know the reason(s) why you're fired and a 30 day notice is also required in most cases. If you feel you ever get fired illegally and do not have that written notice then you aren't legally being fired, don't react too seriously when things are said to you b/c the next day your employer might say something else. Koreans are known to change their mind the next day.

marina_ballerina · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Nowon, S. Korea

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

The idea of going to the labor board is one that you could use as a counter in case your boss does go ahead and fire you early.

Don't bring it up unless it becomes clear that the boss will do this for sure, then you can say something like" well I guess the labor board will be interested in this case".

And then see if your boss might change his/her mind.

marina_ballerina · Joined: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Nowon, S. Korea

Update: I wasn't fired on month eleven, I am being asked to re-sign on month twelve. Lolz. My boss is crazy.