Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jinks]

Three teachers in a hogwan in Daegu approached their employer in a conciliatory attempt to clarify some work related problems. I can't remember the details, but the three women co-wrote and signed a letter outlining their concerns and expressing their willingness to cooperate in finding a mutually agreeable solution. They delivered the letter to their director on Friday afternoon and on Saturday morning [not a work day] they were all called into the school - and sacked.
If you threaten the director's face, s/he might get riled enough to pull the ultimate power trip. However it will be easier for you to find individual jobs, than for your director to replace a brace of teachers.
Incidentally, my small-town school is looking for new teachers, too.

[alwynjo]

Well I have had a seperate 3rd party, who is somewhat knowlegable, look over the contracts, and as long as the overtime is in the specified teaching hours (which it is) we are - according to the contract we stupidly signed- obligated to work the overtime.

This does not mean that our director - who speaks no English, knows or understands this clause....because previous teachers have turned down overtime in the past, with this in their contracts.

However he seemed pretty sure he wasn't cancelling any classes.

We will be aproaching the issue with the school tomorrow - i will post to let you know how it goes.
Thanks for all the advice!

[Hollywoodaction]

[buster brown]

Bump.

Alwyn, what's going on this week? Any change in the director's stance?

[jacl]

They could fire 3 at once and have one or two waiting in the wings. It could cost them less money by not paying you for current work done and severence They could save 12 million in one shot and only have to worry about the new teachers who they will eventually cheat. Quite a profitable business.

[alwynjo]

Well - the situation hasn't really changed all that much.

We wrote them a letter stating that we are unable to work those hours due to restrictions it would place on our health, and teaching quality....etc
and said that we would only be willing to work MAX 5 hours overtime, but ONLY for 4 weeks while they look for an extra teacher, and ONLY if our supervisor puts 2 classes each from our timetables onto hers, and that we have one morning break each a day.

In this, the school would get to keep all of its classes.

We havent heard anything back - however we did get our morning timetable, and they didnt give us what we asked for - suprise suprise!

The other teachers who arent involved got their afternoon timetables yesterday......we got no timetable.
This I guess means that they are either re thinking our timetables, or they are up to something else.

anyways, thats my update!

[alwynjo]

Oh - I forgot - and on the teacher hireing front......turns out the school is advertising on some obsure website.....which I assume it must be a free website.

The used recruiters for the current teachers.....so they must not be too interested in hiring another teacher.

I have done many searches - and I can't find the add anywhere!

[UncleAlex]

If your mandatory regular hours are 120 a month, anything over that must
be paid overtime. I believe there is a legal limit of hours per month that allows
one to refuse any overtime hours at a given point, regardless of what is stipulated
or implied in the contract. So many contractual clauses violate Korea labour law,
so keep your head up. Contact the labour board and find out where you stand
legally.

"Don't let the bastards grind you down."