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Effective way to reduce stress & Suicide in Korea!
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rchristo10



Joined: 14 Jul 2009

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 5:59 am    Post subject: Effective way to reduce stress & Suicide in Korea! Reply with quote

Pay people every two weeks instead of every month (or start with every 3 weeks as a trial). Seems pretty simple.

People will jump out of buildings less often. They'll have less stress at work. They'll be less inclined to yell at and beat their kids. It will just make for an overall better environment mentally for most people who work long hours for little pay to always know that the pay check isn't that far away.

This whole mandatory mental health check idea is absurd. Who knows, maybe my idea is as well. Wink
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Joe Boxer



Joined: 25 Dec 2007
Location: Bundang, South Korea

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

(Not that I think it would have a big effect on suicide rates, but) I think that regardless of when they receive their pay, it should be calculated at an HOURLY rate.

How the hell do workers put up with it?!
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sml7285



Joined: 26 Apr 2012

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 4:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Joe Boxer wrote:
(Not that I think it would have a big effect on suicide rates, but) I think that regardless of when they receive their pay, it should be calculated at an HOURLY rate.

How the hell do workers put up with it?!


You ever hear of a thing called a salary? It's what big boys get. Maybe you'll get one when you grow up some day!
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 5:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Effective way to reduce stress & Suicide in Korea! Reply with quote

rchristo10 wrote:
Pay people every two weeks instead of every month (or start with every 3 weeks as a trial). Seems pretty simple.

People will jump out of buildings less often. They'll have less stress at work. They'll be less inclined to yell at and beat their kids. It will just make for an overall better environment mentally for most people who work long hours for little pay to always know that the pay check isn't that far away.

This whole mandatory mental health check idea is absurd. Who knows, maybe my idea is as well. Wink


As someone who worked at a place for little pay and was paid every two weeks, I can tell you that didn't save them from turning to drugs or engaging in crime or killing themselves.

Getting paid twice a month doesn't change what you go home to or how you feel about yourself. In fact that doubles the number of "payday weekends" where people blow their money and engage in silly behavior, the kind that ends up leading to the situations which cause suicide.

You know about the whole finding out what day a car was made and checking when that factory's payday thing is right? You never, never buy a car that was built on the Monday after a payday or payday Friday. Now you want to double the number of those?
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fosterman



Joined: 16 Nov 2011

PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 7:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

suicide has no borders! from the rich to the poor, the famous to the non famous we can never be sure 100% why people kill themselves.
but we do know some reason.
the obvious. depression.
the causes of depression are vast. from lost love to lost wealth.
to feeling helpless, to just not seeing any other way to cope.

My ex bosses son killed himself two days in Korea.
he seemed to have it all,
from a good home, rich parents, he studied at an ivy league school in the states, he returned to korea and got a job at a good company,
then one day he went to the top of his apartment and swan dived out the window. no note, no nothing. his work mates said he was fine at work that day, his father said he was fine when he spoke to him on the phone that day.
no one knows why..
I guess the human brain has a trigger which can make you do things which you are not meant to do. kill others, kill yourself, harm others etc.
once it triggers, that's it.
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rchristo10



Joined: 14 Jul 2009

PostPosted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now I was thinking that this topic would spur interesting talk about the one month salary here.

Gosh, you guys really do take yourself too seriously. Granted, suicide and depression are not laughing matters. I admit: I made a mistake. Embarassed

As forgiveness-- Laughing


Enjoy your week!
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liveinkorea316



Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Location: South Korea

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the developed world you can't just throw your hands up and say "Meh, it's this unknown depression thingy". There must be some root causes that lead SK to have a higher rate than other countries. I for one like the OP's idea.

For those of us who would not feel the effects of getting paid more often that's great. For someone who would, it could really make their life better.

When you have little money you are always living on a shoe-string. Knowing the next lot is not far away give more comfort. Those who cannot understand that are just out of touch...that's all.
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Dave Chance



Joined: 30 May 2011

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 10:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Koreans often feel just as trapped in their Confucian roles as a cat in a sock.

Not that pointing this out to them would necessarily change anything.
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fezmond



Joined: 27 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 11:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

not sure about the two weeks thing.

i used to get paid every week (factory work as a student) and those people would do as steelrails said - use it as an excuse to splurge and then spend the rest of the time trying to scrounge until pay-day. people who are good with money will probably do well no matter the pay-day. people who are not so strict (such as myself) will find it harder and may become more stressed as a result

if people want to be happier in korea, in my opinion, they should pursue activities and do things that they want to do, not because the mass majority say they should. if i was a korean and wanted to listen to free, i would. if i wanted to listen to barry manilow, i would. if i finished my work on time and competently, i would go home rather than stay after my boss to look good.
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minos



Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Location: kOREA

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

liveinkorea316 wrote:
When South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the developed world you can't just throw your hands up and say "Meh, it's this unknown depression thingy". There must be some root causes that lead SK to have a higher rate than other countries. I for one like the OP's idea.

For those of us who would not feel the effects of getting paid more often that's great. For someone who would, it could really make their life better.

When you have little money you are always living on a shoe-string. Knowing the next lot is not far away give more comfort. Those who cannot understand that are just out of touch...that's all.


Compared to the states, koreans can always fall back on family and live at home. There is no stigma like in the US where live at home w/ no car = loser. Leeching out one's parents is much more tolerated.

As for the suicide thing; getting treatment for mental issues in asia is pretty much not considered. In the west, people usually go for treatment...especially after an attempt(or forced to go).

For example, my friend had his girlfriend commit suicide. He took a vacay right after and was promptly kidnapped.

His solution for the mental stress; become hardcore christian Rolling Eyes
He did ask me if he should visit a psychologist but I doubt he went.
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JustinC



Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

minos wrote:
liveinkorea316 wrote:
When South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the developed world you can't just throw your hands up and say "Meh, it's this unknown depression thingy". There must be some root causes that lead SK to have a higher rate than other countries. I for one like the OP's idea.

For those of us who would not feel the effects of getting paid more often that's great. For someone who would, it could really make their life better.

When you have little money you are always living on a shoe-string. Knowing the next lot is not far away give more comfort. Those who cannot understand that are just out of touch...that's all.


Compared to the states, koreans can always fall back on family and live at home. There is no stigma like in the US where live at home w/ no car = loser. Leeching out one's parents is much more tolerated.

As for the suicide thing; getting treatment for mental issues in asia is pretty much not considered. In the west, people usually go for treatment...especially after an attempt(or forced to go).

For example, my friend had his girlfriend commit suicide. He took a vacay right after and was promptly kidnapped.

His solution for the mental stress; become hardcore christian Rolling Eyes
He did ask me if he should visit a psychologist but I doubt he went.


Too many head shrinkers already, huh?
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Who's Your Daddy?



Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kids need to experience failure, then they'll get used to it as part of life. Too many students getting 100% on tests!
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luckylady



Joined: 30 Jan 2012
Location: u.s. of occupied territories

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Who's Your Daddy? wrote:
Kids need to experience failure, then they'll get used to it as part of life. Too many students getting 100% on tests!


this is so totally part of the problem if not the major issue!!!!!!!!

I've had grades I've given students be reversed many times over.

I've been reprimanded for not giving high enough marks.

I've been told ahead of time what grades should be given.

I've had to discuss with superiors and their superiors reasons for failing 2 students once (when they were caught cheating red-handed). That time the grades were not reversed but only because a Korean teacher was there with me when we caught them.

this isn't just true in Korea or Asia but in the U.S. as well. there's a new attitude about that's proliferating like a virus - that my kid can't possibly fail.

whatever happened to "learning from mistakes?" omg!!!

maybe the grading system as a whole needs an overhaul - ? no more As, Bs, Cs, etc. ??
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atwood



Joined: 26 Dec 2009

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Getting paid monthly does make it harder to budget your finances. It saves the companies money, though, so it ain't going away.
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NYC_Gal 2.0



Joined: 10 Dec 2010

PostPosted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sml7285 wrote:
Joe Boxer wrote:
(Not that I think it would have a big effect on suicide rates, but) I think that regardless of when they receive their pay, it should be calculated at an HOURLY rate.

How the hell do workers put up with it?!


You ever hear of a thing called a salary? It's what big boys get. Maybe you'll get one when you grow up some day!


Plenty of professions charge by the hour. Lawyers, psychiatrists, plumbers, physical therapists, etc...
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