Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adr90]

An fellow American teacher of mine just had an unexpected death in the family. She and her significant other are on a plane home right now. I think they're coming back to finish out their contract (two more months).

Our boss has given then hell about it, though. Complaining that he has to go to immigration and file paperwork, yada yada. He also wants their original boarding passes when they return to give to immigration (when confronted with the fact that the airline KEEPS original boarding passes, he didn't know what to say). He had my coworker write a statement about the death and requested she include cause of death (she didn't).

When they return they must bring a copy of the death certificate and all sorts of other ridiculous paperwork "because immigration says you must or you cannot come back!"

Now, our boss lies all the time. Heaps and heaps of bullshit. He also warned me that if "they do not come back, they will be arrested! They will not find jobs in WHOLE WORLD!"

However, I don't know much about immigration. We have the normal E2, multi-entry visa. So how much of his talk about what immigration needs is a lie?

I think my coworkers are just doing whatever he wants (mostly) so they can come back and finish out their contract without too much fuss. I want to know exactly what immigration expects, however, in the (unlikely) event I find myself in their shoes down the road.

[Plain Meaning]

First recommendation: all communications your co-worker has with your boss should be committed to writing going forward. That means that any oral conversations they have should follow up with an email, or letter, confirming the substance of their conversation. This will be a hassle and annoying at first, but it will be immensely more convenient in the long-run. It will also give the Labor Board a favorable impression of your co-worker.

[Fox]

[adr90]

[Patong Dong]

Immigration isn't going to be involved beyond stamping their passports in and out of the airport. Your boss is clearly unhappy about having to cover for two people in the middle of a term. But, allowing both of them to go, even with a meltdown, is something they should be thankful for. Bereavement leave isn't often a twofer. Also, you do keep the original portion of the passenger's boarding pass.

[adr90]

They didn't exactly ask for the SO to go along. They just played a little hardball and told him (they knew if they asked, he'd refuse).

Another coworker had an expected death in the family and did a lot of negotiating to be allowed back for a commemoration ceremony. His wife isn't allowed to go.

As for the boarding pass, our boss wants the whole thing. When another teacher mentioned a lot of passes are digital these days he got terribly confused. This guy lives in his own reality.

[Be Good]

He is lying. Straight up full of it. Record all the info. In fact, while they are at home, they should email him and ask what he wanted from them again. That way, they have it.

This guy sounds like he would dock their bonus for going home if I had to guess. This boarding pass discussion is news to me. He sponsors their visa, he does not run their lives...or immigration for that matter. I'd also imagine nobody ever re-signs here.

[thrylos]

Depending on the hagwon, (Especially if it is part of a big chain), there may be a condolence payout (as per company and government regulations).

Asking for a death certificate is a prerequisite for collecting this compassion pay, which is awarded by either the government (pension office?) and/or the company, assuming the company is large enough. It is only given if the death is an immediate relative (parent/child/spouse).

When my dad passed away and left for 10 days, I had to submit all this (plus tickets and passport stamps confirming my absence) to get the ~2.5 million won compassion relief. It was deposited to my bank account about a month after I got back and put in all the paperwork.

Just wondering if the boss wants to pocket this 'windfall' by asking for all that paperwork and not letting the teachers know about it....

[Weigookin74]

[thrylos]

[adr90]

This compassion relief payout is really good to know about!

I don't know if it will apply (we are at a small english village camp. Half private, half government in some form) but I will definitely pass it along to my coworkers. If it applies, that cash could seriously help the flights.

If our boss is secretly collecting the documents to apply for it, it's not to surprise them with money as a gift. It's to pocket it himself. So it's doubly good for them to be on the lookout for that.

Man, I hate to bother them with this info in the middle of planning a funeral, but it's better to know that not.

Thanks.

[chellovek]

Sounds like the boss is talking a load of old rubbish.

The best thing to do is stamp your feet, wag your finger and say "These are fellow Americans we're talking about, not your run-of-the-mill Koreans."

He will be silenced with awe before giving them quintuple the compassion money along with a fruit basket that has a pleasing array of exotic fruits.

[BigBuds]

99.99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of what your boss has said is bullshit.

[PRagic]

My father was in hospice at home when I was working at an institute a long time ago. I told my boss I was leaving to help care for him, and that I'd be back when I'd be back; if he wanted to fire me, then fire me.

Never had a problem. Came back, finished my contract, and that was that. There are times when you have to prioritize family over a job. Period.

Your boss is full of it. No documentation is officially required, and I'd bet that there's no mention of leave for special circumstances in your contract.

Politely tell him that you'll be back, that you will provide a copy of the death certificate if there is legal precedent for that, and that you'll show him your plane reservation receipt upon return. Then go and be with your family.

[geldedgoat]

Is there a chance he's on a single-entry visa?