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		3DR
 
 
  Joined: 24 May 2009
 
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				 Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:08 pm    Post subject: Should I change jobs? | 
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				I've been at my current hagwon for 6 months. Things started off ok, but things have gotten worse over time. I started to gradually dislike the job, but I figured I could tough it out for the whole contract (this is my second contract in Korea).
 
 
The reasons I am considering leaving are...
 
 
- Myself among all the other teachers were paid late last month
 
- The school is losing students
 
- The schedule continues to change every month...no consistency
 
- He is talking about starting adult classes on Saturdays which is not in the contract
 
- Not paying pension like stated in the contract
 
- One Korean teacher was fired because he didn't want to pay her
 
- Two more Korean teachers are quitting this month (teachers that have been there for years and haven't been paid in 2 months)
 
 
I figure if the school closes in the future, maybe that would be easier for me to change jobs rather than quitting. Despite all the stuff listed above, I wouldn't say the boss is a mean guy, but just terribly disorganized and confused a lot of times. So I could get  LOR, but I'm not 100% sure.
 
 
Another thing, that is keeping me here in my area is my girlfriend lives 20 minutes away but we work the same late evening schedules so it's hard enough to see each other as it is.
 
 
I figure if I could get paid on time, I could tough it out until my contact finishes, but in my contract, it even states that if things are not fulfilled as said, I can break it. I just don't know how easy it would be to quit and change jobs.
 
 
Any advice or tips? It is much appreciated   | 
			 
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		mollayo
 
 
  Joined: 11 Oct 2010 Location: At the my house
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				 Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:12 pm    Post subject:  | 
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				| You seem to have many reasons for leaving. Many good reasons. It's up to you if you want to risk not getting paid. | 
			 
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		Allthechildrenareinsane
 
 
  Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Location: Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
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				 Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:00 am    Post subject: Re: Should I change jobs? | 
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	  | 3DR wrote: | 
	 
	
	  I've been at my current hagwon for 6 months. Things started off ok, but things have gotten worse over time. I started to gradually dislike the job, but I figured I could tough it out for the whole contract (this is my second contract in Korea).
 
 
The reasons I am considering leaving are...
 
 
- Myself among all the other teachers were paid late last month
 
- The school is losing students
 
- The schedule continues to change every month...no consistency
 
- He is talking about starting adult classes on Saturdays which is not in the contract
 
- Not paying pension like stated in the contract
 
- One Korean teacher was fired because he didn't want to pay her
 
- Two more Korean teachers are quitting this month (teachers that have been there for years and haven't been paid in 2 months)
 
 
I figure if the school closes in the future, maybe that would be easier for me to change jobs rather than quitting. Despite all the stuff listed above, I wouldn't say the boss is a mean guy, but just terribly disorganized and confused a lot of times. So I could get  LOR, but I'm not 100% sure.
 
 
Another thing, that is keeping me here in my area is my girlfriend lives 20 minutes away but we work the same late evening schedules so it's hard enough to see each other as it is.
 
 
I figure if I could get paid on time, I could tough it out until my contact finishes, but in my contract, it even states that if things are not fulfilled as said, I can break it. I just don't know how easy it would be to quit and change jobs.
 
 
Any advice or tips? It is much appreciated   | 
	 
 
 
 
 
Do you have enough money at the moment for a flight back home?  If so, I would say ask your boss for the LOR.  If he says no and your work situation continues to deteriorate, then at the very least you can pull a runner and remove yourself from a bad situation and then look for another job while back home.  
 
 
Before you do that, though, I would say you might want to start applying for other jobs while still in Korea.  Go on the job boards, send out resumes to some recruiters and specify that you're looking for a position in or at least near your current city so you don't end up hundreds of miles away from your girlfriend.  Try to get another job offer in hand before you ask for the LOR. | 
			 
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		koreatimes
 
 
  Joined: 07 Jun 2011
 
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				 Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:36 am    Post subject:  | 
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	  | Myself among all the other teachers | 
	 
 
 
 
That doesn't tell us anything.
 
 
Are these teachers native English speakers or Korean teachers?
 
 
If you are the only native English speaker, then I would stay there.  If there are 3 or more native English speakers, have a talk with them and try to convince the boss to give one a letter of release. | 
			 
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		marsavalanche
 
  
  Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Location: where pretty lies perish
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				 Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:57 am    Post subject: Re: Should I change jobs? | 
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	  | 3DR wrote: | 
	 
	
	  I've been at my current hagwon for 6 months. Things started off ok, but things have gotten worse over time. I started to gradually dislike the job, but I figured I could tough it out for the whole contract (this is my second contract in Korea).
 
 
The reasons I am considering leaving are...
 
 
- Myself among all the other teachers were paid late last month
 
- The school is losing students
 
- The schedule continues to change every month...no consistency
 
- He is talking about starting adult classes on Saturdays which is not in the contract
 
- Not paying pension like stated in the contract
 
- One Korean teacher was fired because he didn't want to pay her
 
- Two more Korean teachers are quitting this month (teachers that have been there for years and haven't been paid in 2 months)
 
 
I figure if the school closes in the future, maybe that would be easier for me to change jobs rather than quitting. Despite all the stuff listed above, I wouldn't say the boss is a mean guy, but just terribly disorganized and confused a lot of times. So I could get  LOR, but I'm not 100% sure.
 
 
Another thing, that is keeping me here in my area is my girlfriend lives 20 minutes away but we work the same late evening schedules so it's hard enough to see each other as it is.
 
 
I figure if I could get paid on time, I could tough it out until my contact finishes, but in my contract, it even states that if things are not fulfilled as said, I can break it. I just don't know how easy it would be to quit and change jobs.
 
 
Any advice or tips? It is much appreciated   | 
	 
 
 
 
I pulled a runner after the 1st month of my second job due to the bolded.  The job I have now is way less hours, same pay, and none of the shady red flags/lies my last hagwon pulled.
 
 
Your boss MUST give you 30 days notice if he fires you since you've been there for 6 months already.
 
 
My advice: From the sounds of it you want to stay in Korea, so get another set of documents ready NOW and the DAY you get paid after those fresh docs are ready pull a runner.  Come back to Korea, stay in a goshiwun, and find a job on your own.  Of course if you can manage a LOR (which I doubt from your OP) none of that will be necessary.  Don't worry about the pension, you can collect that when you get back by showing the pension office proof you worked at the hagwon, your boss will get fined, and you'll get your money.
 
 
Worked for me.  I advise you do to the same as well. | 
			 
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		Son Deureo!
 
 
  Joined: 30 Apr 2003
 
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				 Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:37 pm    Post subject:  | 
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				This is good advice. Don't even hint to your boss that you might leave until you have a complete set of apostilled docs in hand. You'll need them if you need to cancel your current visa and start again from scratch. If your American this can take a few months, unfortunately.
 
 
Your boss sounds very erratic, I wouldn't bet on him giving you an LOR if I were you. | 
			 
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