Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CustomX]

I will try to make this as short as I can.

My contract finishes at the end of March this year. My contract states that I shall receive 1 week of paid vacation after our school's summer session. Last year, I agreed to waive the paid vacation in the summer, so I could receive it after our winter session (we only get 1 paid vacation, that was my mistake when I signed the contract). The winter session ends February 3rd. The director, as well as the assistant told me 2 months ago that our 1 week vacation would start on February 4th. I confirmed this 2 weeks ago with the assistant as well. Last night, my director told me that the 1 week vacation will be cancelled, and that I can't have the break because my contract finishes 6 weeks after that. I told the director that I wanted a 3 week break inbetween contracts, so I can go back to America and maybe take a trip to Japan and China. She told me that the school can not afford to have me take a 3 week break. She wants to coordinate the schools 1 week vacation with my 3 week break. That way I will only be missing 2 weeks of classes, rather than 3. However, my contract strictly says that I am due 1 week of vacation immediately following the winter session. The director told me I could leave about March 20th, and the first week of my 3 week break would be paid. Being that my contract ends March 28th, would I be entitled to the severence payment, or do I have to leave exactly 1 year to the date that I signed the contract? The part I am most angry about however is the fact that she lied to me. After she told me that the vacation after the winter session had been cancelled, I asked the assistant if he knew anything about that. He seemed angry and said that she (the director) never told him either. When I left work, she said that she told him, but he most have 'forgot'. Is there any reason why I should not take my 1 week of vacation after the winter session? I told her that I want to come back to the school to work for another 4 or 5 months after my 3 week break, so I don't want to cause any problems, but I have to stick up for myself. My school is very small, and I am the only foreign teacher, so it would be difficult for the school to make arrangements for my students while I am gone. What would you do in my situation? Thanks

[CustomX]

55 view and not a single opinion? Please, I would like some feedback. Thanks

[laogaiguk]

I would do nothing, it just wouldn't be worth it. I would not worry about it as you are almost done. But I would not go back to that school. I would be finding somewhere else to work after.

[sheba]

If its a REALLY good job then I might let the vacation slide this time and take the 3 weeks and go home. however, next year I would take vacation exactly as it says in the contract and if they try to say otherwise then Id quit.

If its not a REALLY good job then I wouldnt renew. Take as much time back home as you want.

Ive just been home for christmas and 2 weeks certainly wasnt enough... Im going to ask for at least a month in between contracts, but I happen to have an excellent job so if they say no Ill still probably take what I can and sign another contract. Knowing them, theyll say its ok though.

[chiaa]

[JongnoGuru]

[Grotto]

Anyone who has been in Korea knows that if you give an inch they will take a foot and expect a mile.

You had an agreed to vacation time and with a couple of weeks to go before you take it they cancel it Fornicate them!

I would ask them if they are willing to re-imburse your non refundable plane ticket to ?(destination of your choice)...so sorry guys but I made plans, bought tickets, and you said it was okay...no time to change things now ..so sorry(dumbasses)

[babtangee]

I got a similiar problem. The other foreign teacher left for a three week vacation two weeks ago. I have been teaching his classes and thus have a heavy workload, though I'm getting a shitload of overtime pay. I would never have considered doing this except for the fact that he agreed to take my classes when he gets back, so I can have a three week vacation too. Yay!

Thing is, the mofo isn't coming back. He emailed me to basically say, "Gee sorry, you is fooked."

My boss doesn't even know yet. But I know I won't be getting any vacation. But I will for damn sure be getting paid the contracted vacation time I haven't taken (5 days). About 120k a day I reckon.

[joe_doufu]

If they agreed to it in the past, they have no right to say "sorry, we changed our minds..." -- well, they can say it, but you can say, no thanks, I'm happy with our prior agreement.

Tell them that you already made plans, or something. If they insist, sigh that you wish you could help, but you can't get a refund, or your travel partner can't get her vacation time changed, or something.

[captain kirk]

The following is a rant to do wth vacations.

There are two foreign teachers at our school. I just happened to be in Korea and got hired. I've lots of time in Korea, experienced, etc. And managment hired a teacher from Canada. Flew her over, paid her ticket, from Newfoundland. She's never taught in Korea, is 45. I'm not an ageist but she has happened to have landed into a good hagwon. It's not often a haggie flies in a teacher who's 45. Usually they're after the young meat.

She arrived adamant that she have 12 days off for Christmas. She signed the contract with that stipulation. And when the management wobbled and looked iffy about it she let them know she's going, that's it. Well she went, and didn't come back.

And I'm thinking WTF is that?! I mean she was a character to get along with for four months. And it caused some stress because everyone else got four days off for Xmas. Not her 12.

When she didn't show up phonecalls found that her flight was delayed due to bad weather. Two days, then three. Then she said she'll be back. But after another 7 days. So it's all bogus about the bad weather for flying. She just wants more time off. And ends up with three weeks vacation.

Because she knows management can't fly out to Canada to get her. And she knows it'll cost them more to recruit someone else. She's a valuable commodity and knows it.

Meanwhile, back at the hagwon, everybody's dealing with it. Doing her classes as well.

The moral of this story is I can't stand the hag, and have to work with her. It's also 'behave'. Not 'be a good hagwon monkey' behave. But, rather, get off that superstar trip.

If you think you deserve better don't take what's not yours. That's a good one, too.

[voth]

In a situation like this wouldn't it be a good idea to contact the labor board over this contractual stipulation? I understand it's just a week of vacation, but shouldn't the school be forced to follow their own contract.

[jacl]

OP:

I think that, in this case, the ball's in your court. What do you want to do?

[ontheway]

According to your story, you wanted an upaid 3 week break between contracts. Your school has cancelled your vacation in Feb and you had previously delayed that same vacation from the summer. Now it appears that the school is still giving you 3 weeks, one week will be paid, as a vacation plus 2 more unpaid. You leave a week earlier is all. They will still be obligated to pay your severance etc.

This all sounds quite reasonable. You could have negotiated more vacation, but didn't, so it's only the one week paid we're looking at. The school wants to close for a week while you're gone. That's a hogwan vacation. The kids will still have no teacher for 2 weeks, half a month. Parents will be pulling their kids out if you're not there. The hogwan will die. It's the competitive nature of the business and the fickle nature of the mothers.

[chiaa]

[chiaa]