Korean Job Discussion Forums

[guangho]

the other guy at my haggie took a sickday yesterday and so his classes were sort of combined with mine. It's a pain for everyone- me cuz I don't know his kids, the kids because they had no clue about me and my boss because she had no clue what we were supposed to do. I guess it's sort of inevitable tho- there is no formal hakwon substitute program in place.

[Squid]

I am wrong wrote:

"Last term I came to school massively sick"

People who go to work when they're sick put not only themselves but also their co-workers and any other people they come into contact with at risk of exposure to infection. It is grossly irresponsible at best to go to work when you're sick, at worst it constitutes endangerment (especially if you're working with young children).

I am wrong is a foolish individual with no regard for the wellbeing of the people around him/her. I hope I never have to work with a person like that.

Otherwise maybe it was just a troll.

[W.T.Carl]

This is the way it works in Korea- a sick is NOT a sick day. It is something that they put in the contract to lure westerners to come and teach. My first month there I contracted a nasty dose of the flu. I could not get out of (actually off of ) my bed. Luckily for me, I was sharing an apartment with the DOS. She takes one look at me after I say that I am sick and says- You too sick to work- You stay home today. I stayed home that day. The next day she sent another teacher ( Korean ) to pick me up ( I am still deathly ill) to take me to the doctor. We arrive at Doctor Cho's OB/GYN clinic. I am too sick to care where I am at- I just want to see if I am going to die or not. The good doctor ( a friend of the owner) says - you have flu- you stay in bed for week. I go home and back to my bed. Next day the owner comes and says- Doctor say you can work today- you come. Here I am shivering with fever and sweating like a pig. I go to work hoping I will die. I didn't and I didn't get paid for the time off. That is what is called a Korean sick day.

[Grotto]

Once again it boils down to ones ability to just say no. Koreans love to 'guilt' people into doing things they dont have to or shouldnt do.

Korean: I work 12 hours a day getting ready for my classes why dont you?

Me: I am an English GOD! I have studied English for over 16 years in schools and university. I speak and read English every single day of my life. Compared to you my English is as superior to yours as your Korean is to mine.

Korean: who will teach your students if you no come to class? Parents pay money for English speaker!

Me: sorry i'm sick! I wont be in today!

Korean: Must come!

Me: No! See you tomorrow if I am feeling better, okay?

Korean: NO NOT OKAY YOU COME NOW!!~!

Me: unplugging phone zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

If you are sick dont let them bully you into coming in. Stay home, relax, get better. You owe it to yourself first and your students second. Going in sick serves no purpose other than allowing the hogwan owner to tell the parents....look white face in classroom! If the parents make a fuss and he has to give a discount for next term tough crap. Its the fault of the Korean government for making substitute teaching illegal for foreign teachers.

My own personal favorite was last week. I called in sick (no classes) and went to see my doctor in Suwon which takes about 2 hours by bus to get there, from where I live. At 11:00 my co-teacher calls and says "where are you?" Sick day didnt admin tell you? You come back now! No its a sick day. Oh>?? You come back this afternoon! No its a sick day! Next day I took another sick day just to make my point.

I mean what is the point of going to school for 8 hours to sit in a classroom and do absolutely nothing at all. Hell I dont even have texts to study from for the upcoming semester! I dont have a schedule or anything. If I want to burn off a sick day or two during do nothing time I dont see what the problem is!

Sigh......Koreans!