Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pindleton]

So, I've been working in Suwon, South Korea at the same hagwon for two years. Up until about February of this year, my fellow foreign English teacher and I haven't had any problems with our hagwon.

On the first year and most of the second year of our employment everything went smoothly. Monthly salary payments were on time, everyone was happy, we even took a trip to Jeju-do with our boss and fellow Korean co-workers. We were offered to sign a contract for our second year.

When the issue of severance came up for the first year, we were told that she didn't have the money at the time for the severance, but she would make monthly deposits into an account she set up for us, and she would give it to us when we finished our second year contract + the second year severance at the same time. No big deal--everything was cool.

We decided to stay again for a third year. In February we signed a contract for a third year to start in April. I negotiated a new salary of 2.3 million. Our boss told us that she was going to pay the two years severance to us at the end of April.

Well--here we are now. Only since February things have been going down hill in terms of payment. She said that she could only afford to give me W670,000 won of the 1.9 million owed (after deducting utilities and taxes) for February. I haven't been payed for March yet either, and April's payment is coming up soon. On top of that, I haven't been given my first two year's severance payments yet.

Basically very soon, she will owe me ~W1,900,000 - 670,000 = (February) W1,230,000 + (March) W1,900,000 + (April) W2,100,000 + (1st year severance) W2,100,000 + (2nd year severance) W2,100,000 for a total of ~W9,430,000. My fellow foreign teacher is in exactly the same situation. So that means she owes us combined approximately W18,860,000.

We talked with her on Friday and she expressed regret, she made it very clear that she knows that she owes it to us. Then she told us that someone else owes her money and that they haven't been paying her on time.

The thing is, that's not my problem. She owes me a lot of freaking money and I feel like I'm working for nothing.

It makes me even more angry knowing that she sends her kid off to a very expensive ballet school--yet she is skipping out on paying me and my co-worker.

What do I do? For the past two years everything between us has been cordial--this all happened so quickly. I don't want to rock the boat too much, but I can't sit quietly and wait to get screwed....

[Chaparrastique]

Complex situation.

Koreans have great loyalty, often they will work through it in the hope of receiving what's due them. And fairly often they will pay if you stick with them.

Its a gamble though.

Your boss does not sound like a bad person. Risk-taking is part of the way business is done here. But given the current downward trend of hogwons, you'd probably better quit while you're not too far behind.

You're unlikely to see any money. In all honesty, you should have heeded the flashing red lights when she initially told you she'd pay severance in april. That's a biggie. An obvious indication she was in over her head.

[pindleton]

[tob55]

With 100 students, there should be no reason for money problems to pay the salaries of the owner's employees. We have a much smaller number of students and manage to pay 3 workers their salary on time each month. I would guess she has over extended and is in a bind for money. Not uncommon, and I understand she is trying to pay you and your friend, but when push comes to shove she is going to pay the people applying the most pressure on her first, and that isn't you (no insult intended).

I am wondering how you managed to keep going yourself having none or little money for the extended period you have? I hope it works out well for you, but I would plan on losing some money out of this situation, i.e. the handwriting is on the wall. Good luck.

[SeoulNate]

get it in writing. Write up some form of payment plan for her, give it a few months to get your money in full.

If that doesnt work, go to the labor board before you end up in an even worse situation.

[happiness]

[ontheway]

[OBwannabe]

Isn't it the law now to withhold severance if a teacher is going to re-sign with their school? Back in the day it was paid after each contract was completed, which made it safer for the teacher, and the employer wasn't stuck having to pay a huge lump sum after 3+ years. Withholding it really puts the teacher at a disadvantage. Great way to keep the revolving door of young, cheap teachers as few have the confidence to re-sign and collect on an annual raise in addition to the severance.

Good luck getting your money, sincerely. But it sure doesn't look good.

[pindleton]

I'm going to have a meeting with my boss today. I'm going to get firm dates on payment in writing with her signature on it--or refuse to work. I'll figure out the severance issue later.

[pindleton]

[sweetrevenge]

[tob55]

[SeoulNate]

[beentheredonethat777]

[FriendlyDaegu]