Korean Job Discussion Forums

[joeteacher]

I've worked over three years (part-time) at a hagwon for a lovely lady. Sadly, a couple of weeks ago she had an accident and passed away. Now, the school will close at the end of this week.

The problem is, I'm owed a fair amount of money (3mths of pt work) and want to know if I have any rights since I'm not exactly legal. The other teachers are preparing to get a lawyer because it doesn't look like the husband is going to (or willing to) pay. If I join in on the lawyer am I just asking for trouble? Should I just let it go and chalk it up to lesson learned?

[Lucas]

Sounds like this will get messy - FAST!

How many other teachers are owed money?

Are some of them Korean? Does the husband own the building the hagwon was housed in or have any other assets?

He may well do the 'right thing' but it will prob take time for him (assuming there are any) to liquidate their assets.....

[littlelisa]

What do you mean by not exactly legal?

If you are not legal you are not going to be paid, and there's nothing you can do about it.

Edit: I would not have waited 3 months to demand to be paid. I would have stopped working there already. Why wait so long?

[joeteacher]

I'm not sure of his whole financial situation but he doesn't own the building and pretty sure they were renting the space. I guess all the materials, computers, furniture could be liquidated but that probably doesn't add up to what he owes.

I'm the only other native teacher, the other 4 teachers are Korean.


@Lisa: I knew it was stupid to wait but I was pretty close to this lady. I knew the school was in trouble (another sign I won't get my money) but I worked with her a while, taught her and her kids. I was in the process of looking for another school to work at when all of this happened.

And I mean not exactly legal, as in, not legal. Paid under the table.

[IPayInCash]

No offense OP, but youre really stupid.

A) Working ILLEGALLY as a violation of your visa
B) Choosing to work despite not being paid for 3 months smh @ how dumb some foreigners are in this country
C) Coming here and thinking the Korean authorities are going to side with a foreigner breaking the law
D) Trusting Koreans (or people for that matter) with money with "the promise" of getting paid later. How many threads here have we seen about Koreans not paying back foreigners?

No sympathy from me. Stupid is as stupid does. You should apply for Wonderland theyd love you there

[joeteacher]

Yup, you're right. I am stupid, which I admitted already. Thanks for rewording it and not sounding at all like a douche bag.

[IPayInCash]

Sometimes you have to be blunt with people to get them to change their ways. Too many dumb people here doing stupid things then coming to Daves expecting to get bailed out. Learn from your mistakes, DO NOT TRUST PEOPLE WITH MONEY (rookie mistake), and follow the law.

[Stan Rogers]

That kind of stuff only happens to other people. It'll never happen to me.

[ttompatz]

You have options and none of them are nice.

1) let it go - lesson learned. Potential loss = value of unpaid wages.

2) Take it to the labor board. You will eventually get some of your money (probably not all of it). This can take time to pursue with uncertain results.
This DOES put you at risk of getting hit with an immigration violation for working outside your status of sojourn.
Potential penalties would be a black mark in your file and/or a fine and/or an exit order.

.

[beentheredonethat777]

Should I just let it go and chalk it up to lesson learned?[/quote]

[joeteacher]

[littlelisa]

Oh, actually being F6 probably makes it less bad in terms of fines you'd get, if you decided to try to pursue getting paid (assuming you have a contract, though. Do you have a contract?) You could potentially still put it on your taxes, after all, and then it wouldn't be illegal for you, just maybe for the business who wasn't reporting you as an employee. I'm not sure how it works for F6, though, so don't rely on me.

Either way, next time, doesn't matter how close you are to someone, do not work so long without getting paid ESPECIALLY under the table where you have little hope of getting your money if you want to run after them.

[joeteacher]

No contract. Looks like I'll bite the bullet. Thank you.

[Julius]

[Old fat expat]

You said she was a lovely lady. Consider the money owed as your funeral envelope.