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Pianote
Joined: 29 Apr 2015
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 Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 3:35 pm Post subject: Burnout starting to hate job |
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Hey all,
Currently I am working for a hagwon. I am getting completely burned out. I teach 10-11 classes a day. In the morning I teach kindy. Afternoon is 7-8 classes in a row with only 5 min break between classes. Any break time in the morning is usually spent meeting deadlines set up by my boss/manager. School has almost no curriculum and I have to come up with my own materials.
Boss seems to have a vendetta against me. They complain about my appearance and energy level. Meanwhile parents always tell me how great I look. Boss blames me for everything and regularly starts shouting at me, right in my face. I have always tried my best to be professional.
The students are really disrespectful. And they are almost out of control, they never get disciplined, only given candy.
They aren't paying my pension. I signed on not knowing this is illegal. Also when I interviewed, the foreign teacher lied about the age of the students, telling me they were older.
I would just quit the place but I have personal reasons for being in Korea now. Thanks for listening all, I could go on and on about how unprofessional they are. |
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thrylos
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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And you're just in your first month, right?!?!
Condolences. Welcome to Korea. |
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Porksta
Joined: 05 May 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| But you are getting paid a lot, right? |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Meanwhile parents always tell me how great I look |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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Pianote
Joined: 29 Apr 2015
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I have been at this job for over 6 months. This is my 2nd year in Korea. And I am getting paid 2.3 not entry level but I am not getting rich either. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| 2.3 = $2,070. BA holders in the States average $4,771. So yeah, what I said is factually correct. Hell, money's not everything, but it's just sad you work at a job you hate for so little money. |
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bossface
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2015 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| 2.3 = $2,070. BA holders in the States average $4,771. So yeah, what I said is factually correct. Hell, money's not everything, but it's just sad you work at a job you hate for so little money. |
Let's compare apples to apples here. OP is living in Korea and spending money in Korea, so unless he is sending a bunch of money home, 2.3 = $2300. He isn't paying into pension, so after taxes and health insurance (assuming he has it) his take home should be somewhere around $2150. If he gets severance (should according to the law) then we should divide that extra 2.3 by 12, so that's an extra $192 a month for a grand total of $2342 a month. Based on standard tax rates, our theoretical $4,771 earner in the US would pay $847 a month in federal tax. Social Security is another 6.2%, so that's another $295 a month. Medicare is 1.45%, so another $69 (dude). At most, somebody earning $4,771 takes home $3,560. After state taxes (in some states) and health insurance (varies by state, occupation) we're probably down to an even $3000. Factor in rent or mortgage, and it's more likely $2,000. Plus, higher utility bills and higher insurance costs, and the absolute necessity of owning a car in America (other than in the largest and most expensive cities). You'd basically have to make over 65 grand a year in the states to have the same purchasing power/quality of life as OP. |
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wooden nickels
Joined: 23 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 12:04 am Post subject: |
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| Pianote wrote: |
| I have been at this job for over 6 months. This is my 2nd year in Korea. And I am getting paid 2.3 not entry level but I am not getting rich either. |
Are you enrolled in the National Health Insurance? How about taxes? Are you getting documentation that shows pay and withholdings? |
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Coltronator
Joined: 04 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 12:53 am Post subject: |
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I second Bossface.
Though my numbers/reasoning for one's purchasing power would be less in favour of Korea as his, I agree with the general idea. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:00 am Post subject: |
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| bossface wrote: |
| Factor in rent or mortgage, and it's more likely $2,000. |
You are comparing the cost of living in a huge three bedroom house with a swimming pool and yard in the West with living in a moldy cramped one room shoebox in Korea. Is that really a fair comparison? Mortgage is tax deductible and an investment in an asset, too.
Social security is forced savings that is matched by one's employer. Lifers in Korea not paying into that are not smart but rather are screwing themselves longterm. |
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tophatcat
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Location: under the hat
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:16 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| bossface wrote: |
| Factor in rent or mortgage, and it's more likely $2,000. |
You are comparing the cost of living in a huge three bedroom house with a swimming pool and yard in the West with living in a moldy cramped one room shoebox in Korea. Is that really a fair comparison? Mortgage is tax deductible and an investment in an asset, too.
Social security is forced savings that is matched by one's employer. Lifers in Korea not paying into that are not smart but rather are screwing themselves longterm. |
I second World Traveler.
Second year at 2.3 minus entitled benefits on a drudge schedule isn't exactly the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I keep shaking my head and asking why do people do this. This is high school diploma pay for beginner work in the oil fields. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:06 am Post subject: |
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| I keep shaking my head and asking why do people do this. This is high school diploma pay for beginner work in the oil fields. |
I think you've answered your own question. Being bottom of the pile in a physically tough, dangerous job, compared to sitting on your own in a centrallyheated/airconditioned classroom helping kids colour in worksheets |
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Pianote
Joined: 29 Apr 2015
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:10 am Post subject: |
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| Are you enrolled in the National Health Insurance? How about taxes? Are you getting documentation that shows pay and withholdings? |
I am enrolled in the National Health Insurance. I am not getting a paystub, despite asking for one more than once. I am going to insist on it when I am paid in July. That is if they pay us. Earlier this month they hinted that because of MERs we might not get paid. As for taxes, they are being taken out of my pay. My boss had to contact the tax office for me.
| Quote: |
| Second year at 2.3 minus entitled benefits on a drudge schedule isn't exactly the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I keep shaking my head and asking why do people do this. This is high school diploma pay for beginner work in the oil fields. |
I don't see myself about to climb an oil rig! But I do agree I am underpaid. I am working 45 hours a week, on occasion closer to 50 hours. Back in the USA I had a decent sales job. It was in retail though and I hated working retail hours. Also I had to stand 8 hours a day in the retail world. At least now I can sit occasionally in a kindy chair.
I do enjoy teaching but this workplace is making me wish I never teach again. If I could just go on a break occasionally, I feel like I could de-stress. I am not even supposed to walk to the mart without notifying the manager.
I would've bailed on this workplace already but for personal reasons, with friends being here and such. Korean work culture is brutal. No sick time, no vacation other than the 10 national holidays. No wonder the suicide rate is so high here. |
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wooden nickels
Joined: 23 May 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:42 am Post subject: |
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| Pianote wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Are you enrolled in the National Health Insurance? How about taxes? Are you getting documentation that shows pay and withholdings? |
I am enrolled in the National Health Insurance. I am not getting a paystub, despite asking for one more than once. I am going to insist on it when I am paid in July. That is if they pay us. Earlier this month they hinted that because of MERs we might not get paid. As for taxes, they are being taken out of my pay. My boss had to contact the tax office for me.
| Quote: |
| Second year at 2.3 minus entitled benefits on a drudge schedule isn't exactly the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I keep shaking my head and asking why do people do this. This is high school diploma pay for beginner work in the oil fields. |
I don't see myself about to climb an oil rig! But I do agree I am underpaid. I am working 45 hours a week, on occasion closer to 50 hours. Back in the USA I had a decent sales job. It was in retail though and I hated working retail hours. Also I had to stand 8 hours a day in the retail world. At least now I can sit occasionally in a kindy chair.
I do enjoy teaching but this workplace is making me wish I never teach again. If I could just go on a break occasionally, I feel like I could de-stress. I am not even supposed to walk to the mart without notifying the manager.
I would've bailed on this workplace already but for personal reasons, with friends being here and such. Korean work culture is brutal. No sick time, no vacation other than the 10 national holidays. No wonder the suicide rate is so high here. |
Your boss is scheming. Most likely, he is under reporting your earnings to Health and Taxes and keeping some of the withholdings from your pay. This is common when there isn't a pay stub. You should be getting your pay, MERS or not. Be ready for more dodgy things to come. Unfortunately, you've landed a dicey job. |
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