Korean Job Discussion Forums

[english puppet]

Just curious for public school positions about this.

What is the process for getting fired? Am I safe in assuming that there's a semi serious process for EPIK/SMOE? I'm in a situation where I feel like I've got a couple of bad tempered co-workers who aren't being fair or honest about things.

I received what might be termed a "warning letter" from the principal after I complained about a co-teacher (the other co-teacher did also). The letter totally misrepresented the situation and/or my letter was so horrible misunderstood etc...I don't know what else has been written and communication is generally very bad.

Should I let the situation ride and hope there's an opportunity to respond in an accurate way later? I mainly don't want to be blind sided later. When do you pull the trigger and contact someone from SMOE or EPIC exactly? I also don't want to aggravate a situation that may be settling down.

[amoonbot]

If you work for SMOE, the principal or vice-principal can't fire you. They can complain to SMOE but unless you violated some major rule or did something illegal, you can't be fired. SMOE manages your money and contract not the school. They can make your life hell but when it comes to firing power, it's all in the hands of SMOE.

So, if you haven't done anything illegal, you should be fine.

[ThingsComeAround]

I don't know what happened with this other co-teacher but if you want to remedy the situation, treat everyone to dinner or (if its that bad/tense) just bring coffee for everyone, including the blighted co-teacher. Its kind of an olive branch that you give food or some treat everyone likes in the hopes that they leave you alone.

No your school can't fire you. The fact you got a warning letter is rather unusual, though....

[nathanrutledge]

Read the contract, it should be spelled out in there. I don't remember exactly, but it's something along the lines of a few warning letters and if there is no change, you're fired. If you received a warning letter, that's kind of serious.

A few words of wisdom. DON'T put complaints in writing unless you want to own them forever. You write it down and six months from now when they say you're not a team player, they can bring up what you wrote. If you complain in person, then they cannot bring up YOUR words again, not like when you gift wrap it for them on paper. Also, when you complain in a letter, you must remember that Koreans use a different logic than westerners. If you read Korean argument structure, it's very rambling and unorganized to the western mind. So, if you submitted a written complaint, I'm assuming it was of the standard "here is the problem, here is what I've tried to do to fix it, here is what I want to happen" type of format - which comes across as way too direct and harsh to a Korean reader. Personally, I had a serious problem at a job and I wrote it all down (I WAS willing to eat my words in the future). I gave it to my Korean friend who helped me rewrite it and put it into Korean. The organization and genuflecting was so different from what I had written, and it was well received by my principal.

So, long story short, a written warning IS a step towards getting fired, so you'd better see what you can do to correct whatever YOU'VE done to earn that reprimand. Don't worry about your coworkers - it's YOUR butt on the line with that letter, so read the warning, and make sure you DON'T do whatever it says you did.

[english puppet]

The reason I put something in writing was because I was asked to though I initiated a conversation with the head teacher. Some of it was frankly self defense - I feel like the K co-teacher could only be described as a wicked little liar. The problem is is that both of the KT's basically have each others back to put it mildly.

I haven't done anything illegal certainly.

I would say at this point, I'd never re-sign and they wouldn't really want me to either. Despite good past experiences with public school here, I don't ever see taking a chance again on it and coming up with this years scenario. Just not worth it to me.

Sorry I can't post some more of the specifics - keeping it relatively quiet for obvious reasons. I do appreciate the posts and feedback though.

[young_clinton]

You had little to gain (given that your in Korea) by actually writing a letter over the head of your co-teacher. She has the contacts and she speaks the language and she has the rappore because she is Korean.

You should get an evaluation sheet at some point in the year for your co-teacher, put down good remarks on it and maybe tell your co-teacher. You probably don't have to tell her about the good remarks because she will probably be told by her superior. And for God's sake don't ever give your co-teacher a bad evaluation. Bad things are obviously going to happen.

[english puppet]