Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

In another thread a poster was talking about having trouble attracting people, which was attributed to working on saturday. So who is working on saturday anyway? Did you volunteer and get overtime is it part of your contract.

I come in one saturday a month for club activity day to help the kids with the english for the drama competition. I volunteered for it, and don't get overtime but chances are that the good will I built up with this will allow me some extra vacation time down the line.

[just because]

No, not at present

[Crois]

No way would I work Saturdays but i jumped into my first contract so I am glad I dont work Saturdays.

But then again there would be an hour less everyday to work but i think i'd prefer the extra day.

[oneiros]

Not anymore, as I mentioned on the other thread.

I did last year, and it wasn't in my contract. I sort of volunteered, but under a lot of pressure and guilt tactics from my school. I'd worked for them for a year, and the director had helped me out on a few occasions, so I guess I was more willing to give in.

I didn't have reduced hours during the week, even though I was the only foreign teacher doing Saturdays.

[lush72]

Nope- but I (sometimes) feel bad about that!

[hellofaniceguy]

I'll only agree to a 5 day work week be it SSMTW or WTFSS. Don't matter to me. Just so long I get two days off. Working on the day off? With pay, yes. For free? Nope. Not even for good will. The school owners, most at least, could care less about good will. They only think about money. I figure that as long as the students are paying the school for an extra day, then I should be paid also. Why should the school pocket all the money?
Doing good will in the past only came back to bite me in the rear end on may occasions. I know of many teachers in korea who did good will teaching only to not be paid severance, air fare after completing the contract!

[crazylemongirl]

[some waygug-in]

I have worked some Saturdays, but as a rule no. If it's stated in the job ad that they expect Saturday classes from me, I just keep looking.
Expecially teaching young kids in a hagwan, (or anywhere else for that matter) you need 2 days off. On the few occasions where I did work
Saturdays, I always felt it the following week. Even just one Saturday class can easily ruin an otherwise relaxing weekend.

If schools really need someone to work Saturdays, they can hire a part-timer. I suppose if you are very energetic and more concerned about making money, then working Saturdays may be OK for you. I'm too old for that nonsense. Life is too short, and they don't pay enough to teach Saturday classes anyway. I told my last boss that I needed Saturdays to do my shopping/laundry. On Sundays, a lot of places are closed, and there's not enough time to do shopping and laundry all in one day.

They seemed to understand that, they didn't like it, but they couldn't really argue about it.

I've heard stories of teachers being forced to work Saturdays. They were threatened with firing/deportation if they refused. That's never happened to me, but I think if it ever does, I will say fine--- fire me.

If you let them push you around they will.

[Saxiif]

Over my dead and rotting corpse.

[chronicpride]

My first year contract, I worked 6 days a week with Saturdays, working 4-5 hour days. My next school, I worked Monday-Friday, 6 hour days. It may not seem like a big difference, but I noticed a distinct difference in my energy levels (ie., had a lot more pep to go out and stay out late after a 4 hr stretch vs. the 6 hour shifts. But yes, you have the weekend to rest up on the M-F shift. To each their own.

[Toby]

First year yes.

Last two years and this one no.

But. I would consider working saturday morning to earn some extra cash as my fiance usually has to work and I am always up anyway.

If my scholl wanted me to, then no, I wouldn't work on saturdays there.

[kangnamdragon]

[Toby]

[aussie col]

Saturdays? Never again!!!

I was working at a new school and wasn't actually doing 30, 45 minute classes a week... more like 25 classes a week. So I couldn't complain much when the director kept telling me to come on Saturday because maybe I would have a class. I went every Saturday for 5 months without actually having a class. Would just turn up and find out that I had no students and would go home. I couldn't complain but it really did suck. Wasted my whole day because the 'class' was at 3pm.

I lived in Daegu but didn't get to have a good look around Seoul until after my contract ended because I never had time. Every weekend was only one day so not enough time to travel far and back.

Excuse this post. I've had a few red wines and it doesn't even make much sense to me. But i just had to give my 2 cents worth.

[kangnamdragon]