Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dylan07]

Although I posted another thread recently in anticipation of this it came quicker than I expected.

So today my boss told me that he was pretty much going to fire me after deciding to sit in on my classes and get angry about the smallest things (untidy classroom wall, forgetting to bring a die with me to play a board game). He then sat and watched a bunch of my other classes and complained a lot. I spoke to him later of my own accord and said it may be best if I go, this is because I've been stressed and been under this kind of pressure since around November last year.

It may or may not have been a scare tactic from him but he said he was willing to give it time and see what happens, I'm unsure what to do. Am I better off walking away myself or will it make much of a difference to my future prospects if I wait for him to fire me?

I want to stay in Korea hopefully on the after school programme or with a public school but am unsure how either of my options will hurt or affect it/ Any advice or comments would be welcome.

Thanks.

[TheMeerkatLover]

Your boss has more or less given you a very clear indication you will be leaving the day your replacement arrives.

"Giving you time to improve" is what is commonly spoken here when an employer has already made up his/her mind to replace you, but currently still need you to be there as they are looking at resumes and speaking with recruiters. You are there because without you their business model cannot work. However, keep these words in mind. . . "Easily hired = easily fired"

Knowing that, do you still want to work there?

[J Rock]

I'm guessing the only reason he was, "willing to give it time and see what happens," is he doesnt have a replacement teacher yet. He may very well be going through the process of finding a new teacher.

I wouldn't quit just yet as he may be bluffing. You might want to start searching for a new job in case he does fire you.

[Dylan07]

Thanks for the quick responses.

When I spoke with him he seemed really angry and seemed to mellow throughout he conversation. Not sure how much of an indication that is though as he has changed his mind about offering a new contracting and then threatening to fire my coworker before.

I haven't wanted to work here for several months but decided to grin and bear it up until now.

Finding another job is something I've been looking at recently anyway, but what are the implications with my visa from this kind of situation? Will I need to go home first and then get a separate visa sponsored by my next place?

[YTMND]

[Rockhard]

Allow me to translate.

Your boss wants to fire for whatever reason (you are too expensive, he found a woman to replace you, he feels you aren't loyal, he doesn't have money to pay you, whatever), but there are certain laws he must follow so he can't just outright fire you for no reason. This is him creating reasons to fire you.

In our culture we'd find this kind of behavior cowardly. We would just straight up fire somebody.

Don't take it personally. As a foreigner, you are just a pawn to him, a bargaining piece, a walking billboard, a glorified babysitter. He honestly couldn't care less if you could teach as long as you were handsome, smiled a lot, and were cheap. That's the long and short of it.

[Milwaukiedave]

Certainly don't quit, make sure if anything they fire you. The letter of release is a good idea. As others have stated, your boss has given you a good indication what he is going to do. I'd take him at his word and keep your guard up.

You might want to start taking some steps to find another job if you plan on staying here and have a back up plan for a place to live. It is possible if they fire you, they will try to throw you out on the street.

[Troglodyte]

[jcd]

Sounds like warnings before he fires you. They can pretty much make up whatever they want to complain about. They do it a few times and then let you go.

What sucks is if you say you want to leave first, then you are less likely to get a letter of release.

If you stick it out, then it will look like it was his idea and you get a letter of release. He looks magnanimous; like he is just so sorry that you weren't good enough quality for his school, or some other bs. He might even help you find a new job and make up some lie for you, probably because his reason for firing you was a lie. As long as he looks good in front of his employees. It takes a lot of patience to just sit back and watch the show. I don't envy you, but I have been there.

I wonder if you didn't stand at attention when he entered the room; and make an effort to publicly kiss his ass and massage his ego.

The best jobs are where the director and owner leave you alone. At my last job the director came in all the time and just sort of hovered. I didn't even acknowledge him, apart from hello, because I had no idea what he was up to or what he was saying. I kind of felt like he was a dog sniffing me. They even had impromtu company meetings like right next to my desk.

I really wish we could leave and not had to go through the whole lor or getting new documents. It leaves us in a vulnerable position, and they get to continue to act like asses. If we didn't need their permission, then you could just tell him off, more likely you wouldn't have to, you could just give him notice or just leave.

I think Koreans directors know about the problems between many of the foreign teachers and hagwon owners, and between koreans and foreigners in general. So there are schools out there that will hire you without a good recommendation. This was the case with me, and the new director who hired me was a really nice guy, although shy to speak in English.

Of course you will probably get turned down by a few schools because of the recommendation. Which might not be such a bad thing because they are more likely to be a part of some owners association. Or have had trouble in the past with foreigners.