Korean Job Discussion Forums

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Last year I lost my voice, got a drs note that said "should not talk for 3 days," but still had to come in. My contract allowed for 5 sick days, but the problem was there were no foreign teacheres available to cover all my classes. I asked my Korean coteacher to cover one, and she said "there will be parent complaints." Well, what is more vital to a class, I wondered: a Korean teacher who can speak, or a white person who can't? I learned the answer.

I think people who sign up for hagwon ought to ask, "who will cover classes if I'm sick?" Many times, in my case and in others, there aren't enough teachers on staff to cover an absentee. It's true that it's far less common to take sick days in Korea, so people will have to learn to endure more than we would back home, but sometimes it's just physically impossible to do the job.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Get tougher/ If you are sick. Take sick days. If you feel you are well enough to 'teach' - but crook as a dog, then do what I did when I lost my voice 4 times last year. Hangman. Hangman. Hangman. The school doesn't care. You are in class. The kids are having a riot (literally). Ge the kids to 'be the teacher'. They are positively fighting eachother to get hold of the marker. You don't need to speak at all.

Note that Koreans don't take sick days. I have had to refuse to teach kids who have been at death's door. One girl was in class 1 & 1/2 days after lung surgery. When I refused to teach her, she told me her father said she was well enough to study, and that she had to attend class. "Who does your father think HE is to judge that?" says I. "He's a surgeon," says the girl.

Peter Jackson · Joined: 23 Apr 2006

Get a better job.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Last school I worked at they flew in a newbie from Canada and, being used to kinder treatment, this newbie was still on Canadian time re; taking off sickdays because they are actually 'vacation days you are owed, so take them, don't give them away by not being sick'. Except that's not the way it works here.

Other people have to take up the slack and do the missing teacher's classes and for no extra pay. Man, she pissed me off! Princess Lazybutt, if you're reading this, you know your lazy butt reeks of lack of co-operation (shame on your grain-fed, used to cushy-cushy, hindquarters).

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

Pretty much, if you can't come in then you won't. Anything less than that and your boss should expect you to show up.

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Hmmm.....read your contracts. Of course sick time should be included. Back home in Canada, people also need a doctors note. Any real job would insist upon a person having actual proof of sickness.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Nope. The companies and government offer medical insurance coverage as a benefit. Because of this coverage you also need to show that you went to the doctor to claim it.......so they ask for a doctors note and all bills associated with the illness. You can get away with calling a couple of times a year without going to the doctor... but the companies and the government do insist that you go to the doctor (I also worked for them in Canada).

casey's moon · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: Daejeon

I believe that in a one year contract you are entitled to 3 days of sick leave per year although I can't back it up.

When you are legitimately sick and really don't feel like you should be at work, call your director, explain your condition and explain that you are not coming in to work that day. Don't ask -- tell. Whether it was in your contract or not, it is ridiculous for you to be expected to work when you are truly sick. You'll also get better more quickly and be a better teacher if you get enough rest. You will not get fired, if you are otherwise a good employee and a well-liked teacher, and don't take off an excessive number of sick days.

4 months left · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Don't ask for a sick day, phone from home and say I am too sick to come into work. You will probably get a visit but stick to your guns, your health is more important than making a few extra boss for your d#ckhead boss.

Picotrain · Joined: 16 Nov 2005

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

dont ask for one....take one if you really need it...whats he gonna do? Fire you Laughing

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

There are no allowances for sick leave under Korean Labor Law. It has to be negotiated by you and the employer.

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/ifpdial/ll/kor.htm

Man, if you are really sick, just tell you boss you can't work. Lose a day's pay if you must. (might be an idea to look for better terms in your next contract!)

VanIslander