Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Daphilia]

I have been here for 7 months now teaching and just recently my director has asked me to either leave one month early or stay for another 6 months. I do not want to do either. I want to stay for the last month like our contract states.

What are our rights? does he have the right to do this? Can we just stay and he has to pay us. THe other reason we are concerned is because if we leave one month early he does not have to pay us our severence. He has said that " I guarentee it" but I am sure we all know that holds no weight whatsoever. I dont trust him one bit.

Also somewhat related.....does anyone know of a director "planting" anything in order to get a teacher in trouble?

Please help!!!!

THank you.

[thelaststraw]

Wow he sounds like a real winner. I would suggest just sticking to the contract, if you must leave 1 month before get it in writing that you are not being fired or quiting and that he is giving you the severance pay.
Good luck......

[ilovebdt]

What is his reason for wanting you to finish a month early or 6 months later?
If you guys stay longer he will have to pay you severance anyway.

If you do decide to take the option of leaving a month earlier, then make sure you get it in writing that he will pay you severance.

ilovebdt

[laogaiguk]

Like everyone else, make sure of severance.

[Pak Yu Man]

Plain and simple...it sounds like he wants to screw you.

He'll think. 11 months...no severence.
18 months...regular severence.

If he screws you, make sure you screw him back.
Do what you can to hurt him. Maybe if more hagwons got hrt for their shady dealings, fewer of them will do stuff like that.

[twg]

[kprrok]

[KumaraKitty]

A visa can be extended by your school for any length of time, up to 1 year I believe, so 6 months is entirely possible. I've been at my school almost 3 years now, but I only did one Visa run. We simply extended our visa at the end of each year.
However I was paid my severance pay at the end of each year contract, I had it in writing, and my school is good about those things.
If you leave before a year, even if you have it in writing, the school may not pay you and the chances of you going to the Labour Board to get it would be slim I would think.
Do you wish to continue working in Korea? You could sign for another 6 months and insist you get your severance at the end of your first contract as it was written, and then make a decision on staying or not.
I know it's not the honest way, but it has to be done sometimes.
My friend is at home now fighting for $5000 of her pay left owing her. She's agreed to a new contract ONLY if her boss pays her, but she has no intention of returning to the school. My fiance has been going to the Labour board with her co-worker who is still here but in the same situation. Things are not looking good for them, and they had both extended an extra 3 months to get their severance.
Good Luck to you!

[sock]

The E-2 visa is issued for an amount of time dependant upon what is stipulated in the contract. If the contract is a one-year contract, the visa will be for one year. If the contract is for six months, then the issued visa will be for six months.

This is true regardless of whether you are renewing or whether you are applying for your first visa.

I know it is possible to get a six-month visa, and even to extend for only six months. It has happened to me personally.

[Daphilia]

I guess what I want to know is does he have the right to say we have to leave early? He says he wants us to leave early because they are opening a new kindergarten class and he doesnt want to have one teacher for one month and then switch teachers in the middle. I honestly think this is BS but.....other than getting it in writing because what is written down OBVIOUSLY means nothing to these people...what can I do? Get a lawyer now before its to late? or should we just ask for our severence now and then agree to leave a month early with no hassle?

I don't think I like this country very much!

[maddog]

Think of the ultimatum you've been given. What possible reason is there for such an ultimatum other than that he wants to cheat you out of your severance pay. Tell him you're staying put, or walk out the door next pay day and never look back. Eleven months is not an option. It's like throwing a couple of million won down the toilet.

MD

[poet13]

I'm more curious of the question regarding the boss planting something. Planting what? Has something happened before?

As far as severance. As far as I know, and this ain't gospel, it works like this.

If you extend for six months and DO NOT collect your severance at the end of the first year, then you DO get severance pro-rated for the six months.

If you extend for six months and DO collect your severance at the end of the first year, then you DO NOT get severance for the partial year.

Hopefully someone who really knows there stuf will either affirm or correct the above.

[Demonicat]

Yeah, the guy is planning on screwing you over. At the moment, he is holding several million over your head in an act of coercion. If you bown down and leave, then you won't get severence and he can say that he offered to let you stay rather than leave at 11 months.
If you do stay 6 more months, he is going to pull this $hit at the 5 month mark. OR he will simply fire you on some trumped up charges. I suggest telling him "NO, I will complete the contract that we have both signed". You should really play your bluff here as he's going to start yelling, or acting intimidating. Next, photocopy that contract and put it somewhere safe.

[mindmetoo]

Are you planning to stay another year? If he's going to terminate your contract 1 month early, do a runner on him 1 month even earlier. That will upset his plans.

[twg]