Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vchampea]

Something has come up and I will be leaving my job in October. That will be 8 months into the job. I've been working at this hagwon for about 2 months. I've been reading about other people's experience with breaking their contract. It seems the schools generally want you to find a replacement. I can do that, no problem. October is 6 months from now. Should I tell the hagwon that I'm leaving in October now, or should I wait for the minimum 2 month's notice? I'm afraid if I tell them now they might decide to just get rid of me now. Has anybody heard of a school doing that? Is it safe for me to tell them now?

[PigeonFart]

I'd leave telling them until the last 2 months. It will make your life easier until then.
When it does come to telling them, make up an excuse that will save face. (like a relative is very sick and you want to go home for good).

[Troglodyte]

It's usually not that you need to find a replacement. They'll simply be angry that you're leaving. If they're very understanding, they might be satisfied that you find a replacement, but more often they'll do one or more of the following: try to bully you by not paying you in part or in full, treat you badly, fire you on the spot, lock you out of your apartment, tell immigration that they fired you but not tell you, accuse you of something that you didn't do,... and the list goes on. The most common though is not paying you in full, and firing you on the spot.

[vchampea]

Jeez, I new hagwons had a bad rep, but I didn't think it was that bad. I haven't had any problems with my hagwon so far. I've been treated very well. I'll take the advice here and just inform them 2 months before I plan to leave. I read through my contract. The terms regarding early resignation is quite clear. If they try to pull any tricks on me, the contract should settle any disagreements.

The only thing I worry about is that they'll make me pay for the plane ticket. 8 months is the cut-off for my obligation to pay for the plane ticket. I'll be quitting just over 8 months after I officially started.

[Troglodyte]

8 months for the airfare? Normally it's 6.

Tell them half way through the month. If they freak out, then just buy a ticket home and leave. The half month you worked will cover the airfare. You can leave then with a clear conscience. If they are understanding, then stick around.

Only you can guess how they might react. Just be aware that quitting can make them change their attitude quickly. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

[vchampea]

Yeah, 6 months, that's what I read on the forums before I signed the contract. At that time I couldn't imagine any reason I would leave early and everything else on the contract looked pretty good. 8 month in puts me at the end of October. Actually I would like to leave before then, but I don't want to pay for the airfare. So I will tell them 2 months ahead of time like it says in the contract. If they get nasty I will have no problem leaving earlier.

[Troglodyte]

Man, the airfare is only worth about half a month's salary. If you want to leave early then just pay them back and leave early. Just stay two weeks beyond when you'd like to leave and you'll have earned enough salary to pay for the flight. Really you're sticking around for an extra few months, just to save a few weeks worth of money. Cut your losses.

A word of advice, when you tell them you're leaving early, have a good face saving reason. Don't just say "Korea's not for me." or "I got a better offer elsewhere." A sick parent or sibling is more acceptable (Korean employees use this one as well).

[mohair_blues]

you have to leave ... but you dont really have to leave?

which one is it?

if you have to leave (before October) then tell them ahead of time and leave,
but you want to stay a bit longer just so you dont have to pay airfare? so that mean you really dont have to leave ..?

[vchampea]

[mohair_blues]

if you're going to leave nice, you do it for yourself, not for them

things will always come back to haunt you,
look through Dave ESL, a couple of stories pop to mind

look through your contract, see what's the minimum time you have to tell them, you said 2 months, then give them 2 months notice

and I dont condone lying, but have a good story on why you have to go back,
you could always exaggerate (you mom twist an ankle = she is injured and may have to go to the hospital, you are deathly worry for her health - you need to go back and take care of your mom) - it's this notion of 'face'

dont expect the worst, but just be prepare for it

[vchampea]

Alright, events have unfolded and here's the situation. I've recently got engaged, and my gf will be moving to the US for a job. Although we have no definite plans on the wedding date, it's going to happen sometime in the next year.

I don't think lying is really necessary in my case. So the 2 month's notice is coming up this week. I think I can just tell them how it is. They won't suspect it's a lie because I talk about my gf regularly. It makes sense.

My contract says something about marriage. I think it says that if I get married, I am automatically guaranteed time off for that. I think it could also be interpreted as breaking the contract without consequence. I'm not sure. I'll have to look it over.

[Troglodyte]

Why not post a copy for us to look at? Maybe someone will give you better advice.

[vchampea]

ok, marriage is not mentioned in the contract. I thought it was because it was mentioned during my orientation.

This is the only information regarding the airfare and resignation in the contract:

5. In the event that Employee to return home before completing the contract for reasons beyond his/her control, the airfare for his/her returns trip may be provided by Employer.
6. In case of the termination of this Contract within eight ( months, Employee shall immediately pay back the reimbursed airfare to Employer. If Employee works more than eight ( months during the term of employment, Employee�s obligation to pay back the cost of one-way ticket provided pursuant to this provision shall be waived by Employer.

[ttompatz]

If they pay you on the end of your month for the month worked then give some notice (10-15 days) to cover your airfare (your fault for signing the contract).

If they withhold your pay for 10 days after the end of the month then just leave after payday. 10 days pay will cover any costs you may owe them and contracts that have 8 months for airfare recovery are not usually from an employer that I would trust to not screw you royally.

.

[vchampea]

I don't think it's necessary to be so cutthroat. I'm going to talk to one of the other foreign teachers who has been working here for more than 2 years. I think he would know best about how the administration will react.