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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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 Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:46 am Post subject: Can We Keep Your Diploma? |
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After applying for my visa, I was given back all my documents.
Now my school has asked ever so sweetly: "Can we have your diploma? Our director wants to keep it."
Okay... I asked why they wanted it, and I was told
"So you can't apply for another job."
Ummm.... do I have a sign on my forehead that says "Please screw me over?" |
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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| Don't do it....it's yours. But also keep in mind that it is pretty easy to order another one from your university. |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:27 am Post subject: |
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I must be missing something. I've been here at different jobs over many years and I've never even shown my original diploma to anyone. I took several copies to an Embassy before applying for jobs or coming to Korea. I got them all certified, stamped etc. at the same time. I've been using these ever since. Our newest teacher, on my advice, did the same. She went to a Korean consulate before coming to Korea and got several certified copies of her diploma. She has never needed her original. What's the deal?  |
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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| That's a bad precedent to set. My university flat out will NOT issue replacement degrees. |
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Zark
Joined: 12 May 2003
Location: Phuket, Thailand: Look into my eyes . . .
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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It's okay to say, "No." I would. Particularly since they gave you such a BS reason.
I keep several "originals" just so I can't be jacked around. But when they cost $35-50 a pop - I don't give them away just for fun.
WoW - sorry Peppermint - no replacements IS a problem! |
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joe_doufu
Joined: 09 May 2005
Location: Elsewhere
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Zark wrote: |
| Particularly since they gave you such a BS reason. |
Actually I would say they gave her a pretty darn honest reason! |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, devious but honest.
I think the answer should be, "If you treat me fairly you won't have to worry about me applying for another job." |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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At least they asked. A lot of places just keep it after the visa process. I had to "steal" mine back last year.
They really have no reason to keep it, with all the money they can hold back from your pay. Furthermore, when you consider the fact that you would have to have a letter of release from your current boss, you can't legally work for anyone else until your contract expires anyway. So why do they need to hold on to your degree? I think their reason is bogus.
However, you might be wise to tread lightly in regards to this. No need to start a war with the boss so early in the contract.
Be polite, but tell them you want your degree back. |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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Kermo isnt this the self same hogwan that had "no leaning or sitting while at work" in the contract?
Sounds like one more link in the chain of stupidity  |
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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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| some waygug-in wrote: |
Be polite, but tell them you want your degree back. |
The funny thing is that I already have my degree back. Now they want me to hand it over so they can keep it hostage. I told them "I'll have to think about it. What if my situation changes, and I give you a month's notice, and you won't give it back? Isn't that blackmail?" I asked jokingly. She laughed, and said "Of course, we wouldn't do that."
What I should have said is "Why on earth would I want a second job???"
What I will say is "I understand that keeping my degree gives wonjangnim a feeling of security. However, instead of taking hostages, I think it's better for our relationship to be based on trust and professionalism. I'm expecting to be treated fairly, and I'd like you to believe the same." |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Grotto wrote: |
| Kermo isnt this the self same hogwan that had "no leaning or sitting while at work" in the contract? |
Was wondering about that too. Not the old school in the sticks? A new school? A new hogwon?
| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
Yes, devious but honest.
I think the answer should be, "If you treat me fairly you won't have to worry about me applying for another job." |
Agreed, that should be the answer. But seriously, all the little heartfelt speeches in the world about trust, loyalty and professionalism needing to be earned with fair treatment aren't going to persuade a Korean employer from grasping at the whiphand when it's in their reach.
"Noooo! How in heavens name could you even imagine such dastardly intentions on our part! If you persist in this unfounded distrust of us, then how ever can we expect to have a good, cooperative relationship in the future? No, you simply must hand over your original degree as a demonstration of your faith and your commitment to be a good teacher -- absolutely nothing less will satisfy HRH Wonjangnim. (We'll stop produciing nukes AFTER you pull all your troops out of Korea and send us 1% of your GDP for the next 10 years.)
I can appreciate how someone in their first or second year in country would be surprised by this school's request. And this thread is appropriate and useful for ESLcafe.com. But it did get me thinking, were I to launch a thread for every ridiculous, nonsensical, underhanded, unfair request/demand made to me by past K-employers, they'd have to rename this site, "Damn! The Guru's Korean Employers Have Been So Mean to Him! ... dot-com. |
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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| Grotto wrote: |
| Kermo isnt this the self same hogwan that had "no leaning or sitting while at work" in the contract? |
Was wondering about that too. Not the old school in the sticks? A new school? A new hogwon? |
Yup-- did not renew contract with old school in the sticks. Am now employed with a hagwon with rather draconian rules. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 1:54 am Post subject: |
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| kermo wrote: |
| JongnoGuru wrote: |
| Grotto wrote: |
| Kermo isnt this the self same hogwan that had "no leaning or sitting while at work" in the contract? |
Was wondering about that too. Not the old school in the sticks? A new school? A new hogwon? |
Yup-- did not renew contract with old school in the sticks. Am now employed with a hagwon with rather draconian rules. |
Which you must admit begs an obvious question: Why did you sign with them in the first place? |
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andrew
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:11 am Post subject: |
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.....
Last edited by andrew on Fri May 01, 2009 6:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
Which you must admit begs an obvious question: Why did you sign with them in the first place? |
I wasn't thrilled with the hagwons that I had seen while interviewing in Korea. I went to Canada to see my family, and was offered a job thanks to another Dave's poster. He seemed satisfied with the place, so I took a pay cut and an increase in teaching hours (though no pointless office hours-- yay!) in order to live in Seoul, and teach some place where I felt confident that I would be paid on time.
It's not ideal, but it's workable. Standing up burns calories! |
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