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Swampfox10mm
Joined: 24 Mar 2011
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 Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject: Foreign profs are "entitled" to stay in SNU housin |
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So they don't have a choice?
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=52372
This paragraph is very confusing, especially since they offer a subsidy??
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| 7. Housing: Foreign faculty members are entitled to stay in on-campus apartment for the duration of the contract. Monthly rent varies between 398,000 won (studio apartment) and 630,000 won (two-bedroom apartment). Key money (3-month rent) and first-month rent should be paid before moving in. The College English Program will provide at least 600,000 won as a monthly housing subsidy. Please be informed that a two-bedroom apartment may NOT be available. |
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Smithington
Joined: 14 Dec 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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Some university housing can be absolutely awful. A year or so ago I worked at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (in the foreign language teaching center). You had the choice of an utterly filthy apartment miles from the school (you had to take a train) or an unfurnished dormitory room on campus. Yup, you heard it right. You received no television, no sofa, no soft chair of any sort, no dishes, no microwave, no toaster, no rice cooker....Just a bed and a fridge and a 200,000 won monthly heating bill in the winter (whether you turned on your heat or not). The dormitory was in perhaps the loudest, smelliest area of Seoul and had paper-thin walls. Any furniture you needed HUFS expected you to pay for it from your measley 2.2 million won a month paycheck. Oh, and the front doors of your dormitory were locked at 11pm....So I wouldn't complain about SNU's accommodation too much. Unless you've experience the pleasures of living in HUFS dormitory room (did I mention that it was unfurnished, and you had to purchase your own furniture) you haven't experienced anything.
At least SNU offers a 600,000 subsidy in lieu of accommodation. HUFS didn't offer a penny. Either the shockingly filthy off campus apartment miles away, or the unfurnished dormitory room.  |
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Swampfox10mm
Joined: 24 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Smithington wrote: |
At least SNU offers a 600,000 subsidy in lieu of accommodation. HUFS didn't offer a penny. Either the shockingly filthy off campus apartment miles away, or the unfurnished dormitory room. |
The above ad from them seems to say that you are required to stay there and they will reimburse you for the cost of staying there. It doesn't seem to say they will support you if you live elsewhere.
That is what I'm confused about? |
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Drew345
Joined: 24 May 2005
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| Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2012 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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When I was there at SNU, if you didn't stay in their housing, you didn't get the housing subsidy. The housing subsidy was only if you stayed there in their housing. Things may have changed now.
The housing was actually new and really nice. The studio rooms are really tiny though. The 2 bedroom place was more than twice as big as the studio rooms. The housing is really good; I think that is why they use the word "entitled". |
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Swampfox10mm
Joined: 24 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 12:04 am Post subject: |
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I am taking particular interest in this because some of our teachers have been verbally pushed into NOT moving out of the provided school housing. By that, I mean it was made quite clear to one guy that he might not be renewed over it. There is a history to this that requires explaining, but basically, the school built these new apartments (which are small) and expected several of the teachers to want to live in them. But some don't. They'd rather get the 300,000 won paid to them to live in a place of their choosing. The school is frowning on anyone leaving the place, as it would likely cost certain administrators who pushed for the funds to lose face (my guess).
They are also charging what I consider to be a slightly excessive amount for utilities, deducted automatically from the teachers' checks. I was thinking of this when I read about SNU's situation. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Tell them to eff off and get a new job. I was in a small town where EPIK did the same thing. I transfered to a bigger city and got my own place. I was their most experienced teacher. Their loss over stubborn ajossi pride. Oh well, stupid is as stupid does. When you all start quitting, they'll learn. The salaries for those positions aren't that great anyways. Now there's a D10 which gives you time to look for something better when the contract runs out. Not as much stress as far as that is concerned. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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| ^^Yeah. |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:43 am Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
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When you all start quitting, they'll learn. ... |
Don't be so sure about that.
A friend was in a similar situation at another job (except that one they were kicking people OUT of the provided housing, which many Korean workers were jealous of, which may explain it).
9 people quit and nothing changed. When they were down to 1 worker and that person gave notice, they suddenly clued in and magically got permission to offer the housing again. After everyone had quit. They just hired a whole new staff at the last minute.
Don't count on many sane management practices here. If you get a good manager here count yourself lucky.
Isn't SNU the top rated university as well? If that's how the best one in the country treats its foreign workers, that's a pity.
After hearing loads of stories from friends, I'm inclined to think most Korean Universities = hagwon 2.0.
Some might be Ok, but I've heard some horror stories. Sad for supposed "higher institutions of learning" |
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nate1983
Joined: 30 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
Isn't SNU the top rated university as well? If that's how the best one in the country treats its foreign workers, that's a pity.
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Are you speaking from experience? I taught at SNU and never had any problems.
Basically, as I recall, some of us lived in the on-campus housing (if you were married, it was actually a very generous size), but I know there was also an option to receive a housing subsidy (again, the amount depended on whether or not you were married).
I'm not sure I understand what's so egregious about that? |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Mix1 wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
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When you all start quitting, they'll learn. ... |
Don't be so sure about that.
A friend was in a similar situation at another job (except that one they were kicking people OUT of the provided housing, which many Korean workers were jealous of, which may explain it).
9 people quit and nothing changed. When they were down to 1 worker and that person gave notice, they suddenly clued in and magically got permission to offer the housing again. After everyone had quit. They just hired a whole new staff at the last minute.
Don't count on many sane management practices here. If you get a good manager here count yourself lucky.
Isn't SNU the top rated university as well? If that's how the best one in the country treats its foreign workers, that's a pity.
After hearing loads of stories from friends, I'm inclined to think most Korean Universities = hagwon 2.0.
Some might be Ok, but I've heard some horror stories. Sad for supposed "higher institutions of learning" |
The recession has artifically boosted arrogant ajossi syndrom. Typically, a shortage o English teachers always kept these idiots in check. Things will flip back to English teachers again, one day. Just wish this hadn't gone on for so long....
As for SNU, you should never work for a top university. They think it's a privledge for you to work there and will treat you worse than if you go to a less prestigious university because they are more desperate. You might not be in Seoul, but your work life will be much better. |
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transmogrifier
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| As for SNU, you should never work for a top university. They think it's a privledge for you to work there and will treat you worse than if you go to a less prestigious university because they are more desperate. You might not be in Seoul, but your work life will be much better. |
I work at a top university, and as far as my uni goes, you are dead wrong. But I appreciate your attempts to dissuade others from poaching any of our jobs here. |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 8:07 am Post subject: |
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| nate1983 wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
Isn't SNU the top rated university as well? If that's how the best one in the country treats its foreign workers, that's a pity.
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Are you speaking from experience? I taught at SNU and never had any problems.
Basically, as I recall, some of us lived in the on-campus housing (if you were married, it was actually a very generous size), but I know there was also an option to receive a housing subsidy (again, the amount depended on whether or not you were married).
I'm not sure I understand what's so egregious about that? |
Speaking based on info written from the OP above. The OP (right or wrong) implies that it's mandatory to live there and/or could affect hire/rehire. Many of the houses are quite small and basically they are trying to make a buck off the deal. The professors should have some freedom of choice about their housing, otherwise yes...it's egregious. Not the end of the world, but kind of lame nonetheless. |
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Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| transmogrifier wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| As for SNU, you should never work for a top university. They think it's a privledge for you to work there and will treat you worse than if you go to a less prestigious university because they are more desperate. You might not be in Seoul, but your work life will be much better. |
I work at a top university, and as far as my uni goes, you are dead wrong. But I appreciate your attempts to dissuade others from poaching any of our jobs here. |
But his main point stands about them pulling the "you are lucky to be here " card, but it's not just top universities, it's happening across the board.
It's a common tactic and I've heard it before too. we'll be hearing it more and more as it stays an employers market and benefits/salary start to trickle off. Not in every case but it'll happen.
When they say "you are lucky to be here" or "you are lucky to have X" it's designed to prepare you for it to be taken away. Or it's just to keep you on the defensive so that it's easier to mistreat or pull more BS. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:08 am Post subject: |
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| Mix1 wrote: |
| transmogrifier wrote: |
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| As for SNU, you should never work for a top university. They think it's a privledge for you to work there and will treat you worse than if you go to a less prestigious university because they are more desperate. You might not be in Seoul, but your work life will be much better. |
I work at a top university, and as far as my uni goes, you are dead wrong. But I appreciate your attempts to dissuade others from poaching any of our jobs here. |
But his main point stands about them pulling the "you are lucky to be here " card, but it's not just top universities, it's happening across the board.
It's a common tactic and I've heard it before too. we'll be hearing it more and more as it stays an employers market and benefits/salary start to trickle off. Not in every case but it'll happen.
When they say "you are lucky to be here" or "you are lucky to have X" it's designed to prepare you for it to be taken away. Or it's just to keep you on the defensive so that it's easier to mistreat or pull more BS. |
+1 |
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