Korean Job Discussion Forums

[azjen]

My boyfriend and I both gave this letter to our boss to inform her of our leaving. We will complete our one year in less than one month.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you, in writing, our intentions for next year. As we discussed in March, we both need to go home for at least one month. Since all three of us have failed to meet again, we feel you are not aware of our desires. We intend to finish our contract with you in the fullest. We are also more than willing to give you 60 days notice for you to find new teachers.

In the interest of the new teachers it will be better if they are able to work one month prior to the summer intensive. This being said the earliest we are willing to leave is July 1, 2005 and the latest is August 1, 2005.

Our expectations (each are owed), in accordance with the contract: bonus (in equivalence to one month��s salary), return airfare home, and our monthly salary. The bonus and return ticket home (or monetary equivalent) are expected on June 18, 2005 when our contract has reached its one-year mark. In the case you are willing to make the reservations for our flight home, we would like to have our return flight tickets in hand on the 18th of June. If we are asked to leave in the middle of the month we will receive compensation for working based on our salary and the number of days worked. We are willing to work with you and the school during this time of transition.

Since our contract will be fulfilled and you are receiving more than 60 days notice, we will not be held liable for any of the cost incurred in recruiting and hiring of new teachers. In the event we need to stay for the month of July, our E-2 Visas will need to be extended for one month. We trust you will be able to work out the logistics of extending our Visas for a short period.

Please let us know, at your earliest convenience, when we will be able to go home. We need to make arrangements to prepare for our departure.

Respectfully,



Today she came to us stating she paid our recruiter for round trip airfare and she asked where our tickets are. We then informed her we only recieved one way tickets. After a couple of hours she came back and told us they paid the recruiter for a one way fare because it is the school's policy to only pay one way for thier employees. Here's part of my contract:

(e)Severance payment and roundtrip airfare will be made with fulfillment of one-year employment.

She then showed me the contracts of previous employees and then came to the conclusion that the recruiter must have changed it to fit our requests. I called the recruiter, he claims he didn't change the contract. I then handed the phone to my employer and asked her to discuss the issue with the recruiter. I do believe the recruiter may have changed the contract. BUT, the employer should have caught the mistake. She recieved the same contract we recieved.

My employer is claiming financial distress and she will be unable to pay our airfare home. She then asked what we were using our bonus for. I was then told I should sue the recruiter for my airfare. I told her she needs to pay my airfare since that's what our contract states. Her beef is with the recruiter and it should be her responsibility to take him to court if she deems necessary.

Should I go the Labor Board and ask them to view our contract and put in a complaint? The boss is refusing to pay our airfare, something she owes.

Anyone had luck fighting and winning their airfare?

Thanks in advance

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Grotto]

Tell her to pay up or else.
Financial difficulties? Tough crap, stop buying ugly scarfs.
She made a deal with the recruiter? Tough crap thats between her and the recruiter.
Other people didnt have return airfare in the contract? Tough crap its in your contract

Go to the labour board and get the ball rolling.

[dulouz]

I hate hearing about this crap. I get really %#^'in angry. You learn by practicing and all year we wonder if the owners will come through with the agreement. They don't and that year year of wonder converts very effeciently into learned spite. I can't write more or the police will visit. Do you know what her car looks like and where she parks it?

[Kimchieluver]

Go to the MOL they will have it resolved in less than two - three weeks.

[turtlepi1]

I'm interested in the outcome.

The law states they only have to pay a one-way ticket, but I'm pretty sure it is the one-way out of the country. Of course, your contract goes beyond what the law prescribes and the contract should be the determining factor.

But what should be doesn't always end up happening.

Keep us informed.

And be careful about how you approach the situation.
Don't let them pull you into a situation where they actually can get rid of you without paying the bonus.

IE: If they can pull you into a big fight and then say you are a danger they could likely fire you in the 11th month. That being said, always be firm.

[dimnd]

My son has a contract with a hagwon in Gumi. He has his bachelors in art and asian studies. He is a caring , sensitive man.

When he got to his "furnished apartment" there was no bed, and only a hot plate and tv and phone.

He and another Canadian teacher as well as a Korean teacher have not been paid according to the contracts. My son had to buy his own bed..for several months he slept on the floor due to the director not paying him . Now the director owes him for March..half...April..half and May..
Over 2K

His co-workers have refused to work and thus received some monies. What does he do to get his 2k , and who can make this teacher abide by the contract? He keeps my son's diploma in a safe he says and has not given it back (he received it last August, 2004)

Peggy
asap answers would be appreciated

[fidel]

First off dimnd, tell your son to contact his university and pay for a new copy of his degree. No point fighting over something that can easily be replaced, and takes away one less factor in the equation (also tell your son never to give his degree to anyone again).

Secondly contact the Ministry of Labor and lay a complaint. The situation has gone on too long already.

After that demand a letter of release and get the hell out of Gumi.

PM Grotto for further advice, he's more up with regulations and options than me.

[Grotto]

For the diploma I would tell your son to go to the director/owner and demand his diploma back right away! If that doesnt work tell him
to contact the police. Walk into the school with the police and demand to get your diploma back!

Late pay? Tell your boss you are going to contact the labour board. Do so and get the ball rolling. The minute an employer is late with the pay he has violated the contract. Document it and get out.

Too many newbies put up with bad situations when all they have to do is get the letter of release(if they plan on staying in Korea) or do a midnight run(IE get your money and get the hell out of Dodge.

[azjen]

I went to a Korean friend to ask his advice (and how to get to the Labour Board). He then informed me he would talk to our director on our behalf. The director fed him a load of her usual lies and claims we have a new contract with her since she fired our old director. She still refuses to pay airfare. She then told our friend that if we pursue our complaint with the Ministry of Labour she will shut the school down. We will lose our salary for the month of May and she will not pay us our bonus.

I then said I would agree to her terms if she gave us our bonus today. I can't trust her and I need something to trust her with. She refused. I offered we pay half our airfare and she pays the other half. She refused. I told her that I will go to the Ministry of Labour, she said she is shutting the school down. I told her fine, shut it down. You fired me. You will still have to pay all that you owe.

I went to the Labour Board. YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOUR BOSS TO SCREW YOU AND THEN YOU CAN FILE A COMPLAINT. Even worse, you have to wait 14 days from the time your boss didn't honor the contract to file a dispute. All the while you have to remain in Korea for meetings and what not. It's such a waste of time. I should have recieved my bonus and my pay and just walked out. I'd be in a better situation than I am in now. Plus I'd be able to stick it to my employer.

I just want to go home and be done with all of this.