Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eamo]

My hagwon has been bleeding students since myself and two other foreigners signed up about 5 months ago. The reasons for the drop in numbers are varied and not the point here.

Point is, they have given us our 30 day notice on our full-time contract. So basically, I'm fired.

It's not so bad as they have offered to keep us on as part-timers (2 hours per day, decent money) and maintain our E-2's. This means I have time to get into some juicy adult and company classes in the evenings.

Question......Should I expect any pro-rated severence or untaken holiday pay? (I've still all my 10 days holiday un-taken) I've only been here 4.5 months. 5.5 months at the time my full-time contract expires.

The pro-rated severance and holiday pay would add up to over a million so it's a nice chunk.

This hagwon has been cheating me out of bits and pieces of pay since I got here so I dont want them to short-change me any further.

[kangnamdragon]

You should not expect any severence if you did not complete one year.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

How much is the juicy money? Do you still get to keep your apartment? It's still the hiring season...why don't you get another job that will give you the full-time benefits (severance, holiday pay). Plus you still are under an E2, full-time, so you will have to pay same amount of tax, I think. I doubt you'll get airfare back. The short hours seem nice but you might hurt in the long run...of course if you only want to stay in Korea for another five months, then this might be a good deal. But as shady as hagwons are...those student numbers might continue to plummet and it will only be a matter of time before the whole place is bankrupt and you have NO job. Even if you are on as part-time, you might have trouble getting your pay....I know, lots of "ifs" but you can gauge how your boss will treat you in the future and take it from there. It sounds like he should be entitled to give you a LOR...that's the least he can do after this nice little bomb he dropped on you.
You can chance those company classes in the evening...so at the risk of sounding overly preachy...illegal teaching just isn't worth it either.

[Zyzyfer]

When's the big day? After that it won't really matter any more...until then, if the school can keep you afloat and with an E2, subjugate that bitch. If not, look around.

[eamo]

To clarify Polychronic's Q's...

I'm in my own apt with my partner so that's not an issue. I'm 4 years into Korea with at least that many to go.

Airfare is not an issue as they hired me knowing I'm a long-termer.

The juicy money could be in the ballpark of 40-70,000 per hour. Makes working full-time in a hagwon seem a bit redundant.

If the hagwon decides to close altogether then they still have to give me 30 days notice under the terms of the new part-time contract. Time for me to find another E-2 sponser.

I'm attracted to the idea of doing a bit in the current hagwon to maintain my E-2 and hustling whatever I can get elsewhere. The results of a scant search in just the last 5 days are very encouraging.

Zyzyfer.....I'm on a part-time basis from March 1st. My E-2 will last until November 2nd.

Kangnamdragon.....I speculated that if the employer terminates the contract then they are liable to pay something of the severance. Might be wrong there. I really don't know.

[the eye]

hey Eamo,

if the employer dismisses a teacher for valid reasons, they do not have to pay severance. if it were the 12th month of your contract, it may be seen differently, but not at this time.
once you are designated as part time, you are no longer eligible for severance.

another thing. if a hogwan has less than 5 full time employees they are exempt from most things guaranteed by labor law such as severance.

also, if they have been cheating you out of money here and there...would you be able to trust them with your part time work? is there a chance they will be skimming a little bit extra off the top?

[Zyzyfer]

[panthermodern]

Get your visa sponsor to sign a post-dated letter of release now.

After that get watever you can, but, if you want to stay secure your release letter ASAP.

[eamo]