Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rock]

I let my boss know, and his assistant, that "I was shocked" at the comments made to me by them at work. To any newcomers, I'd made a post relating a disturbing comment regarding the assistant telling me, "The kids hate you." Now, he says "I just said 'Some of the kids.'

Oh well, today I gave them an outline called 'Dealing With Complaints.' It had these five principles, or opinions, that I wanted to see if my boss would agree with. I told him the following, which I'll relate to you in a paraphrased form.

*No complaint should be made to me unless it has legitimate reasons. No saying "The students hate you. . .But we don't know why."

*If I'm wrong(completely at fault,) I'll get together with the boss and he can decide what to do. This means there has to be proof, the complaint serious.

*If I'm not wrong, or if the complaint isn't legitimate, meaning the student was at fault, the student has to get together with the boss, and the parent, to take care of it alone. This means that if there's no proof, to heck with it.

*If the complaints is so serious that there's a dispute, or interference with the job, the contract must be looked over to see how this complaint applies and the ministry of labor contacted, or looked up, to see if this indeed is a breach of contract.

Basically the last stipulation got their attention. The assistant's last comment was, "How are we going to know if the complaints are legitimate or not?" To this I added, "How are you going to know if they are then?" or something to that nature, meaning, how can they make me at fault when they have no proof, and accept any old complaint about me without any proof?

The boss, however, seems a little aloof and disturbed about this latter point. His last words were "This was not part of the contract." In response I'd thought "Yeah, but neither is holding complaints against me as effecting my job a part of the contract we'd signed either."

In other words, I'd tole him we have to rely on the ministry of labor to decide any dismissals outside the contract. Since this aspect, or detail of complaints isn't in my contract, I don't think it has any bearing, and the boss knows this. He therefore, can't abuse this.

But I don't know if it went over well and if I shouldn't have just shut up.

[Qinella]

At least you stood up for yourself.

Make sure you stress that the important thing is dealing with and understanding the problem, not escaping culpability.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[captain kirk]

That's a pro way to show you don't appreciate their drama. The boss can complain to the mop in the closet now

[Grotto]

Typical hogwan bullcrap

The students dont like you! Why? Can you explain why? No we cant but you should be a better teacher.

You are a bad teacher! Why? What am I doing wrong? We cant give specifics just be a better teacher.

You are a bad teacher, Bob is a good teacher, be more like Bob!
Bob's head swells with pride and he will no longer question any of the insane hogwan owners ideas and backstab you at any turn.

The parents have been complaining! What did they say? Can you tell me a specific complaint? No we cant, just be a better teacher!

I would like to sit down with the parent and student in question to see how I can better the situation. NO NO impossible!

Stand up to bad hogwan owners they are stupid idiots and undeserving of any respect.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Just tell them 'which parent' or 'which kid' and you want to meet them. Otherwise, laugh at them or quit. No need to put up with such BS.

[joe_doufu]

Sounds like you took an opportunity to solve a problem, and instead you made an over-the-top gesture of confrontation. All you probably accomplished was to make enemies of your boss. Furthermore, your rules read like legal-ese and are too difficult to follow.

All you had to say was "If there is a complaint, I need to know the specific complaint and the specific child(ren) or parent(s) making it, so I can solve the problem. If I can't solve the problem with that information, we should sit down with the child and parents and discuss it."

[Grotto]

well thank you Joe Doofus

Here is a hint for you....anything with more than three letter words is too difficult for your average hogwan owner to understand.

IMHO I think he handled it quite well.

Hogwan owners make complaints about someone that are general and often fabricated. Telling them you want specifics in precise English should not alienate or make enemies of your boss. It should simply put the dumbass in his place and make him remember you are the English god here...he is simply nothing more than a greedy business guy.

[Rock]

That's right, Grotto. This Joe_Doufu says I "had an opportunity to solve a problem", but is one of those here who can't distinguish what a predicament one is in at these hagwons without sounding like Joe Critical or some wise guru.

[TheUrbanMyth]

Don't feed the troll!

[Kimchieluver]

Two years ago my director said "Sometimes you show that you are angry." I replied "Well sometimes I do get angry." I said "If I sat down all class wouldn't you be angry with me?" The K-co-teacher then translated and he said "you would be fired" So i said" If one of my students walks under the desk for three times in a row, can I kick him out of the academy?" He didn;t answer. I finished my contract and I still hate his guts.

[joe_doufu]

[manlyboy]

I can picture your boss right now twisting his moustache and hatching a plot to avenge this affront to his superiority. If he wasn't REALLY out to get you before, he will be now. But then again, who can tell with this Sun Tzu style "spread confusion amongst them" type of management. I've found it's best to wait a couple of days and cool off before taking a course of action. I once stormed into the bosses office on a Friday ready to explode. She wasn't there, and I had to wait until Monday. By that time I had cooled off and realized I just had to swallow my pride over the situation. It turned out to be a wise move.