Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Homer]

Stick to your guns and to what the contract actually says.

If that fails to get something thats reasonable and acceptable to you then just end the contract in 5 days and move on.

[sadsac]

Definitely get your severance and the othet half of your ticket and don't necessarily forgo the raise, ask for a signing bonus of 500,000 won to be paid after 90 days or some such incentive. It goes a little way to off setting not getting a raise. Best of luck with it all.

[Zyzyfer]

I thought that most hakwons didn't give a new ticket. Giving a new ticket for a new contract means that you'll be going somewhere for a break, which means someone has to teach your classes while you're gone. This means hiring part time teachers(not cheap and illegal) or getting someone to cover your classes(overtime is not cheap). Maybe it lies in the difference between re-signing and renewing...

[Cogito]

I too was under the impression that one does not get another roundtrip ticket (i.e. here and back) if one re-signs/renews a contract. I am also in the process of renewing my contract and thought it would be arrogant of me to expect (or ask) another ticket - eventhough I am planning on going home for a couple of weeks.

Am I wrong?

[phaedrus]

[Badmojo]

If I were you, I don't sign anything until I get everything that was coming to me in the last contract. Plane money, yes, severance, yes. Raise, yes, (but it might be too late for you to do that now.)

I don't understand what the hagwon's problem would be. If you say, "No, I'm not re-signing, I'm leaving", they'd have to give you all this stuff now anyway.

[saint_moi]

[phaedrus]

[rapier]

Kick their rice- munching asses. You're a South African, with probably some of the best English language standard on the planet.
Tell them how it is. You want your ticket as promised, and the raise that you are worthy of.
How much are you worth? -at least an extra 100.00W per month.
If the answers no, just walk. Nothing worse than your hard work and good intentions going unrewarded by a bunch of chancers -who will get away with as much as they possibly can.

[Derrek]

[saint_moi]

[Hagwon Muppet]

As someone pointed out, you're not entitled to severance because you are not being 'severed'.

I can see the thinking behind the ticket thing - you're staying so you don't need it. It kind of makes sense. Of course they would have to pay it to someone else so I would expect a pay rise in its place.

If I were you I would ask for an extra 100-200k a month, forego the plane ticket and wait till the end of your time there to get your severance as is the law.

They might be OK with that since the extra they are paying is monthly rather than a lump sum.

[Badmojo]

[Squid]

Sorry OP, but this may seem a bit bleak.

I've learned the hard way that deferral of payments, even for a short time, due to unspecified "financial difficulties", is not something that magically goes away once you re-sign.

The financial difficulties remain, often multiply, then you get it in the ass. It's that simple.

No matter how nice they are and how few problems you've had with them, my advice is give them notice and leave for another job.

That's the lowdown. If you post here in a few months time with further dramas I probably won't bother to read it.

[phaedrus]

Keep in mind that hagwons tend to lie through their teeth about their financial situation as an excuse to pay you less.

I never heard the end of my last hagwon's financial woes.

How many students do they have? Less than 100, there might be trouble.