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Kiki81
Joined: 06 Mar 2017
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 Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:25 am Post subject: Working over 30 classes a week |
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Hi, so I have been working at this hagwon for 6 months and I've had 28 classes a week (40 min each). But this new semester they are making me take on an additional 5 classes at a kindergarten kind of connected with the school on top of my already 28 classes a week at the hagwon.
That would make me work 33 classes a week between 40-50 minutes each at two separate locations.
I have been teaching in Korea and Europe for about 4 years now, and I have never heard of teaching more than 30 classes a week. That is considered overtime for teachers anywhere.
On top of throwing these "mandatory" extra classes at me (I had no say so in it) they are not paying me more. So, I have to take these extra classes as part of my contract.
Now, I'm pretty sure this violates some laws but I'm not sure about them in Korea. Also, as a foreigner, it's hard to find help. Does anyone know about this? It seems so wrong to me. |
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J.Q.A.
Joined: 09 Feb 2017
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:33 am Post subject: |
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30 "classes" a week vs 30 "contact hours" a week, are different things.
I can empathize if you missed that in your contract...many people do.
However, how "connected" is this kindergarten to your school?
There in lies your card. If it is not on your visa, you don't have to do it. In fact, you don't have to do anything. Just decided on how much you will put up with and if the cost is worth it. |
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Kiki81
Joined: 06 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:45 am Post subject: |
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I have 40 contact hours a week. I really should've read my contract better.
The kindergarten and hagwon are in two separate buildings but have the same owner. However, on my visa it says I only work at the hagwon.
I tried to reason with them but they only dropped my classes from 34 to 33 a week.
I could go complain to immigration, but I'm pretty sure they would fire me if I got them in trouble. I guess I was just looking for more bargaining chips to throw at them to drop the kindie classes, which wear me out and I hate. |
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tophatcat
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Location: under the hat
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 5:57 am Post subject: |
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40 contact hours per week.
Hopefully you are getting at least a 2.600.000 salary. |
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Kiki81
Joined: 06 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:18 am Post subject: |
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No, unfortunately not 
2.2 mil a month
And I'm an experienced teacher with a Masters.
But I wanted to work in Seoul. I was working in Uijeongbu before, and I hated being so far, because my boyfriend lives in Seoul.
I really should've looked harder for another job, but I was lazy about it and took the first seemingly decent job in a halfway decent location.... |
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J.Q.A.
Joined: 09 Feb 2017
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:27 am Post subject: |
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| Kiki81 wrote: |
No, unfortunately not
2.2 mil a month
And I'm an experienced teacher with a Masters.
But I wanted to work in Seoul. I was working in Uijeongbu before, and I hated being so far, because my boyfriend lives in Seoul.
I really should've looked harder for another job, but I was lazy about it and took the first seemingly decent job in a halfway decent location.... |
t
You are being exploited and ripped off. Granted, the contract says what it says. Be that as it may...bottom line, you don't have to be there if you do not want to. Besides, I find it interesting that at your six-month mark, they are doing this. Perhaps they are counting on you to quit, so they don't have to pay the bonus, final pay, and ticket.
Remember...you don't have to be there if you don't want to.
Jumpy contract signings happen...don't beat yourself up over it. Just decide what you really want to do. |
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Kiki81
Joined: 06 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 5:39 am Post subject: |
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I do feel exploited and ripped off. But I heard that I shouldn't quit because it's harder to find another job if you do. If they would fire me, it might actually be a good thing because it would get me out of this hell of a contract so I could find something better.
I'm almost at my breaking point now. They keep throwing more classes at us for no extra pay, and now they shortened our vacation days from 10 to 8. I feel if they do one more thing I'll just go down to immigration and get them in trouble. If I'm fired, it might not be the worst thing. |
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candy bar
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 6:05 am Post subject: |
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| They are playing you like a 4 string fiddle. 12 months of work in 8 and you are out the door. You won't get your severance or airfare at the end. Win$win for the school. Every night, boss is sleeping like a lamb. |
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J.Q.A.
Joined: 09 Feb 2017
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Kiki81 wrote: |
I do feel exploited and ripped off. But I heard that I shouldn't quit because it's harder to find another job if you do. If they would fire me, it might actually be a good thing because it would get me out of this hell of a contract so I could find something better.
I'm almost at my breaking point now. They keep throwing more classes at us for no extra pay, and now they shortened our vacation days from 10 to 8. I feel if they do one more thing I'll just go down to immigration and get them in trouble. If I'm fired, it might not be the worst thing. |
I fell ya, OP.
Well...pick your battles. In fact, this employer may be counting on you to get to the breaking point. Do you happen to know if teachers in the past went through the same type of phuck-phuck games?
Though...you may wish to consider standing your ground on the vacation and not accept anything less than your 10 days (hopefully WORKING DAYS). If the school is going to abide by the contract in terms of the amount of classes they can through at you, then demand they honor it regarding the vacation days.
It would not hurt to start gathering fresh documents, just in case. You can do it from here. Albeit, it will cost a few $$ but having them on hand is a good card up your sleeve.
If you quit, you quit. If they fire you, they fire you. There are worse things in this world than being fired by some crappy hogwan in Korea. Granted, the Letter of Release is always an issue but if you have fresh documents...to hell with the school.
If you go to immigration, telling them they are farming you out to another location (as per the visa), you may be able to acquire that D-10 visa, which will enable you to look for work, without having to obtain new documents. Telling the school your plans may backfire, though. At any rate, it seems the school is on the road to try and break you so they don't have to fork over the cash and tickets when the time comes. If they had not reduced your vacation days and were simply adding more classes that fall within the contract, that would be one thing. But...they are clearly phucking with you.
You may also want to find out if the school is paying into your pension, which is legally required. From there, you can also find out if they are paying the right amount in taxes. Collect some pay stubs, if you don't have any already. |
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Kiki81
Joined: 06 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 1:44 am Post subject: Big Update! |
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So, a lot has happened since I last posted. For one, my hagwon bosses are trying to force me to resign because I complain about the kindie classes I am forced to teach that aren't in my contract. BUT I know this isn't the case. The real reason is my contract ends at the end of August and the owner is trying to weasel out of paying my severance pay.
I have sat through countless bitchings from my three harpy bosses. Basically telling me how unqualified I am (I have a Master's degree and five years teaching experience) and that I have complaints from the parents because I sit down sometimes during the kindie class (I teach 33 classes a week and I'm forced to stand the whole time). They are really trying to make life so bad for me that I resign. They are doing all of this just to get out of paying me my severance pay.
But the shinning ray of hope is ..... Basically I'm going to sue them. They don't know it, but my boyfriend ( a Korean) has been working with a gov watchdog org that helps exploited workers. I got an investigator from the Labor Board to handle my case. Since it says in writing in my contract that I only teach elementary and middle school students, forcing me to work at the kindergarten without my approval is illegal. So, they will have to drop these forced kindie classes, and we're going to try to sue them for past wages. I've worked 5 kindie classes a week for the past 3 months.
The whole not the right address in the contract thing doesn't hold much water, since the owner just needs to update where their business is headquartered.
If anyone is in this same position, read your contract carefully. Then if you find out they are in violation of the contract make a complaint to the Labor Board. Be advised though, I only received this much attention from them because my boyfriend filed the complaint, and he is Korean. I'm sorry to say but if you don't have a Korean helping you, the Labor Board will be very difficult to deal with, if they even care about you at all. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Big Update! |
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| Kiki81 wrote: |
So, a lot has happened since I last posted. For one, my hagwon bosses are trying to force me to resign because I complain about the kindie classes I am forced to teach that aren't in my contract. BUT I know this isn't the case. The real reason is my contract ends at the end of August and the owner is trying to weasel out of paying my severance pay.
I have sat through countless bitchings from my three harpy bosses. Basically telling me how unqualified I am (I have a Master's degree and five years teaching experience) and that I have complaints from the parents because I sit down sometimes during the kindie class (I teach 33 classes a week and I'm forced to stand the whole time). They are really trying to make life so bad for me that I resign. They are doing all of this just to get out of paying me my severance pay.
But the shinning ray of hope is ..... Basically I'm going to sue them. They don't know it, but my boyfriend ( a Korean) has been working with a gov watchdog org that helps exploited workers. I got an investigator from the Labor Board to handle my case. Since it says in writing in my contract that I only teach elementary and middle school students, forcing me to work at the kindergarten without my approval is illegal. So, they will have to drop these forced kindie classes, and we're going to try to sue them for past wages. I've worked 5 kindie classes a week for the past 3 months.
The whole not the right address in the contract thing doesn't hold much water, since the owner just needs to update where their business is headquartered.
If anyone is in this same position, read your contract carefully. Then if you find out they are in violation of the contract make a complaint to the Labor Board. Be advised though, I only received this much attention from them because my boyfriend filed the complaint, and he is Korean. I'm sorry to say but if you don't have a Korean helping you, the Labor Board will be very difficult to deal with, if they even care about you at all. |
Wow. Keep us updated. I'm curious to see how this plays out. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2017 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Kiki81 wrote: |
I have 40 contact hours a week. I really should've read my contract better.
The kindergarten and hagwon are in two separate buildings but have the same owner. However, on my visa it says I only work at the hagwon.
I tried to reason with them but they only dropped my classes from 34 to 33 a week.
I could go complain to immigration, but I'm pretty sure they would fire me if I got them in trouble. I guess I was just looking for more bargaining chips to throw at them to drop the kindie classes, which wear me out and I hate. |
I think you had better re-read your contract.
You should have a class load (contact hours) and work hours.
40 work hours is pretty normal.
30 class hours is normal for a hagwon.
22 class hours is normal for a public school.
If you were foolish enough to agree to 30 teaching hours without defining a teaching hour (eg: 1 class = 1 hour) then with 40 minute classes you could be on the hook for up to:
30 hours * 60 minutes per hour (1800 teaching minutes)
divided by 40 minutes per class
= 45 classes of 40 minutes duration each week.
Your options are to live with it until you are fired (or quit).
If you terminate or get fired before your contract expires then you can expect to work in China, Taiwan, Vietnam or other less well paid countries in SE Asia until your ARC expires.
Even if you are fired the employer is under no obligation to give you a release letter (LOR) meaning you cannot change employers until the contract expiry date.
Welcome to "Not your Home country" and don't expect much from a legal suit. This is not the Litigeous States of America.
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Kiki81
Joined: 06 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| Your options are to live with it until you are fired (or quit). |
I have more options, like the Labor Board that my boyfriend has been working with. I'm not making this up. This is what they told me. In fact I have a meeting with them next week.
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Even if you are fired the employer is under no obligation to give you a release letter (LOR) meaning you cannot change employers until the contract expiry date.
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They *don't have an obligation to give me a LoR but if they refuse I can get something similar from the LB and with that I can get a D10 visa and look for another job in Korea. I don't have to stay gone until my ARC card expires or rely on my hagwon to give me the LoR.
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| Welcome to "Not your Home country" and don't expect much from a legal suit. This is not the Litigeous States of America. |
Well, all I want is not to be forced to work classes that aren't in my contract. The reimbursement would be nice, but I'd be happy with just them being fined by the Labor Board and forced to drop the kindie classes. If you read my post you would know that I got this information from them.
Also, as a foreigner, I know I couldn't do this on my own. That's why I'm getting help from my boyfriend, a Korean. They can only threaten to fire me, but I'm a good teacher so they can only say parents complained or students left because of me but can't produce any evidence of this.
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| If you terminate or get fired before your contract expires then you can expect to work in China, Taiwan, Vietnam or other less well paid countries in SE Asia until your ARC expires. |
Oh please, I've got much more going for me than that. Quitting a bad hagwon isn't the end of the world, or your career.
| nicwr2002 wrote: |
| Wow. Keep us updated. I'm curious to see how this plays out. |
Will do! |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| Kiki81 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| Your options are to live with it until you are fired (or quit). |
I have more options, like the Labor Board that my boyfriend has been working with. I'm not making this up. This is what they told me. In fact I have a meeting with them next week. |
Re-reading your contract should show you that your employer isn't violating the contract. Now, they may be working you like a dog, but they haven't violated any labor law apparently. What you seem to have is a contract dispute. Labor Board doesn't get involved with those. They will consult with you because you arranged a consultation appointment. That does not mean you are in the right, legally speaking.
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Even if you are fired the employer is under no obligation to give you a release letter (LOR) meaning you cannot change employers until the contract expiry date.
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They *don't have an obligation to give me a LoR but if they refuse I can get something similar from the LB and with that I can get a D10 visa and look for another job in Korea. I don't have to stay gone until my ARC card expires or rely on my hagwon to give me the LoR. |
And if the Labor Board tells you that you have no case, they will not waste their time pursuing it, and enjoy your life? What will you do then?
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| Welcome to "Not your Home country" and don't expect much from a legal suit. This is not the Litigeous States of America. |
Well, all I want is not to be forced to work classes that aren't in my contract. The reimbursement would be nice, but I'd be happy with just them being fined by the Labor Board and forced to drop the kindie classes. If you read my post you would know that I got this information from them. |
Double check that contract. Those classes may be there, but "disguised" as additional duties as the employer may direct related to teaching English.
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| Also, as a foreigner, I know I couldn't do this on my own. That's why I'm getting help from my boyfriend, a Korean. They can only threaten to fire me, but I'm a good teacher so they can only say parents complained or students left because of me but can't produce any evidence of this. |
They can say it and their word will trump yours. It doesn't matter if you have a Korean boyfriend, Korean girlfriend, Korean spouse, or Korean parent. All that matters is that the employer just has to say that they got complaint calls or complaints in person--not E-mail complaints, not written complaints of any kind. And that will make it look like you were "damaging the business" of your employer.
Now if you decide to go to court, do you have the funds handy to spend on such litigation? Have you considered the cost of lawyers vs. the amount of money you believe you should be gaining in a suit? Lawyers and court costs in Korea can be expensive. And the employer will not be taking that case up at the Labor Board; they will take it up in court, suing you for damaging their business. The employer has the funds and knows they will likely win.
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| If you terminate or get fired before your contract expires then you can expect to work in China, Taiwan, Vietnam or other less well paid countries in SE Asia until your ARC expires. |
Oh please, I've got much more going for me than that. Quitting a bad hagwon isn't the end of the world, or your career. |
Nobody said it was the end of the world. But it is the end of your ESL career in Korea for the time being when you don't have a case.
By the way, China is a on a bit of a professionalization kick. Like everything else in China, it's being implemented in a haphazard fashion, but it can still catch you unawares. With your qualifications, you shouldn't have a problem getting hired in China. The worry is getting the visa in a timely manner if you happen to be in a rush. |
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tophatcat
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Location: under the hat
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| Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 5:37 am Post subject: |
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CentralCali is right on this^
Lick your wounds and move on. You won't be winning this battle. |
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