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Rainy Days
Joined: 14 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 1:41 pm Post subject: Help with my Job in Korea |
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I arrived in Korea about a month ago. My hagwon sent me recently to Japan for my E2 visa and the trip itself was successful. Now that I have my E2 visa, my hagwon's demeanor has changed tremendously. I've been asked to do things outside of my contract like the following: (1) come in before and stay after classes for an hour instead of my contracted half hour; (2) call a list of 20 students after my day is over and speak with each student for 5 minutes; (3) provide a daily schedule in the morning to my boss so that she will know what I'm teaching (this one is competely idiotic because if she doesn't know what I'm teaching, then why in the world and how can she own and operate a school?); (4) vacuum, dust, and mop my room every day after my last class; and (5) attend staff meetings on Saturday mornings for two hours (this one really ticks me off because Saturday and Sundays are my days off).
This list that I have provided is not mentioned in my contract, which is something that I've brought up to my boss. She says that she owns me now and that I can do nothing about it until my contract is over. This really scares me because I don't know what to do. If this continues, will I be able to break my contract and find another job? Does anyone know what the steps would be for me to break my contract if I had to?
I need help with this one so please give me some good ideas. Thanks everyone! |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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You wouldn't happen to be working for Wonderland, would you?
I would just refuse to do all these things if they aren't in your contract. She doesn't own you. Tell her if she has a problem with your refusal to do these things, then you'll contact the labour board and let them sort it out.
If you don't take a stand now, it will only get worse.
You can ask her to sign a letter of release, which would allow you to leave and find another job. If she doesn't sign it then you have to wait until your Visa expires before you can find another job in Korea. |
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itsme
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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| She says that she owns me now and that I can do nothing about it until my contract is over |
My goodness, that is a bold remark. My guess is that if it was not in the contract you are not liable to fulfill... |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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Tell her no one owns you. You refuse to do things asked outside the bounds of your contract.
If she makes a fuss you could always give your 1 month notice and quit. |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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Do not give in to her intimidation!
Stand firm and tell her that the contract is what you are going by.
Damn it irks me when bosses do crap like this!
Tell her that you would be more than happy to do the phone teaching if she is willing to pay you for 2 hours overtime per day.
As for cleaning your classroom  no freaking way! Keeping it tidy and picking up a little in the course of the day..no problem. Vacuuming and mopping
The Saturday one  just say no! If your contract says Mon-Fri then just calmly refuse...stick to your guns. If she schedules a Sat meeting just dont go!
IF this is a prequel to the rest of the year...get the hell out now! |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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Tell her what the difference is between an owner and a sponsor. She may own her school, but she doesn't own you. Starting today, go in 30 minutes before...no longer. This evening, stay 30 minutes after..no more. Just don't show up on Saturday. Tell her to hire a cleaning lady to clean your classroom...not a responsibility according to your contract. Sounds like she's trying to Koreanize you very quickly. As others said, use the labour board threat, if necessary. She's testing the waters...don't let her swim too far. Give an inch, ...
p.s. The syllabus thing is not completely unheard of, and you might find it will be helpful to you in planning lessons. Tell your boss you'll give a weekly one which you'll submit on Friday before you leave or something like that. Keep it very basic and add "Will change according to the needs of students and teachers" in bold. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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So then you have all the parents' numbers? Save them, and if you ever need to put a gun to her head you can threaten to call all the parents with a K-friend and give them your honest opinion of the place.
For now, if I were you I would first make sure you keep enough money handy for a flight back home. Then, flat out refuse to do 1-5, and if she has a problem with it, tell her she can fire you.
It sounds like you really hit the crapper here - from what I can gather your next year could be tolerable or miserable based on how much spine you have. Just remember that if you do want to change jobs, getting that Letter of Release will be *the* most important thing. |
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Son Deureo!
Joined: 30 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| You have got to start saying no to this woman, or your year will be a living hell. This is probably just the beginning. |
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sheba
Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Here there and everywhere!
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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All the Korean teachers at my school have to do each of these things, but I have never been asked to do it.
If you dont stand up to your boss now then they will keep taking advantage of you for the rest of the year. |
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margaret
Joined: 14 Oct 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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If you refuse to do these things all she can do is fire you, and then you'll be rid of her and can get a better job.
Margaret |
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canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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| She says that she owns me now and that I can do nothing about it until my contract is over. |
A director of mine tried that line on me when I first started working. I just laughed and said "yeah sure, only until I *beep* off to go work in Japan, no notice to you with that lousy attitude".
That pretty much shut down the arrogant arse act. He understood immediately he wasn't going to be able to run me.
Unfortunately with some directors, you have to play hardball and even dirty pool at times. It sucks.
No, they do not own you. Do not let them intimidate you this way.
Do not EVER give your director your passport, original uni degree, or return airticket (if you've paid for it) either.
And given the crappy power-trip attitude your director has displayed so early into your contract, I'd just save my money (for an air ticket outta there and expenses) and be ready to bolt to another country to teach (China, Japan), just in case she gets really stupid. Chances are she'd jerk you around on trying to get a letter of release to go work at another school in Korea anyways. The again Margaret gave you some good advice about getting yourself fired, although that may make getting another job in Korea harder. Depends on the next director.
Just do your job, try to negotiate compensation for the "extras" they've thrown in if they become way too many extra hours and *save your money*.
I've seen too many people get stuck in crappy jobs because they had no money saved up to bolt with. |
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xtchr
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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Don't do any of the extras that were not listed in the contract, especially not on a Saturday.
It sounds like it might be quite a rough year, if you decide to stick it out. If you leave, be sure and post the name and location of your hagwon so others can avoid it. |
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mishlert
Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| If she agrees to the contract speech, be ready for her to ask to sign a new contract. When she asks, flat out refuse and tell her that the contract you signed is the one you are sticking to, period. |
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Faron
Joined: 13 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Thats why you get a job at a public school.........won't have to put up with that sort of crap. |
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BigBlackEquus
Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Location: Lotte controls Asia with bad chocolate!
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Faron wrote: |
| Thats why you get a job at a public school.........won't have to put up with that sort of crap. |
Like heck you don't! Every school is different. There is a topic about a new teacher being offered a contract and ALREADY being asked to work Saturdays. This is at a public school.
To the OP:
You just have to play hardball and VERY KINDLY smile and say, "no, not in my contract." After several years of living/working here, I can reiterate what someone else mentioned above... just refuse to do it, and state that it's not in your contract. You have to stick up for yourself. Koreans will, as a matter of course, try to push you farther than what you want to. And DO NOT sign a new contract. Tell them they are welcome to offer you a release letter and hire someone else, but you will not sign a new contract.
If your boss threatens to fire you, then fine. Let them fire you. It releases you from obligation. Go find another school. Once you are fired, you are rid of the place. It won't hurt you much when looking for another job, because you can tell them the truth -- the school changed their mind and wanted you to work a lot more than was originally agreed to, and wanted you to sign a new contract. But getting fired is the key -- that or get a release letter. This kind of thing happens in Korea, sad as it is, and people still find new jobs if they fit the mold.
Chances are, they won't fire you if you just insist on sticking to the contract. If you give a little now, you will be giving all year, and have no life.
There have been other threads about how Koreans do business: promising pay, but paying less, changing the rules after signing contracts -- it's a very common thing. From KJ Il in the North to the hagwons in the South, it is the Korean way. Part of the culture. Just refuse to play the game, get out of the deal without quitting, and find a better employer who is more reasonable. |
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