Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bluethree]

I've been working at an afterschool program for the past 6 months or so. It's mostly been fine, but I've had difficulties with my coteacher from the start. The main issues being how hypersensitive and irresponsible she is. She frequently chews me out and often threatens/implies that I will get fired for perceived slights against her. (She's done similar things to the students too). She's constantly either - late for her classes, or shows up around 5-10 minutes before and never prepares anything.

Partway through the contract we switched to working at two different schools (with each of us alternating between them every day, and being in contact by phone/email about the classes), but even though we have very little in person contact the problems are still continuing, only now she's calling me at inappropriate times (like 9 or 10 at night) and yelling her head off at me - sometimes about issues with the classes, but again, sometimes about some trivial personal issue that she blows out of control.

If it were just something that I had to deal with during work hours I would try my best to shrug it off, but the fact that this is happening outside of work hours and at very difficult/inappropriate times isn't something I can let go anymore.

On top of that - I strongly suspect that she lied and made up a last minute schedule change to her benefit. Basically one of the schools had Friday off for Children's Day, the other didn't. I was scheduled to work on the one that had that Friday off that week, but she texted me saying that the schedule had changed. I asked her why - both before and after that week - and her story constantly changed, and she said she was at work that Friday, but there's no way she could have been. I think she switched things around on me to give herself that three day weekend - but even if that wasn't the reason, it's clear something's up.

I would like to file a complaint against this person to management. I know that foreigners tend to get the short end of the stick in these disputes but I am getting very tired of this person. Worst case scenario I will quit (or get fired) and switch to a student visa for a few months before looking for another job.

Has anyone experienced similar coteacher problems and came out OK? Prepared for the worst as I said, but I'd still much, much prefer to keep the job. I'm close to sending my complaint to management, just wanted some advice first.

[Malislamusrex]

he or she has got you by the balls, you should have stood your ground at the beginning. There is nothing you can do now a relationship has been established where she has decided that you suck, and you can bet she has made sure everyone knows this.

If you would have said in week 1.... you'd better watch your tongue with me you'd be in a much stronger position.

[YTMND]

[bluethree]

-I didn't say anything to management right away because we had a bit of an (unrelated) dispute right when I started. That was resolved and I haven't had any issues since, but I was afraid that complaining about anything else would cost me my job.

I also don't believe she's mentioned anything to management just yet - she also seems to think that saying anything to them about me would cost her the job, and I haven't heard anything from the management about our working relationship (either directly, or indirectly through her).

-About the schedule changes, you could have a point YTMD, but I think this was her decision to change things. This week, I went to the other school (the one that had Friday off) quite early, and called her to confirm the schedule for that week (Should've done that before arriving, but the schools are close and I arrived really earlly so no big deal). We went back and forth a bit about it and she decided that I would just stay where I was and she'd go to the other school. So - pretty sure the schedule change was her decision, and she can't give me a clear answer as to why my schedule changed last week

She usually tells me if there are any problems with the classes. Also, if management says anything she usually does tell me soon and isn't so dodgy with the answer. We've had past schedule changes - such as the company requesting us to come in earlier - and I hear about it very soon afterwards.

And yeah, after what's happened I'm only taking her calls in the morning now.

You also make a good point about not being too confrontational. I don't want to start a heated argument with management necessarily, but it is very difficult to work with this person.

[Weigookin74]

Tell her to get a boyfriend and quit hating life and being bitter because she's single.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Stop answering the phone at night.

Tell her to fire you if she threatens it, it's an empty threat.

[JustinC]

You could use her last minute schedule change as leverage; email her and say you were really inconvenienced by the change and want to be clear that this won't happen again unless in an emergency. Say you're willing to confirm this with a mutual superior if needs be - don't let her choose who this would be. If you get an email from her confirming no more last-minute changes than save it.

If/when that's sorted then you could email her about phone calls, stipulating you do not want calls after 8pm as you're always busy lesson planning/speaking to family/at yoga/what ever.

Also bring up any of her other future discrepancies in emails to her and save them too. This way you'll have records later.

It sounds as though the initial 'conflict' (I bet she instigated it) and her not wanting to speak to management are both because she's getting her own way with you. Her late night yelling was to obtain more control over you. Quite clever on her part but unfair for you. Put it down to experience but unless you make some changes now these patterns will just continue.

[The Sultan of Seoul]

DO.NOT.EVER.ANSWER.YOUR.PHONE.OUTSIDE.OF.WORK.HOURS.

Nevet get off the boat.

[Reggie]

In the most polite and non-confrontational way possible, ask your boss (not your co-teacher) how much "holiday pay" will be on your next paycheck for working your co-teacher's workday on Children's Day.

[bluethree]

Thanks guys. I realize I'm probably making a bigger deal out of this then I need to. Since I don't have to work with her in person any more I have decided to just set some boundaries (tried to before when we worked together, didn't work) and just make an excuse as to why I can't answer her calls outside of work hours.

I don't think she's going to say anything about me either because she thinks that rocking the boat would get both of us fired. I am, however, going to start documenting everything (was before, when we worked together, too), and if she continues with this I'll take action. I get paid decently for the low hours I work, and since I plan to be done with ESL after this year it's not worth the hassle unless things get really serious.

[ThingsComeAround]

good luck bluethree.

we all know how a bad co-t can make a plum job and make it stink

just be kind. don't be rude, but don't spend unnecessary time around her either. Get some headphones and a book. Make sure the cover says something about English.



So far all the suggestions seem pretty damn sound. I especially like the vacation one

[JustinC]

[matthews_world]

[Who's Your Daddy?]

[quote="matthews_world"]

[NohopeSeriously]

Get use to it. Co-teachers are one of the main reasons to hate public school positions.