Korean Job Discussion Forums

[turtlepi1]

But assume I paid my own ticket over, my own visa run and they aren't paying my housing and a verbal agreement on a notice period of one month.

Seems like I should be able to walk away guilt free, but like I said, it's a new joint and they are great people that are making it but expenses are tight in the first 3 months so changing the "whitey" in may kill 'em.

You'd never know I ran a school with a staff of 25 people in my past life...

So I don't hate my job OR my neighbourhood...but I also don't have the limitations of the contract...I still feel like a bastard if I give my notice.

crazylemongirl wrote:

[bosintang]

My take on this is simular to CLG.

If you are not happy with your situation, for *whatever* reason, I think you reach a point where deep inside your heart you know what the right choice you have to make is, whether that's to stay and grind out your contract, or pack up and leave. If you make a concious and thought-out decision that you have to leave, then there's no shame or irresponsibility in this. By staying in a bad situation, you are doing nobody any favours -- least of all yourself or your employer.

What will determine how responsible you are as an adult is how you go about leaving. It's easier to just take off without giving any notice, and maybe this is your only realistic option. The more responsible choice is to give your boss proper notice and discuss it with them. This may be difficult, especially if your boss is hostile to the idea at first, but eventually something will be settled because it is in both of your interests.

A contract is a business agreement. It's not a life sentence and it's not written in blood. In the real world, nothing stays constant. Circumstances change, things change, moods change, and people change. Ammending or terminating a contract is usual business.

[Zyzyfer]

Whether to leave or not depends entirely on the situation. I know for sure I wouldn't ask for advice on the issue on this message board, though, considering how many assumptions by others often come into play.

Moreover, I think that, as long as due notice is given, the reasoning behind someone leaving isn't really relevant. If you personally think that they're leaving for stupid reasons, congratulations on your brilliant observation, but leave the insults and assumptions at the door. Nobody comes on this message board to be judged...

I stuck out my contracts at my first two schools, despite being very disappointed with them, and I feel like I wasted two years of my life where I could be accomplishing something greater. The second contract in particular put a damper in my relationship with the Chica because I was always pissed off about work.

And one word about contracts. I look at working here no differently than working at home, as far as raw employment goes. If I walk out the door tomorrow, I know I can't go back there. If I give two weeks notice, they have time to find a replacement, and I seriously doubt that telling them I intend to leave in the future is going to make the school implode.

[CanadaCommando]

[turtlepi1]

[CanadaCommando]

I agree that for alot of us, staying or leaving is not an easy decision. Last time, I struggled against leaving a failing school, or staying and trying to help salvage it. I stayed, the school closed and I lost about 2 grand in pay.

Now, I am in a public system, and would also feel akward leaving a professional role in middle of the week...

So, personally, it would prob. struggle through for a bit as long as I can deal with most job problems.

A major difference between signing a contract here, and signing a contract back home, is that when you sign a contract for KOrea, alot of the time you have no idea what the job is like, what the housing is like, and what the country is like (first timers). Back home, you are signing on for a job. Here, you are signing on for a LIFESTYLE. Unhappy at home, you go home to your familiar house and bitch to your old friends about it. Unhappy here, and there is no such easy escape. If your problem is Korea, there is no escaping (except for spending all your time in Itaewon).

Having a hard nose stance towards ending contracts is only going to result
in one thing-an increase in midnight runs. It's not like people are quitting their jobs for higher paying positions in Korea, they are quitting their jobs to go home. HEY, YOU CAN'T GO HOME. YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT. BACK TO WORK SLAVE!!!

[OiGirl]

Life is too short to eat food that isn't delicious. It's NOT too short to honor a 12-month contract.

For me, at least. Your values may vary.

[OiGirl]

I think maybe this is why non-Koreans can't understand "han." Sometimes you just have to do something, even if it makes you miserable.

[Scott in HK]

Values can be differnt. I value my family more than fulfilling a contract. My current job includes a long commute. This has greatly reduced the amount of time I get to spend with my children. So I am looking for a new job. I will leave my current job before my contract is up...if I find a better job.

I will give my employer plenty of time to find a new teacher. I will return the money they gave me for my ticket. In fact I will follow my contract to the letter as I leave. In that way I honouring the contract by utilizing the part of the contract that allows me to leave. There is another part of the contract that states I can be let go. Both parties are given the option of breaking the contract and given rules to follow if they chose to do so.

I can see nothing wrong with following the rules of your contract.

[CanadaCommando]

[OiGirl]

[crazylemongirl]

[turtlepi1]

Thanks everyone...you've made be feel a bit better about something I already know I need to do.

Know anyone near Anyang that is interested in an E2? and can work between 2 and 10? Wednesday is a heavy teaching day but tuesday and thursday are a wash...

(But I guess that is sort of like posting a job.
If it is breaking some sort of rule feel free to nuke it...)

[Zyzyfer]

[turtlepi1]