Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sconner]

I am new to this forum and new to Korea. I've been teaching in Incheon for two months now and at least once a week I seem to have a problem with my boss. I am not an assertive person and this seems to be snowballing. He has scheduled classes outside the original hours agreed upon so now my days are turning into 9-10 hours a day. I was working as a freelance writer before I cam here and within a week I caught a virus despite the fact that my computer was fully protected, or so I thougt. Since I don't speak Korean my boss set me up with his computer guy and when I got my computer back it was working but he had installed counterfiet software on it and the virus was still there. I had to have my origial disks sent to me and now my computer has crashed and the repairman says my harddrive needs to be replaced. My computer is fairly new and this should not have happened if he had fixed it correctly the first time around. When I told my boss the way it was he got belligerant and accused me of "passing the buck." This is just one issue in a long line of issues I have faced from him. I feel like I am at their mercy because the reality is that I am. Since this is my first time here I don't know if this is normal. In talks I have had with the one other coworker I have from America we wonder if we have sold ourselves into slavery. My boss has the unpleasant Asian mentality that women are lower than him and the guys we work with are not having the problems that we are. One of them told me if I quit my boss wouldn't give me a LOR and I wouldn't be able to work in Korea again and I am not in a position to go home right now. I am seriously questioning what I was thinking coming here. I am not really close to anyone at work and would appreciate any advice I could get.

[captain kirk]

Well, first thing, about the computer shoddy work in repairs isn't unusual. I don't mean computers, anything. Just out to grab a buck. Take advantage of the foreigner. Or just general don't give a rap-ness. I just had some motorbike work done and the guy was all smiles and good favours but it was a bad deal. He just passed the buck to make a buck.

When your boss says you 'just passed the buck' that's, of course very rude and he shouldn't be heavy like that. He might figure he doesn't want to be bothered and didn't want to be bothered with 'your problems' in the first place. There's an especially fair boss at this place I'm working at but the new foreign teacher (who is really assertive) had to wait for two or three months for a TV in her place (and other stuff listed as part of the furnished apartment by the contract).

The boss is the boss. Sometimes a boss goes to town with this and it's really uncomfortable to be around them and hear what they have to say or, rather, dictate. There's a hierarchical pecking order and the boss, in Korea, is king pecker (sorry, haha) aka king chicken. Maybe your boss considers himself top chicken? Sure sounds like a turkey.

[ontheway]

Sconner,

Hi. Sounds like you are very unhappy. Just remember, you are not a slave here. Nobody owns you. You can quit and go home anytime you want. If and when things are unbearable you can just go.

About your computer. What happened to you is quite common when dealing with Korean workmanship. Some technicians, craftsmen, etc. do quality work, but many do not. (For me it seems like almost all do crap work, but I don't want to be biased here.) It's best to get work like this done separate from your hogwan, if possible. Have Korean friends or connected foreigners help you find good workers. Keep your boss out of your life in as many personal things as possible. (For example, don't let him help with your banking. Keep the name and location of your bank private and secret from your boss.) The loss you have incurred is now an issue between you. It will sour your relationship until you forget about it. The worker cheated you, damaged your property, and he will do nothing for you. Your boss probably can't help you with the guy and, if it's his friend, he wouldn't if he could. Sorry.

About your job. You have a contract. Is your boss forcing you to work overtime? Is he paying for all the hours? Are the hours listed in the contract and you are outside them?

If he's going against the terms of the contract and you haven't agreed to it, then take a copy of your contract to him (always keep your signed original contract safe). Explain that this isn't what you agreed to and why it is a problem. Be nice. Give him some time to think about it. Then come back to him again to request firmly that he adhere to the contract.

If you really hate your job but still want to work in Korea. Plan ahead and quit according to the terms of your contract. You'll lose some money but you will be able to work in Korea again. Give the required notice and demand a LOR. You will keep working until he gets a new teacher if he gives it to you.

If you really hate your job and want to kiss Korea goodbye. Buy a ticket and go home tonight.




or




Just hit the SOB with a big stick.


Hang in there.

[sconner]

The repairman is his friend, and he made sure to clarify not a relative. This just happened today so I am emotional about it. Everything I've ever written is on my computer and I can't imagine not having the outlet to write. It keeps me sane. They have my computer right now and to get it back I will have to pay. As for the teaching hours, they are outside what we agreed upon, but that is not in my contract which I now know was my own stupid mistake. What he's doing is starting new classes earlier and all the foriegn teachers have to do them. Then we have breaks throughout the day so we're not going over the hours in the contract. Every month our days are getting longer. I gave him a copy of the hours he said I would be working today and highlighted them but it was in the middle of the computer debacle so I don't know what's going to happen with that. I do know the other teachers are as upset as I am and who knows which ones will make a midnight run. I really don't know anyone here and am on my own. Right now I just have to hope that my computer comes back in working order. I would like to know how to get out of my contract if need be. I planned on staying for a year and I don't have a home to go back to.

[ontheway]

Do you have your contract there? Look for a section on termination. Read it over and post the info. if you want resignation advice. You might have to give some notice and lose some cash, but you could get released and a new job to keep going. Try to find a job first. Maybe in a new city in Korea. You might even have a new boss who'll help you make the transition.

[sconner]

This is it:

Dismissal or Voluntary Resignation




5.0 The Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for unwillingness or

inability to meet conditions of employment as set out under this agreement,

including neglect of duties. Prior to any such dismissal, employee will be

warned of dissatisfaction with performance or conduct and will be afforded an

appropriate period in which to remedy the same.






5.1 The Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for conduct seriously jeopardizing any student or staff person, or for bad conduct that makes any student leave the Institute.




5.2 The employee should follow the school rules like report time ,dress code ,

class manner ,ways of teaching made by the employer.




5.3 In the event that the employee is dismissed, or in the event that the

employee voluntarily resigns prior to the termination of the term of this

agreement, employer will be obligated to pay all salary due to date of termination.

The Employer will have no duty and will not be obligated to pay the cost of return

transportation to point of departure for employee, nor will employer be obligated

to pay any severance pay. Further, the employer will be entitled to withhold an amount

less than or equivalent to, but not exceeding, the cost of airfare provided for travel to Korea.




5.4 For employees hired as a couple: In the event that one is dismissed, or in the event that

one resigns prior to the termination of the term of this agreement, The other one should

keep the position at the school until the school finds replacements.







5.5 In the event that war, civil disturbances, or political conditions prompt a directive from the government of the Republic of Korea or the government of employees citizenship to leave Korea, this employment agreement will be terminated as of the date of such directive. In such case, the employer will provide to the employee an air ticket to point of departure, irrespective of length of employment period. All salary due at date of termination will be paid. Pro-rated severance pay will be given for periods of employment of less than twelve months.




Covenants




6.0 The employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organizations other than the employer. To undertake such employment is a breach of Korean Immigration law and can have serious consequences.




6.1 The employee understands and accepts that the rights to use, sale, distribution, or publication of all original material produced by the employee during the course of the employee's employment, and for which the employee is compensated as either regular pay, as overtime, or in an agreed-upon lump sum, remain the sole property of the employer.




6.2 If the employer violates or does not fulfill the terms of this agreement, the employee is not responsible to fulfill the contract.




There are a few minor things in the contract he didn't honor that didn't really bother me. I could could call him on those, but theyare easy to remedy and I don't think it will work. When my coworker had problems with her contract he told her contracts don't really matter here and she couldn't hold him to it. Everything with him is a scam and reasoning with him is impossible. From what my coworker says, there is no way he will give me a LOR. The reality of the situation is that I am a foriegner in a foriegn land and the decision will probably come down to staying in this country at this job or going back to the states.

[ontheway]

I don't see anything in the above about giving 30 days notice or whatever. Your boss can't make you a slave. You can quit. Before you do, you should have a safe house, a place to live if you are fired on the spot. You should look for a new job with a boss who knows what you are dealing with. Then, talk to your current boss about resigning. Tell him you have to leave because of (whatever) and that you'll stay 30 days or whatever is reasonable to find a replacement and that you'll do that as long as he gives you a predated LOR in advance. You'll lose some money, but maybe it's worth it to be happy.

And your new boss, as a Korean, might just get that LOR from your old boss, even though he won't give it to YOU. Many years ago, I had a boss who threatened to get me out of Korea and I would never be able to come back. My new boss called him and got the LOR the next day.

[The Bobster]

[Grotto]

midnight run his treacherous ass!

Get paid and get out...go work in Taiwan for a year if you need to.

There is no reason to put up with such a lying weasel.

Its funny isnt it....he expects you to bend over backward but he cant be bothered to live up to the minimal stipulations of the contract.

They can only walk all over you if you lay down and let them!

[sadsac]

Not in complete agreement with Grotto about the midnight run, mainly because you are not in the best financial positon to do that, but certainly tender your 30 days notice and then look for other work whilst serving out your notice. Get your computer back before you do anything though. There are plenty of opportunities out there and LOR or not, you will find work. Best of luck.

[sconner]

Today was really bad. I do not have my computer back. To list the sleazy things this man is doing would take up to much space. If there is anyone out there I could talk to I would really appreciate it. I am ready for a nervous breakdown and I need help. Is there a labor board? Is it reliable for foriegners? I just don't know what to do. If anyone could help please PM me. Thank you in advance.

[dbee]

What exactly is wrong with your computer ?

Why do you think that it's a virus ? If they did a reinstall then there is almost no-way that the virus would still be there. All Koreans install pirate software on their machines. Don't take it personally.

You probably insulted your boss when you accused his friend of doing a shoddy job. Maybe your boss is sexist, but then you'll find men like that in the west as well. It's up to you to understand the culture here, it's not up to your boss to make allowances for your every quirk.

If your solution to the problem is to break your contract and do a mid-night runner then you are committing the greater sin than your boss is. What would you do if you were not in Korea, but back in the west ???

[the eye]

check your PM box.

[noguri]

sconner,

I can't help you with the hakwon problem but I advise you, ALWAYS back up your writing in multiple formats.

I used to hear people tell the "urban legend" about the Ph.D. student who lost her dissertation because her laptop was stolen out of her car and it was the only copy...This may not be a true tale but it scared me to death and I always backed up every draft of my thesis on floppy, CD AND printed out on paper.

You can convert files to text format and fit A LOT of them on a single floppy. You lose the formatting when you convert to text, but unless you are writing ee cummings type poetry, losing the formatting isn't as bad as losing the actual words...

[memorabilis]