Korean Job Discussion Forums

[harryh]

I have been here now for five and a half months, and I have had nothing but problems with the contract being kept to by my employers. You name it, I've had the problem. My main concerns at the moment are the two problems I shall mention below. I would appreciate any advice, on how to tackle these problems.
Accommodation. My fellow foreign teacher and I had to move from our assigned apartment recently. It was a hassle day, but to make matters worse, was the fact that the employers said that WE should pay all costs for furniture removal, eg: stuff that was thrown away (even though it was the schools. They wanted it thrown away because the new place is smaller).
Next up is that the elecricity board turned up on the day, demanding outstanding payments in excess of 2 million won, dating back to June 2000. The director of the school said, i quote "I think you have to pay it".
WHAT? I've only been here five months, and i've been paying electricity bills anyway. Sure enough, my employers have taken a 'first' payment from my wages this month.

Next,
I am contracted to work 150 40 minute sessions, but continually exceed that amount (and this is excluding sessions on reading contest and activity days, so in reality the total sessions worked should read more). I regularly do over 160 sessions, but only get paid the norm usually. Last month I complained, as i worked 20 sessions over the contracted amount (very politely i must add). I was told that the schedule for last month had been thrown away, so they couldn't check. I got nothing.
Again, it happened in March. I worked over 20 extra sessions, but got payment for 3 only. Again no luck when i asked about it.

I would appreciate advice on how to deal with these problems.
Thank in advance.

[thinker]

I would start keeping a strict schedule of exactly how many classes you're teaching, once you've reached the contracted amount, kindly inform your boss of that fact and get him to sign to that fact on paper. Koreans seem to pay more attention if you've written it down clearly.

As far as the 2 MILLION for electric, that's crazy! Even though it is for two people and a larger place then mine I didn't pay much more than 150,000 for electricity the entire year I was there! Maybe yours included the gas as well (still high) I know when I moved the gas guy came and surprised me with a 90,000 bill and I had also thought that my boss had paid it. And don't forget the Apartment maintainence fee around 25,000 for them cleaning the hall ways and what not. Still with all those bills it should only be around 500,000 for 5 months. Smells bad to me~

[harryh]

Thanks.
My co-worker has also not received overtime payments, and we were thinking along the lines of, when finishing our regular hours, leaving and saying "see you next month".
Regarding electricity, we had to buy gas cylinders. It was a separate thing.

[Captain Obvious 2.0]

The overtime one is easy. You politely state that your salary didn't include the overtime of XXXX Won for the YYY number of classes. Be specific, but non-threatening.

"On my salary, I didn't receive the 300,000 Won for the extra 20 classes I did" or whatever the math works out to be. Essentially treat it like an accident, as it may very well have been. Don't demand it "not now but right now", but more casual.

Everyone walks away a winner.

[mack the knife]

[sid]

The nitty-gritty of my relationship with my Director (discussions about money, timetables, curriculum etc) was carried out entirely in polite emails and it worked really well. Sometimes she would literally be six feet away from me writing me an email, or a note to put on my desk after I'd gone to class!

Anyway, towards the end of my contract the college accounts department mysteriously 'disappeared' 21 days of holiday I had owing (about 1.3million won). I wrote her an email with the polite and slightly confused tone the Captain suggests, waited a few days, and she came back with an apology (by email of course) and a recalculated and restored holiday pay.

The non-confrontational approach works! (for me anyway)

[mack the knife]

remember that tom petty song "you got lucky babe"?

[Real Reality]

Gently inquire about the "accident."

Receiving prompt payment of overtime can be a problem. You may have to wait for months. You may never get it.

Good Luck.

[harryh]

After 7 months, i've finally been paid correctly.

I think the tactic that worked, was to write down the session number on each lesson plan. After session number 181 at the end of the month, i think the boss by then 'knew the score'. Although she tried telling me that some lessons had been cancelled (???), a quick trip to the class registers confirmed to her that i had indeed prepared and taught 181 sessions.

[waterbaby]

[harryh]