Korean Job Discussion Forums

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

It would be kind of cute, if I had gotten my money.
My relations with the hagwon have been very warm for the first 2 months, no complaints at all. I have been flexible with them, agreeing to changes in work schedule, and I've felt that our relationship is strong.

But today was payday and they only paid half the money, claiming "we forgot to go to the bank" and i'd get the rest Tuesday ... (as if they luckily had enough to pay half of my salary luckily in their wallets?) There've been some more changes to the schedule that they know i'm not happy about, and I saw some funny deductions as "utilities" on my pay stub. So they know there's a negotiation coming.

I think that they paid me half salary as a way of testing the waters. Would I take it sitting down, would I stand up and negotiate, or would I midnight run? The boss is a newly-promoted teacher, and I am her first test. She can expect a firm but civil discussion tomorrow, when I get my money.

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

Give them hell and say that the other schools that you worked at didn't do this!! Maybe tell them a story that your friend once walked out on a school because they didn't pay him the correct amount. As they are new they might be trying to test you to see how far they can push you. I hate it when bosses do that but you have to stand up to them and give out to them if you have to.

As for the "utilites", how much are we talking about here?

Col.Brandon · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

Just teach half your classes from now on, and sit in the office the rest of the time. See how they like it.

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

One day? Don't sweat it.

Two days after they promised it'd be there on the 2nd day...

Then you can sweat it.

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Ours is called 'Apartment maintenance' and it cost around 30-50,000 per month. It changes every month because it includes my gas bill. I also think 60,000 is high...

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Obviously, you do not have money OP....otherwise you'd have told the school to stick it already...and have left! Late pay? I think not! Why play games?!
I would not give them a second chance to screw me. And I would not have gone back to work for them...I would have left them standing....they left me standing afterall! And I would have told them why...it is YOUR responsibility to pay me on time and in full...you expect me to be on time for work, etc....well..I work for money...find yourself a new teacher. Excuses are not needed...you should have been planning/saving for my pay! If this is the way you run a business...I can see that I'll have problems with you in the future so it's best I leave korea now instead of waiting for you to screw me over. Keep the money you owe me....you are pathetic.
It's high time that FT's start standing up for themselves AND FOR OTHERS. Some teachers just don't have the backbone I suppose...and take a screwing...only to complain about it and or do the MNR.
Late pay is serious. No excuse for it...none at all. Should not be in business then. And for those of you who are defenders of late pay....and koreans....well....well....you both need each other then.
Ask the school if he likes being paid late! Of course not!
ATM machines are all over the place! I am sure the school owner has a visa card or two...get a cash advance then! But pay me my money on time.
No excuse for half pay...except to play mind games!

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Right on!

Ask you dummy what other parts of the contract he is planning on breaking next?

Late pay is a violation of your contract......if it is okay for them to violate your contract it should be okay for you too.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

First payday rolled around over here and there was some 'confusion'. It was like they were hovering over it, not being forthcoming. I got the feeling they wanted to do some weasly negotiating, like appealing to my reason, which would mean taking it up the yahoo and setting some precedent that way so as to be malleable.

But the supervisor 'talked to her' (the boss) and supposedly because he 'pushed her' I got my pay suddenly. Like whoosh it came out. So what was the problem before? Just delaying and considering negotiating the rate down in a kind of huddled deliberating.

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

I got my pay today, but we didn't agree on the apartment issue. If they hadn't payed the 2nd half of my salary, I would have done something like refused to teach... but I don't really know what action I can take to get them to pay the apartment fees. All the actions at my disposal are too drastic for negotiating over 5% of my pay.

I may leave before my contract is up, anyway, so I'm not sure if I really want to fight anymore.

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

Oh also I asked when the summer vacation was going to be. Boss was really stressed out and she said "Didn't you look at the contract??!!!" and I said, yes, the contract says the 1-week summer vacation date will be set by the school. We looked at the contract together. Then she went to the calendar and indicated 3 days in the beginning of august. No, ma'am. A week is 7 days! I just added the thursday and friday to what she indicated, and she didn't argue.