Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beentheredonethat777]

someone who has lived/worked in Korea since 2009 would accept that kind of working condition. But guess what, it's happening in 2015! I am beyond speechless that an experienced teacher would labor in that manner, without
any breaks.

When my friend showed me her schedule. I immediately understood why she is so tired all the time. She is working six days a week for low wages.(very low)


So, I guess there is a lot more desperation going on than I had originally thought. WOW!!!

I thought 26 hours was pushing it to the limit, but 48? Come on, that's bizarre!!!!

The schedule started out at 30 hours and then it kept going higher and higher. I told her to grow a pair and speak up.

[candy bar]

Everyones going bananas. I suppose it's because they can save $1000 per month if they are willing to live in poverty conditions.

[JohnML]

That's quite a lot of hours, people are definitely being worked more for less these days but that's still pretty high... wait 48 teaching hours or? If that's teaching hours, that is insane. I know someone who does 40 for 600 bucks in China and a bunch of people without degrees doing 300-400.

I guess you can't complain though, the applicants in ESL is increasing and if asian hirers can pay less they will, "but he does it for less, why can't you?". Bottom line is if you are in a job with low entry requirements be prepared to be lowballed on offers from cheaper candidates.

If you love the job though and lots of people do you will be prepared to take horrible pay and stick it out. You cannot deny that it's a pretty engaging and enjoyable job. There are pros/cons to everything.

[trueblue]

Did we con to Korea to work those hours for lousy pay?

That can be done at home.

[beentheredonethat777]

trueblue: You're right! She's thinking of telling the boss that she has a 'family emergency' in America, and will have to visit very soon. She wanted me to 'sub' her classes. I took one look at the schedule and went ballistic.

JohnML: Yep! 48 hours, no breaks, pauses, no planning time included in this scenario. I'm still speechless as I write. Wow! I didn't realize people were teaching for 40 hour for $600 in China. I thought the salary was higher than that these days. She doesn't love the job or teaching. It's just a way to save money.


candy bar: You hit the nail on the head! She said, "But, I can save $1000 a month here. The cost of living is higher at home."

Never mind about her health deteriorating, relationship in shambles, her mind growing weary, her emotional well- being suffering, her social life being non-existent, her beautiful face having the wrinkled and worn castdown expression, and her daily work habits growing weaker and weaker, but also the students are suffering as well.


In essence, as long as people are willing to slave for a cot and bowl of soup,
wages will continue to sink to ungodly lows.

[edwardcatflap]

I don't really understand this discussion. If she's getting paid extra to teach 48 hours a week, what's the problem? She's probably raking it in. If she's contracted to teach a certain number of hours a week and the boss is trying to force her to teach more for the same pay, he's breaking the contract and she should refuse to do it, complain, quit, go to the labor board etc...whatever you do in that situation.

[Fallacy]

[nicwr2002]

If this person is wokring that many hours for 2.1 million won, then that is just stupid on their part. Can't fix stupid.

[JohnML]

Well in an average situation if she is working those hours in complete non private tuition she might be hitting 3 mil. That's pretty normal (even with overtime pay). For possibly 60 hours a week (in total) that is pretty abysmal money and is hardly raking it in.

Irregardless the OP said she was on poor money so I could possibly assume even less than this, which doesn't surprise me at all. What does surprise me is those hours, I know far more people around the 2.5 mil mark than over it. Far more. However they are working 40-45 hours (total!). 48 hours teaching time is absolutely bonkers and isn't healthy for anyone.

[beentheredonethat777]

[Keeper]

Her original contract should state the number of hours she is required to work on it. What does it say? Is there any clause about what is considered overtime?

I am also curious where she lives in the US. Some places have higher costs of living than others (i.e. San Francisco). Maybe she needs to put a change of venue there into her equations. Take a picture of her now and compare it to one taken the week she arrived in Korea. That should help shock her back into reality.

[matthews_world]

There's just been a MERS shutdown.

Not sure how long this lasted, a month or so? (Not in Korea.)

Lots of schools need to make up for the missed classes. Hopefully said teacher took their vacation during the stoppage.

That teacher should be lucky that they have a job in this market.

Lots of mom and pop hagwons closing because they didn't have financial reserves to deal with the shutdowns leaving NETs in the lurch. Means more competition for already scarce jobs.


Thread over.

[ippy]

Bullshit!

She should quit. Right away.

[jcd]

They are pretty mean.
The parents should be able to check how many hours the teachers are teaching in order to judge the quality of the school.
If I am a parent I don't want my child going into a teacher's 7th class after just having a wild class with only a five minute break.

I used to think that 5 classes a day was too much and 6 was back breaking.
Teaching a class is not the same as office work, it's tiring.

[Coltronator]

Yeah, even at CDI if you are working that (I assume 36 teaching, 12 other) you would be looking at 4.0 or so a month.