Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Masterjazz]

So ive been looking for a while for a contract in SEOUL but just for 6mths, hard to find but got this one.
Looks okay to me, but anything there that i should be aware of.
Im keen to sign something soon cos' im off travelling and wont have time to sort this out.

Living conditions :single House. 1kitchen, 1living room.
10 minutes walking distance away from school
-Students: Kindergartener to elementary schooler
-The number of teacher : Foreigner 4, Korean 7.
-Working days: Monday to Fridays
-Vacations: 1 week in Summer and 1 week in Winter


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made on . . 2006 .
by and between Bukbu(Sungbuk) Wonderland Language Institute with its
head office at : 4F SuJu Building 67-53 Hawelgok Dong Sungbukgu Seoul, Korea
(Hereafter referredto as the " Employer") and a citizen of
passport No: (hereafter referred to as the "Teacher)
The Teacher is hereby hired by the Employer and both parties and agree on
the following terms and conditions:

1. PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT
a. The total agreement term is approximately 12months, commencing from the date of teaching in Institute and finishing on the last teaching day of the Teacher's twelfth teaching session.
b. The terms of this agreement include twelve (12) full and consecutive
teaching sessions, and all scheduled vacations and holidays that fall
between or during teaching sessions.

2. CONDITIONS of EMPLOYMENT
The teacher's work shall consist primarily of the following :
a EFL or ESL instruction in any and all phases of the Institute's program to classes the range from the preschool to middle school
b. Curriculum design and implementation
c. Development of educational program and materials
d. Out-of-classroom activities for/with students
e. Grading and evaluation of students
f. Student counselling, phone counselling, record evaluation and placement evaluation
g. Attendance at teacher's meetings
h. Other cases related activities (Ex. Tape recording for students, etc)

Teacher Initial :

3. DUTIES OF TEACHER
a. During contracted working period, the teacher shall cooperate, and comply with the rule and principle of the Employer and the Instructions of the Academic Supervisor and shall carry out such Including the teaching program related to the Teacher's class, the attendance at scheduled staff meetings, Workshop, Recording for teaching materials, phone counselling with students and additional duties assigned by the Academic Supervisor.
b. At all times during the term of this contract, teachers wear neat clothes but when special performance is conducted, males will wear ties and females will wear dresses or dressy pants suits(unless otherwise instructed) and the teacher come to in institute one and 50 minutes prior to the start of the its morning and 30 minutes prior to the start of its afternoon classes for class preparation
c. Employee is not allowed to work for any other organization including private tutoring without Employer's prior consent.
d. Korean law stipulates that no full-time instructor may work at two or more Institution at the same time, Failure to observe this regulation will result in immediate dismissal.
e. Without Employer's consent Employee shall not render service elsewhere or hold concurrently any post unrelated to the work agreed on with Employer
f. Employee shall complete the tasks agreed on with Employer
g. Professional dress and grooming in the work are essential to desired reputation to the Institute.
h. Employee shall be expected to prepare daily topics for the class beforehand.
i. Employee can be required to attend all the staffs meeting. If Employee must be absent, he/she inform Employer prior to the meeting.
j. Employee must behave in Professional manner during class or when socializing with students after class.
k. Employee can be required to interview new students and evaluate their placement level
i. Employee shall not be absent without Employer's permission 2 day's in advance notice.
m. If Employee is more than 10 minutes late without notification, one hour rate of payment may be deducted.
n. Employee shall respect the korean people's moral standards and customs.
o. Employee shall not sexually harrass the students in his/her charge.
p. Any form of physical punishment can not be tolerated by Employee
q. Employee should follow Employer's teaching method.
r. Employee shall like to teach Kindergartener and Elementary schooler.
Most of Employer's students consist of them.

4. SALARY & OVERTIME
A monthly salary of 2,000,000 Won will be paid for 115 teaching hours per monthly session.(1 teaching hour is 60 minutes). This salary will be paid five days after the end of each monthly teaching session. Each teaching hour over 115 teaching hours is considered Overtime. The overtime pay shall be 19,000 Won per teaching hour. Attendance at the scheduled staff meetings cannot be considered Overtime.

5. Bonus
At the successful completion of contract period, 1.7 million Won be paid by Employer. (When 6 month contract, bonus is not paid)

6. WORKING DAYS AND HOURS
Working days are Monday through Friday in a week and 20-21days in a month.
During the contracted term, the teacher shall be required to cooperate well and closely with the Academic Supervisor.
According to the institute class schedule teacher's working hours shall be adjusted by Employers.

Teacher Initial :


7. airfare
The round ticket be bought by teacher and half of airfare be refunded by Employer when teacher arrive at school and at the completion of 12 months contract successfully the other half will be paid by Employer. But when round airfare is over 1.2 million Won, will be refunded upto 1.2million Won. And when below 1.2 million Won, net airfare will be refunded. ( When 6 months contract, 0.6 million will be paid)
8. TAXES
Income/residential/other tax and other expensive be deducted form the salary by the Korean law.

9. ORIENTATION
After arrival in korea the teacher may be allowed a few days for adjustment and school orientation prior to the start of regular teaching duties. The orientation days be spent in the Institute or the head office of Wonderland to overview the teaching program and observe other cases and prepare for its cases. For these days 30.000Won be paid per day.

10. MEDICAL INSURANCE
Medical Insurance be covered and borne half by the Employer and half by the Teacher.
11. VACATION
Employee follow the Wonderland vacation schedule.(Christmas, New Years Holiday, Summer and Fall etc.)
Teacher Initial :


12. HOUSING
Single housing is provided with bed, refrigerator, Kitchen utensil, washer, TV, and others

13. NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
The teacher is off on national holiday scheduled by the Employer or yearly calendar made by Institute.

14. DISMISSAL OR VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION
a. The Employer will have the right to immediately dismiss the teacher in case of neglecting his/her duties under this Contract, including but not limited

Teacher Initial :

to the frequent absences to the classes without the prior approval of the
Academic Supervisor, or twice issuance of warning letter, or clear inability to perform the duties stated under this Agreement, or violation to korean laws or taking toxic. etc. If Teacher quit the Job before the completion of the contracted period, at least 40days prenotice is required for Employer to hire another teacher.

b. Teacher shall not teach private English lessons outside of the Institute without prior permission of the Employer, Such actions are grounds for Immediate dismissal. In this case, the Employer shall not pay the Teacher return ticket and severance payment.

15. CONVERTING LAW & JURISDICTION
This Agreement be governed by the appropriate laws of the Republic of
Korea and this Employment Agreement is made between the following two parties.


Employer Teacher

Date Date

sorry for such a long post but id appreacite ANY feedback anyone has in this regard

THANK YOU!!!!!

[jacl]

One teaching hour = 60 minutes looks bad to me. One teaching hour should be no more than 50 minutes. Your contract states 115 hours. Well, this works out to 138 hours. NOT GOOD!

They seem too strict with the dress code thing and it looks like you have to be there an hour and 50 minutes before starting (it says one and 50 minutes - some kind of typo - make sure on that).

The pay is low. The OT is a funny figure. 19,000. Why? Why not just 20,000 like the usual contracts. What are they saving?

One of the clause sates something about not sexually harrassing students. Well, I should hope not!

The severence pay is 2 million = to one month's pay. Not 1.7.

You should not have to pay the plane ticket up front. That's their bill.

They get too technical on how much of the plane ticket they'll pay. They should pay for you to fly from and back to your country of origin.

40 days notice is too much. It's 30 days.

They are not specific on your working hours. The contract should state 2-9, 1-8, etc. Just gives them room to keep you there all day.

Recording materials for and counselling students in person and on the phone is way out there in left field.

What's orientation? Why do they have this? Ok, I guess a good school would have this, but why would they only pay you 30,000/day? They don't even mention how long orientation is.

I could probably go on, but I won't.

This is a bad contract. Don't take it!

[denverdeath]

Wonderland has had a pretty bad rep over the years. I strongly urge you to speak with some of the current teachers before signing...might save you six months of hell. I guess Wonderland, like many other places, might have some branches that are okay. Jacl's points are fairly valid, but you are only considering 6 mos. Korean law dictates severance pay equal to a month's salary, or the average of your last three month's salary, or sth like that, after a YEAR. Usu no severance with less than a year in. Regardless, if the clause was referring to a year contract, the severance should be 2mil, not 1.7mil. Them paying half of your airfare seems reasonable to me.

Some of this stuff scares me...how many hours might all this entail?

[Grotto]

1. PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT
a. The total agreement term is approximately 12months, commencing from the date of teaching in Institute and finishing on the last teaching day of the Teacher's twelfth teaching session.
b. The terms of this agreement include twelve (12) full and consecutive
teaching sessions, and all scheduled vacations and holidays that fall
between or during teaching sessions.

RIght here is a problem. E2 visas are for one year. If you come partway through a teaching session you have to stick around for an extra month to fulfill the contract.If your visa isnt extended to cover this...you could be in trouble

2. CONDITIONS of EMPLOYMENT
The teacher's work shall consist primarily of the following :
a EFL or ESL instruction in any and all phases of the Institute's program to classes the range from the preschool to middle school

preschool to middle school....split shifts

b. Curriculum design and implementation
c. Development of educational program and materials
d. Out-of-classroom activities for/with students
e. Grading and evaluation of students
f. Student counselling, phone counselling, record evaluation and placement evaluation

Phone counselling no thanks..its actually called unpaid work.

g. Attendance at teacher's meetings
h. Other cases related activities (Ex. Tape recording for students, etc)

Say what? Wonderland generally has a horrible reputation and I dont think I have ever heard of one treating their teachers properly...so far this contract supports this.
Teacher Initial :

3. DUTIES OF TEACHER
a. During contracted working period, the teacher shall cooperate, and comply with the rule and principle of the Employer and the Instructions of the Academic Supervisor and shall carry out such Including the teaching program related to the Teacher's class, the attendance at scheduled staff meetings, Workshop, Recording for teaching materials, phone counselling with students and additional duties assigned by the Academic Supervisor.
b. At all times during the term of this contract, teachers wear neat clothes but when special performance is conducted, males will wear ties and females will wear dresses or dressy pants suits(unless otherwise instructed) and the teacher come to in institute one and 50 minutes prior to the start of the its morning and 30 minutes prior to the start of its afternoon classes for class preparation

Great they want you to put in an extra hour and a half a day of unpaid work. Screw em!

c. Employee is not allowed to work for any other organization including private tutoring without Employer's prior consent.
d. Korean law stipulates that no full-time instructor may work at two or more Institution at the same time, Failure to observe this regulation will result in immediate dismissal.

Not true. With permission from immigration it is legal.

e. Without Employer's consent Employee shall not render service elsewhere or hold concurrently any post unrelated to the work agreed on with Employer
f. Employee shall complete the tasks agreed on with Employer
g. Professional dress and grooming in the work are essential to desired reputation to the Institute.
h. Employee shall be expected to prepare daily topics for the class beforehand.
i. Employee can be required to attend all the staffs meeting. If Employee must be absent, he/she inform Employer prior to the meeting.
j. Employee must behave in Professional manner during class or when socializing with students after class.
k. Employee can be required to interview new students and evaluate their placement level
i. Employee shall not be absent without Employer's permission 2 day's in advance notice.

Geez you have to give 2 days notice to be sick

m. If Employee is more than 10 minutes late without notification, one hour rate of payment may be deducted.

No way! First they want to make you put in an hour and a half or more of free work everyday and then screw you over if you run late. guess what...if you are running late...just skip the class...you wouldnt get paid for it anyway

n. Employee shall respect the korean people's moral standards and customs.

Employer shall also respect the teachers morals and customs...not gonna happen here!

o. Employee shall not sexually harrass the students in his/her charge.
p. Any form of physical punishment can not be tolerated by Employee
q. Employee should follow Employer's teaching method.
r. Employee shall like to teach Kindergartener and Elementary schooler. Most of Employer's students consist of them.

LMAO YOU SHALL LIKE STUDENTS!!

4. SALARY & OVERTIME
A monthly salary of 2,000,000 Won will be paid for 115 teaching hours per monthly session.(1 teaching hour is 60 minutes). This salary will be paid five days after the end of each monthly teaching session. Each teaching hour over 115 teaching hours is considered Overtime. The overtime pay shall be 19,000 Won per teaching hour. Attendance at the scheduled staff meetings cannot be considered Overtime.

5. Bonus
At the successful completion of contract period, 1.7 million Won be paid by Employer. (When 6 month contract, bonus is not paid)

Sorry but the bonus is a months salary...which is 2.0 and thats Korean law.

6. WORKING DAYS AND HOURS
Working days are Monday through Friday in a week and 20-21days in a month.
During the contracted term, the teacher shall be required to cooperate well and closely with the Academic Supervisor.
According to the institute class schedule teacher's working hours shall be adjusted by Employers.

Biggest red flag of all here. Split shifts and no gauranteed shift. I wouldnt accept the contract for this reason alone!

Teacher Initial :


7. airfare
The round ticket be bought by teacher and half of airfare be refunded by Employer when teacher arrive at school and at the completion of 12 months contract successfully the other half will be paid by Employer. But when round airfare is over 1.2 million Won, will be refunded upto 1.2million Won. And when below 1.2 million Won, net airfare will be refunded. ( When 6 months contract, 0.6 million will be paid)

No thanks. Have them buy the ticket. If they are offering 6 month contracts how are they getting people E2 visas? Perhaps they want people to work illegally on a tourist visa>?

8. TAXES
Income/residential/other tax and other expensive be deducted form the salary by the Korean law.

I would be curious to know what other expenses they want to deduct. Tax, pension and health care are all they are allowed to deduct.
9. ORIENTATION
After arrival in korea the teacher may be allowed a few days for adjustment and school orientation prior to the start of regular teaching duties. The orientation days be spent in the Institute or the head office of Wonderland to overview the teaching program and observe other cases and prepare for its cases. For these days 30.000Won be paid per day.

If you are stupid and do accept this contract make sure you dont teach during these orientation days.

10. MEDICAL INSURANCE
Medical Insurance be covered and borne half by the Employer and half by the Teacher.
11. VACATION
Employee follow the Wonderland vacation schedule.(Christmas, New Years Holiday, Summer and Fall etc.)

Wonderful it neatly tells you that you wont be getting any vacation time

Teacher Initial :


12. HOUSING
Single housing is provided with bed, refrigerator, Kitchen utensil, washer, TV, and others

Always make sure that you have as detailed of a list as you can as to what constitutes the furnishings.

13. NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
The teacher is off on national holiday scheduled by the Employer or yearly calendar made by Institute.

14. DISMISSAL OR VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION
a. The Employer will have the right to immediately dismiss the teacher in case of neglecting his/her duties under this Contract, including but not limited

to the frequent absences to the classes without the prior approval of the
Academic Supervisor, or twice issuance of warning letter, or clear inability to perform the duties stated under this Agreement, or violation to korean laws or taking toxic. etc. If Teacher quit the Job before the completion of the contracted period, at least 40days prenotice is required for Employer to hire another teacher.

b. Teacher shall not teach private English lessons outside of the Institute without prior permission of the Employer, Such actions are grounds for Immediate dismissal. In this case, the Employer shall not pay the Teacher return ticket and severance payment.

Another red flag. They do need to give 30 days notice of termination or pay a months salary...especially after the 6 month mark.
15. CONVERTING LAW & JURISDICTION
This Agreement be governed by the appropriate laws of the Republic of
Korea and this Employment Agreement is made between the following two parties.


Employer Teacher

Date Date


Crap contract for a crap company!

[jacl]

[Homer]

1- The OT rate is a bit low.

2- The hours vs classroom periods might lead to longer work hours than anticipated.

3- Severance is one months salary, not some other amount.

4- Airfaire: contrary to what others have said, airfare is not owed to you. The school can choose to pay it up front or reimburse it upon arrival.

5- Like Grotto said, if it is a 6 month contract then an E-2 might be problematic (that is the only real legal red flag here).

The remainder of the contract is run of the mill contractual language for a average Korean school. No major red flags per se but lots of inconsitencies. The thing is, you will find these in most job offers you get and you might have to deal with the fact that every contract you see will mean you will have to take some sort of chance and go with the flow.

This contract however is in need of a revision and of some clarifications.

[Masterjazz]

2- The hours vs classroom periods might lead to longer work hours than anticipated.

[joelseymour]

...

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Binch Lover]

You're a real jackass Masterjazz.

[Masterjazz]

Stevo ya gimp

[Homer]

Considering the statements you made regarding "leaving early" in your contract...I say sign the contract now...you will be a good fit...you will both screw each other.

[Masterjazz]

^ I may have to leave early-its a long and complicated story.. but I may not. The reason of course that Im looking for a 6mth contract is precisely this, so that I dont have to screw anyone over.I could far easier just accept a year contract could'nt I? Ive been offered alot more of them,.....

[jacl]

Run forest, run.

I'd sign a 6-month contract with no demand for severence pay if I were you. Then you can come to an agreement with a school like no extra phone work and what have you. If it's short-term, give 'em a reason to hire you and some extra incentive to let you go about your business while working there. No need for you to do any extra BS jobs for them. The only good extra work is OT teaching hours.

[Homer]

Masterjazz,

Well that clears it up some...then..when the time to leave comes just make sure you give notice to your employer instead of pulling a loser like midnight run.

Best of luck with your job search.