Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DomAndJenny]

Hi. I work at a hagwon that only hires people with teaching certificates. The job was going very well until the owner hired a new principal to boost profits. The new principal starting making major decisions which affect our ability to teach and work. Myself and another employee approached her about giving us due notice on things that majorly affect us and she said that it's great to have concerned people on staff and that she would keep us in the loop.

2 weeks later she informs us there would be a summer camp. She never told us, but all the kids had already enrolled. There would be no pay and it was mandatory. The previous year they school paid the employees for the extra work and it was a voluntary experience.
We refused to do this, as it was not fair to ask us to work all these extra hours when we are already teaching at capacity. She later comes back and says that she can tell us to do whatever she wants within the 9-6 time frame. We still refuse, and she then gets our head teacher to tell us that she was planning to pay us all along, and wants an apology.

After this debacle, she refused to speak with us, would not extend professional courtesies, glared at us openly, told other people she would punish us if we were her children,etc. I tried saying hello to her the first few days but after a couple of tries, I just ignored her too.

Then came another incident where she changed all of our afterschool classes with no warning/rationale. This was not a huge issue for me, but there were some teachers who had planned long (3 month) book studies for the kids who were told 6 days in advance that they are getting new schedules/new classes.

Two weeks ago, she tells us about 4 days in advance there will be cameras installed in our school in the hallways and stairs. We say ok no big deal. Then it turns into there will be cameras in the classrooms, but they will not be turned on. Then she finally admits the night before they are going to be turned on. I said I don't feel comfortable with it and I do no want to be recorded. My main issue is that I do not want someone in a position of authority who is outwardly hostile towards me having a digital recording of my every move.

So today she walks in ( I was on bus duty) and she says good morning to me ( the first time in about 2 months). I do not return the courtesy. She then literally SCREAMS good morning at me two more times like I'm stupid. She does this in public, in front of other teachers. Then they come in and turn my camera back around, and I say I can not accept being video taped in the classroom. I gave them a couple of hours to get someone to cover my afternoon classes, and I left at lunch time.

I got a phone call this afternoon from the head English teacher asking me to come in for a meeting. I declined because I had nothing else to say. She then called back and said if you don't want to be videotaped, you will have to quit, because the cameras are staying. They then called back and asked if I would be giving notice, I said I would stay for the notice period as long as I wasn't being filmed in my classroom during that time.

So I don't know what their answer to that will be.

TL/DR: job was going well, they hired new principal who has significantly changed the nature of the job so much that I would not have come to work there had this information been available from the beginning. As well she has created a toxic environment for all staff in her 4 months on board.

P.S. All staff is unhappy. Foreigners and Koreans (one foreigner who doesn't care) and the other staff, even the cleaning ladies.

Should I book a flight out tomorrow? Will staying around just be giving them time to screw me? What can they potentially do to me based on what I have already said.

Any advice on the situation would be appreciated.

[nero]

It's horrible when management screws things up.
I don't understand why you would 'book a flight out tomorrow,' though. If you are not happy, hand in your notice and find a new job.
They must give you your last pay by law. if they don't, you can go to the labour board.
Don't pack up and leave, not only will it make it harder for you to come back, but you will lose out on your final pay.

[DomAndJenny]

[YTMND]

[DomAndJenny]

[Keeper]

There are cameras in the rooms I teach as well. I think if that really bothers you then teaching may not be for you. Do you really feel that strongly about it or is it because of the other crap they had been pulling? It sounds like you were just tired of working for them.

Get a letter of release from them and then a D-10 visa. You will have 6 months to look for another job. Unless you are that adamant about cameras.

[liveinkorea316]

Unfortunately OP you cannot tell your boss to get rid of the cameras. They are legal in this country. She does not need your permission and it is not a part of the employment contract. It is considered a normal part of hagwon teaching here for some hagwons.

If you are stubborn it means you are quitting without notice and therefore without pay.

You will be unlikely to get a letter of release from them.

You should in that case try and go to the immigration office and get a D10 visa and look for a job to transfer your visa to immediately without getting all the docs again.

[DomAndJenny]

[YTMND]

[Kepler]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Dodge7]

OP you sound like a problem employee, ie. HIGH MAINTENANCE. I'd get rid of you in a hurry. You aren't anyone special. YOU ARE A FREAKING ESL TEACHER and easily replaced. Who are you to treat management like you are above them? They're doing you the favor by hiring you and paying you...what makes you think they can't get some other bum off the street to do your measly, little, pathetic job?

[tiger fancini]

[DomAndJenny]

[DomAndJenny]

[quote="YTMND"]