Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Blanca]

A friend of mine recently finished a contract at a hagwon. Partially as a favour to the boss (and partially, I think, because she felt she couldn't say no), she agreed to work 4 extra days for an extra 400,000W and a letter of recommendation. Surprise, surprise (for this school), they're dragging their feet over final payment (of 5.55mil) and are outright refusing to sign a letter of recommendation (despite promising one). They are dragging their feet because the apartment wasn't cleared properly (it's in better condition than when we found it), and aren't giving a letter of recommendation for a few bullsh!t reasons about books or whatever.

My question is about the 400k. Is there any way to prove to the labour board (should it get to that) that this time was worked (ie overtime/work outside contract hours) or would she be pissing into the wind? I'm not worried about the other 5.15 for flights, final pay and severance, they're an open-and-shut case if it goes to the labour board, but I'm worried about the other 400k.

[littlelisa]

Is there any signed contract extension or proof of this in writing? Email, even?

[Blanca]

Apparently not, although there is a camera in the classroom that will have recorded all four days.

[littlelisa]

Phew... good luck getting to the camera footage. I think you'll have to forget about that extra pay, sorry!

Edit: Lesson learned: GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING ALWAYS.

[YTMND]

[Blanca]

Yes I feared that would be the case. I guess our best hope is that the boss does actually decide to just pay it anyway when her tutor money comes in on Monday from the parents. We're hoping this stalling is just smoke and mirrors but we'll see.

Can anyone confirm it was illegal under immigration law? It was outside the one-year contract but the visa is still valid and it's for the same employer at the same location so I'm not too sure that it's not allowed.

[Skippy]

[jlee83]

What do you mean by 'a few bullshit reasons about books'?

Did she take and/or lose a bunch of school books?

[Blanca]

Thanks for the info Skippy, we'll look into getting a certificate of employment.

jlee83, I mean her boss has said she wasn't satisfied with progress through the books, and how much she used her computer in lessons. Bollocks, basically, the usual hagwon smoke-and-mirrors trick to justify shady behaviour.

[ontheway]

[YTMND]

[littlelisa]

Agreed, plus there is no record of how much was agreed upon for the four extra days. For all immigration knows, even if it weren't illegal, it could have been done as a favour. You have to forget about that extra money if you have no records of agreement or extension of the contract.

Definitely go after them for all the rest, though.

[Blanca]

Thanks for the responses everyone, it's helped iron a few things out.

An update: the boss is going to inspect the apartment on Monday and if she's happy she will pay up. Nothing said about the letter of recommendation, and the extra 400k is entirely down to whether she does the decent, honest thing so I won't hold my breath.

I'll be there to meet this boss on Monday, and I'll find it hard to hold my tongue (after all the shit she's put my girlfriend through over the last 6 months), but am I right in presuming I should smile through gritted teeth rather than tearing her head off and making threats if she won't pay up properly?

[ontheway]

[Blanca]

Update:

We are currently sat in the spotless apartment waiting for the boss who promised to be here at 12 to inspect it, but is now going to be "20 minutes late". If she's not here by 12.30 we're going into the school.