Korean Job Discussion Forums

[saint_moi]

Well this is what my new hagwon director suddenly presented me with 2 weeks into the contract. The director in question insists that this is standard practice and the norm across Korea and among all hagwons. To my understanding and experience, this is not at all reasonable or fair. I have read many contracts, and furthermore have many colleagues doing the exact same hagwon circuit who were shocked when asked if this seems normal.

Standard practice in North America etc. is about 3 days sick leave a year, exceeding that would require a doctor's cert. and the forseen missed days would not be payed for. Do you agreee / disagree?

p.s. This is topic came up as my new director instructed that because I'm missing Thursday and Friday by travelling to Osaka to process my visa for the school, I would have to work this Saturday and a consecutive Saturday to make up for that time missed.

[paperbag princess]

that's b.s. and it's not in your contract so it's not legal.

[PatrickSiheung]

Directors usually think that because you are their employee they can order you to do whatever they want. My last directors were like that. Basically respect was only a one way street for them.

I had to take a day off because of a really bad cough and they had the nerve to write me a warning letter about it. The day I was gone the other teachers got a long lecture about staying healthy and taking "resting time." pffft They were yelled at because I got sick. Figure that one out.

[baldrick]

Absurd.

[Falstaff]

[justagirl]

If this is a "red flag" I would suggest thinking about continuing to work for this school. You don't your visa yet, so you're still free to leave. I'd be concerned if something like this is being pulled on you in the 1st two weeks of your contract.

[panthermodern]

This question is stupid ...

What does your contract state?

[Ya-ta Boy]

It does seem highly unfair, but it is the norm here. Or if not the norm, extremely common.

I think you are making a common mistake. Your experience with educational institutions so far has been in public education.

Hakwons are businesses, not really schools. The students pay for X number of lessons a month. If the teacher is absent, the students are shorted. This brings up the question of why there are no substitute teachers to fill in. The answer is because teachers cannot work for two schools at the same time. Silly, but the law.

[Alyallen]

[ulsanchris]

At my last job i turned up at work sick one day. My boss took one look at me and sent me home. He didn't dock my pay or ask me to make up for being gone.

[lush72]

Another outstanding example of korean stupidity and greed! Unfortunately this is par for the course in the hogwon game.

[saint_moi]

Dear Panther,

thanks for the apparant concern for my level of intelligence, but rest assured to me it's a perfectly valid question. It's not in my contract, but the clause 'Party B shall observe Party A's school policies and regulations concerning teachers...' is.

I once again extend appreciation for trying to rile me, Mr Panther, in the future rather just offer opinion instead of flame bait. I was simply asking if this kind of absurd instruction has been imposed on others here in the same game as myself. Ok?

[matthews_world]

Your boss just simply to make up a lost day. The parents will be happy.

No harm, no foul. Show some professionalism.

[saint_moi]

Fair enough, I consented without hesitation before. That was a p.s.

The question at hand is having to work weekends if I'm ever off sick or being fined my vacation time.

[Squid]

Squid's "did you know" file:

If you work for ECC, it's more profitable for you to take your contract sickies than to get their "bonus" for not doing so.

just being helpful.