Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bloo]

So, I asked back in May for vacation days. They asked me which days and I gave them Aug. 28-29, and Sept. 1-3rd. I asked if those were okay and they said it was fine. So I got approval. And I thought that was the end of that because they never said anything again.

But now 3 months later and 1 week before I go on my trip out of the country, they are saying I can't go.

Suddenly they are giving me a whole list of reasons why I can't go.

They say that I am not allowed to take more than 3 consecutive business days off. (Which is fine as it's stated in my contract, but why did they not tell me this before when I asked them if those dates were okay?)

Also because there are only 2 foreign teachers, including me, it would be too difficult for me to leave. (I understand this too, but once again, why did they say it was okay 3 months ago then? Also I gave them 3 months notice so that they could figure it out.)

Then they are saying because Sept. 1-3rd is our new semester I should be there because it's the first day of classes.
(Once again, they could have told me "No" 3 months ago.)

So I've already booked my plane ticket to Taiwan, and all my hotels and stuff. The school is just saying tough luck, you're staying.

Is there anything that I can do?

[Lucas]

Smile, say okay - then go anyway.

When does your contract end?

[wanderkind]

[Chaparrastique]

[Smithington]

Welcome to Korea. I've had flights booked and paid for, hotels booked and paid for, all months in advance (as agreed) and mere days before my departure being told I have to change my vacation dates. I simply said no. When pressured I again said no. Every time the answer was a firm no. They caved and I went on my vacation as planned. I was fully willing to lose my job over it, but I was taking that trip on the agreed dates. Nothing came of it, but I would have happily walked from the job just on principle alone. Never mind the loss of money from unrefundable hotels and air fare.

Korean employers can be shockingly arrogant and inconsiderate of their employees. Some just want to see how far they can push their 'authority' over their staff. Just say 'NO'.

[Guajiro]

[Bloo]

@Lucas: My contract ends in November. so I have like 2 and half months left.

@wanderkind: Nope this is permanent. My school keeps losing teachers, and they keep not hiring new ones...

So it looks like overall consensus is to just say "No".

If my school suddenly got some common sense, is it possible they could block me from leaving the country?

A part of me is fine with losing the job. I wanted to quit since the first day I got there, but I tried to stick it out.

It's just before I go off telling them either let me go or fire me, is there a better way of saying "No"

[PRagic]

You booked time outside the window of possibility even though you knew in advance that you should not do so as stipulated in your contract. Bad call on your part.

I'm no apologist, though. If they gave you permission in advance to go, then it should have been OK. Would have been best had you gotten in in writing, but you didn't so drive on. You're booked and you've paid, so go. IF they want to fire you, let them. They only have 2 foreign teachers to begin with, so odds are this'll slide.

Is there another clause in your contract that says something about 'vacation cannot interfere with the smooth operation of the institute' or something like that. Not uncommon, and that would explain why they're not happy about you not being there for the beginning of their term. Again, though, why did you book a trip that would overlap with the beginning of a new term? Not smart.

At any rate, apologize profusely and then go on your trip. If they go to fire you, let the chips fall where they may.

[Chaparrastique]

[Bloo]

[EZE]

[OBwannabe]

How much money goes down the toilet in non-refundable tickets/reservations vs how much you will lose in severance if they fire you? That's the way I would look at it. If it was anywhere close, I'd let them know that I'm going on the trip and am willing to help find a temp replacement to fill in for you. Why throw money away by not going on a trip they agreed on?

Just curious....how does the other foreign teacher feel about you situation? Does he/she feel it's okay to go on the trip even though the days off don't match up with your contract?

Also, you could suggest that they would be non-paid days off. Your employer will have to pay a replacement, but at least he isn't going to get dinged twice. You might even be able to save your actual vacation days for another time...but that might be pushing it.

[radish kimchi]

I am missing something. Do they want you to "teach" when you want to be away?

Why are you so stupid to just go and come back to your slave master? Why do you have to announce it months in advance slave?

What are your vacation time clauses? Why do you think you need to tell them 3 or more months in advance about your activities? (No upstanding white man with a racist background would allow for this.)

I understand some slaves want to be chained to the chain, but come on brother or sister. You can't do what you want to do months ago.

You might as well be chained to a cotton field.

White man needs to learn homey pride and move on to the next gig in the sky.

[Stain]

[Bloo]

I asked if they would reimburse me. They said "no".
I asked if they could get a substitute they said "no".
and I'm trying to look for one now, but it seems too short notice.

And it's not about the money. Yes I would be missing out on the severance pay and pension, but my problem is more with their incompetence level.
They had small problems in the past that I let go, because it seemed they learned slowly from them, and were improving, but this is a huge problem that I can't tolerate.

The other foreigner teacher is actually my head teacher. So his contract is different from mine and pretty much treated like the korean teachers. He is not entitled to the 10 day vacation that I am allowed. He obviously would rather me stay so he can avoid any conflict, but he understands that I did ask a long time ago, and got permission then and that it was their faults for not checking properly when I had asked them for the time off.

@ radish kimchi:
As to why I announced it months in advance, it's because my contract does state I need to ask at least 1 month in advance, and I also wanted to get cheaper deals.

But yup, thank you everyone for your advice. I am pretty much going to stick with I am going on the trip. Hopefully my school and I can come to and agreement upon something, whether it be some unpaid days or they find a substitute, or I just leave and they figure out their own problems like they should have done in the 3 months I gave them.