Korean Job Discussion Forums

[legume85]

I wrote my boss a letter explaining why I'm leaving and followed the advance notice stipulations that are in my contract. My boss reacted by saying that I may have to leave sooner, depending on when they find a new teacher. I said that the contract states that I must stay during the XX day grace period and he said that he'll have to check with my recruiter. Now, I've read these boards and have heard about issues with giving resignation notices, however, I'm at a loss for what to do. My next payday isn't for a while and I'm afraid that the school is keeping me until the first signs of a replacement, before making up a reason to make me leave (and taking my paycheck, making my work up until that point "free"). The only reason I gave the notice was because I didn't want to be a jerk and thought that it might actually be honored. And, it very well might be. But the owner's lack of concrete answers and refusal to sign the resignation letter has me worried. Kicker is, I've been at the job for less than 3 months, so not sure if the 30-day minimum labor law would help me out if they try to get rid of me sooner. What are my rights? I haven't received any written complaints although I received criticism via a coworker instead of my actual boss.

I have an idea of what people will say but still I ask: any advice?

[tophatcat]

My guess is that your boss is going to hold on to your pay until he finds a replacement for you. Then he will probably place enough deductions against that pay to carve it down to zero (0.00). You are probably working for free now. You will most likely have no grounds to argue this or will not be in a position to argue this. Too, it would probably cost you more to collect your pay than it's worth. On the other hand, your boss might pay you in full and send you off with salutations and blows of kisses at the airport.

[beentheredonethat777]

[ibeattheborg]

[legume85]

Thanks for the advice. And I meant the official letter that I wrote stating that I would leave the school, not a letter of release. I didn't ask for one. Not yet, anyway.

[YTMND]

[legume85]

Well I do have to leave Korea after this job for a brief period of time. I would like the option to return after a few weeks or a month or so away, and I have thought about trying to get a D-10. But I've heard that even with a LOR, Immigration has a policy of banning people from procuring a D-10 or an E-2 if they leave a job before the 5th or 6th month mark, which I'll be doing. I have worked in Korea before and have successfully fulfilled my previous contracts, so perhaps Immigration might grant me a D-10 because of that. Granted, I've heard stories of people who have transferred jobs and who have gotten a D-10 without even getting a LOR, so I know Immigration's policy towards such matters is very inconsistent and depends on many different variables. With that said, I wasn't banking on staying in Korea since even with a LOR it won't be guaranteed.

[modernseoul]

[Juregen]

[Stan Rogers]

Did the school pay for your plane ticket to Korea? If they did, don't you think you should pay them back considering you want to break a 1 year contract after only working a few months?

[FriendlyDaegu]

[legume85]

Of course I'll pay them back for the plane ticket. I just want to be able to work for the next month for financial reasons and because I don't necessarily want to go leave right this second. But my contract states that if I want to break it, I must give notice so that's what I did. I'm not necessarily seeking a LOR because I don't plan to stay in Korea, although I might ask for one just to see what happens. If I can get one, I'd probably consider exploring those options, but that's not the current plan. I'm leaving so soon for personal reasons.

[ontheway]

[legume85]

Thanks for the info ontheway. I've heard that they might want me gone by Dec 1, the start of the new term. My contract says that if any party breaks the agreement then 30 days minimum must be honored. It also says that the only thing that I would need to pay back is the airfare. Can the school make me leave sooner than that and deduct money for other things besides airfare, even if those are not a part of the contract? What's the point of having a contract if the school ignores it? I gave the notice because of the contract - if I knew it wasn't going to be honored, perhaps I would have acted differently.

[YTMND]