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frozenpeas
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
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 Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:36 am Post subject: Sorry, another working hours question...Should I quit? |
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Currently working 6.50-9am then 3.30-10pm...
That includes about 2 hours of travel time every day...
I was aware of the early starts when I applied for the job...was not aware that I'd be staying on till 10pm to teach the boss and director's children.
The school is fairly large, the classes themselves are all enjoyable as there are good rescources and the students are generally very motivated. The school also pays on time. It would be pretty good CV food if I stuck it out and got a reference.
The ONLY problem is the crazy working hours - I've taught up to 38 classes in a week so far...
I'm really torn as I like the work itself but 0 days holiday combined with these hours is gonna turn me bald...I'm 3 months into the contract and I don't want to wait any longer to make a decision. I love ESL teaching and have already decided to make some kind of career out of it...but just getting to work shouldn't be a daily struggle.
Has anyone had any similar experiences? What would you do? |
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Angelus
Joined: 10 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:55 am Post subject: |
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you are being seriously taken advatage of.....split shift + teaching the directors kid? OMG is all I have to say. I'm surprised this kind of crap is still going on. I guess many newbies to Korea encounter this sort of bullshit. If I were you, I'd hand in your your 30day notice and find a reputable school. Most schools I work with only require 30hours a week, paid vacations, public holidays off, and weekends off.
Last edited by Angelus on Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:01 am; edited 1 time in total |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Sorry, another working hours question...Should I quit? |
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[quote="frozenpeas"]
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| I was aware of the early starts when I applied for the job |
therefore you can't complain at anything you signed up for.
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| What would you do? |
Negociate. Put your point of view, tell the manager what you can't handle and why. be cool, and articulate.
Give it a certain amount of time to change. If still nothings been done, tell them you're quitting unless they remove the extra class. then go ahead and do it if necessary. Get your plan B ready. The power of "goodbye" is about all the eslteacher has. |
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frozenpeas
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:45 am Post subject: |
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I'm perfectly happy to do the early starts - I like earning money when I would otherwise be sleeping...It's the late finishes that bother me...they weren't in the job description but they're not entirely breaking the contract by giving them to me.
I already told my Director that I had a problem with the hours and was told in no uncertain terms that I was inexperienced and I didn't know what a BAD timetable was. If I had any further problems I was probably not right for the job...so they threatened to fire me anyway.
The next week in the staff meeting we were instructed by our dear leader "not to talk to our workmates about our hours because it might depress them...strange."
I'd be very happy for them to fire me...I'm just worried that if I resign I might not get a letter of release...
I'll name and shame the school when this is all resolved. 
p.s. 0 days holiday is the actual holiday time...we get the weekends off. |
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BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:14 am Post subject: |
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| frozenpeas wrote: |
| I already told my Director that I had a problem with the hours and was told in no uncertain terms that I was inexperienced and I didn't know what a BAD timetable was. If I had any further problems I was probably not right for the job...so they threatened to fire me anyway. |
This is utter crap!! This a horrible timetable. Tell him "Yes, I am inexperienced and I don't know what a bad time table is, but I do know what a really sh*tty one is.....MINE!!".
The threatening to fire you part is the usual bullsh*t bluff by assh*le hagwon owners to scare newbie teachers. Remember they need you more than you need them. You quit and they will more than likely lose students which equals losing money....worst case senario for a hagwon owner whose only concern is making money and not education.
| frozenpeas wrote: |
| I was probably not right for the job |
They mean you're not right for the job cause you won't bend over and take it up the BUTT like a good newbie teacher, who doesn't know any better, should. 
| frozenpeas wrote: |
| The next week in the staff meeting we were instructed by our dear leader "not to talk to our workmates about our hours because it might depress them...strange." |
This because you'll then be told the truth about the situation and they don't want you to know that  .
| frozenpeas wrote: |
| I'd be very happy for them to fire me...I'm just worried that if I resign I might not get a letter of release... |
This is the big problem though. If they are like this, I highly doubt that they will give you a letter of release if you quit, even if you do give them the 30 days notice as required by Korean Labor Laws. If you quit make sure that you do it just after you been paid for your previous month's work otherwise you can kiss goodbye any money that they owe you for work done.
If they do accept the 30 days notice, get it put in writting that they promise to pay you for said 30 days and that they'll also give you your Letter of Release, and make sure the person who signed your contract and your director, if they are not the same person, to sign and date it as well as youself (get him to use his little red stamp that all the Koreans have for making documents official as well). And make sure that you both keep a copy of it. Preferrably keep the original yourself. This way if he does try to screw you over you have a good leg to stand on if you have to go to the Labor Board and small claims court to get what you're owed,
| frozenpeas wrote: |
| p.s. 0 days holiday is the actual holiday time...we get the weekends off. |
This is illegal, as the rquired amount of holidays alotted by Korean Labor Laws are 10 days paid vacation not 0 |
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jacl
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:47 am Post subject: |
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You're getting royally screwed if this is under your contract. You could be getting screwed out of about at least 1.2 million a month.
Get your head out of your a$$.
Yeah. "I really love my job." Yeah. They treat you nice 'cause they're making a fortune off your a$$. Paid on time. I should hope so! |
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Zack_in_Korea
Joined: 16 Mar 2006
Location: Incheon
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:29 am Post subject: |
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You wrote that you are "Currently working 6.50-9am then 3.30-10pm...
That includes about 2 hours of travel time every day... "
Are you INSANE?
so u get home right before midnight, and get up to go to work at 4:30 am?
when do u sleep? why do u live so far from work?
u are getting as shafted as anyone i could ever think of.
the first part they should get sumone part time.. then the last part is a full time gig.. he is making u work for two people.
why did u ever agree to this, and how did u continue on, and for so long?
the time in ur split shift should be the real schedule.. 9 to 3:30..
i could almost think this was a joke, not cuz of the owner,, but because sumone would still take this schedule...
like seriously. when do u sleep? |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: Sorry, another working hours question...Should I quit? |
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| frozenpeas wrote: |
Currently working 6.50-9am then 3.30-10pm...
That includes about 2 hours of travel time every day...
I was aware of the early starts when I applied for the job...was not aware that I'd be staying on till 10pm to teach the boss and director's children.
The school is fairly large, the classes themselves are all enjoyable as there are good rescources and the students are generally very motivated. The school also pays on time. It would be pretty good CV food if I stuck it out and got a reference.
The ONLY problem is the crazy working hours - I've taught up to 38 classes in a week so far...
I'm really torn as I like the work itself but 0 days holiday combined with these hours is gonna turn me bald...I'm 3 months into the contract and I don't want to wait any longer to make a decision. I love ESL teaching and have already decided to make some kind of career out of it...but just getting to work shouldn't be a daily struggle.
Has anyone had any similar experiences? What would you do? |
Man if this ain't BaBo I don't know what is. |
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Gord
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| BigBuds wrote: |
| This is illegal, as the rquired amount of holidays alotted by Korean Labor Laws are 10 days paid vacation not 0 |
In companies with under 500 employees, having a five-day work week is in line with the required minimum paid time off. Korean Labor Laws do not say 10 paid days are required off but rather one day per week, one additional per month, and up to ten additional days per year which are not actually required until the second year of employment and are only required if the employee has a near perfect attendance record.
One day off a week: Sunday.
One day off a month: 12
Ten days off a year: 10 (during the second year of employment)
Saturdays are technically a half day, so 52/2 = 26. With a five day work week, you're getting four extra days off above your required vacation time minimum but some random holidays will fall on those days which pretty much reduces that 26 to 22.
Nor are the days off required to be on demand. |
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frozenpeas
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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hey...thanks for the advice...those times were adjusted to include travel time...so those are literally the hours im out of the house to the time i get back...6-9 - 3.30-10pm
this is the same school that took my straight out of a 36 hour sleepless journey from London to X and put me into a day of observation, compassionate they are not (fools they are).
I've got a meeting with them this afternoon about missing a couple of staff meetings (they were at 3pm and I slept through them).
I've got a feeling they're gonna fire me anyway but if not I have a letter of resignation already sorted...gonna ask one more time about the hours and then see where it goes.
If not then I'm off to Jeju for a job hunt! 
Also...this is a big school that employs about 13 Foreigners...it's pretty notorious in the region...I'm not the only one in this position. One girl works 6am-8pm without a proper break in the day... |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Did your contract state anything about the hours before you started? |
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jacl
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| frozenpeas wrote: |
hey...thanks for the advice...those times were adjusted to include travel time...so those are literally the hours im out of the house to the time i get back...6-9 - 3.30-10pm
this is the same school that took my straight out of a 36 hour sleepless journey from London to X and put me into a day of observation, compassionate they are not (fools they are).
I've got a meeting with them this afternoon about missing a couple of staff meetings (they were at 3pm and I slept through them).
I've got a feeling they're gonna fire me anyway but if not I have a letter of resignation already sorted...gonna ask one more time about the hours and then see where it goes.
If not then I'm off to Jeju for a job hunt!
Also...this is a big school that employs about 13 Foreigners...it's pretty notorious in the region...I'm not the only one in this position. One girl works 6am-8pm without a proper break in the day... |
What does your contract say? Is there a daily hour schedule? Just hand them your letter of resignation today. Give them one month notice, get your letter of release, and get out of dodge. |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Slave hours, man. You're right it's gonna make you bald. That school has a lot of nerve and, probably, the mindless, crooked cunning to back it up. I think there are hagwon owners that back up teachers 100 percent. And there are hagwons that back up xenophobia and racism, take a power short cut that way because it helps give them management momentum with shafting a regular 'toning' session. |
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I_Am_Wrong
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: whatever
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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What does your contract say for hours or classes per week? How long are your classes and how many do you teach each day? Are you teaching more classes than your contract says? If so, then you should be receiving overtime.
It sounds like you agreed to a split-shift. Probably should've read the fine print and researched what split shifts are like. Also, sorry bub, but travel time to and from school doesn't count as work time. How long does it actually take you to get to school?
Example: My working time in my contract is 8:30-4:30. I usually leave for school at 7:30 and get there at about 8 (it's a nice leisurely stroll with my coffee). I do prep for an hour until my first class at 9. I can leave school at 4:30 but usually end up staying til 5. I get home around 5:30. I can't say "Hey I start at 7:30 and I finish at 5:30, this isn't in my contract!!!"
Hope it works out for you. |
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frozenpeas
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Our school has contracts at various companies and universities around town so those 2 hours are spent sitting in a car travelling back and forth...one more thing that wasn't in the contract. The actual walk to school only takes about 13 mins...
The contracted working hours are 30, although they frequently go up to about 35, with overtime pay of course. As I say, the school is fairly legit.
The only problem is the late finishes. Everything else I can deal with...the split basically turns work into a 24 hour day with less than 8 hours between the end of my last class and the time I have to get up...I can't do this for much longer. |
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