|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
burnburn87
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 3:05 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| BigBuds wrote: |
| Bongotruck wrote: |
As an employer, I hate to give advice like this. But I agree. Your boss has lost the right to have you follow the contract because she is not.
I keep my employees happy by treating them right and not asking for anything unreasonable.
| PRagic wrote: |
Two things: First off, you threw kindling on the fire by constantly throwing the contact up in her face. Yes, she sounds like a crap boss, but that isn't the way things are done here.
Second, given the track record to date, you're nuts if you give them any notice. Be prepared to lose out on a good chuck of your salary and whatever else she decides to nail you for. If the terms of the contract favor her in this situation, she'll leverage that, but if not she'll do it anyway. Quietly pack your bags, get your ducks in a row, and do a midnight run after you've collected your final pay.
Do the dog and pony show if that'll keep the pach checks coming in until YOU decide it's time to move on. |
|
I agree with PRagic and Bongotruck. Get your next paycheck and run, at midnight of course,  |
Today went a lot better than expected - she barely spent more than a few minutes coming in and out of any of my classes, and her only comment was that I should have the kids sing along with a CD rather than leading them acapella (which is the exact opposite of what the last training course she sent me on told me to do, but oh well...). I didn't get a vibe like a firing was imminent, so at the moment it seems I can hang on for a few more months as I originally intended.
But I hadn't considered that giving notice might open me up to being screwed over in a whole new bunch of ways. I'd say at this point there's very little chance of negotiating any pro-rata severance pay. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Aine1979
Joined: 20 Jan 2013
Location: Incheon
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
You're entitled to severance pay as long as you've completed at least 1 year. If you were into a second contract, you would definitely be entitled to full severance for the first year and pro-rated severance for the second year, it wouldn't be a matter for negotiation. You could take it up with the labor board if that is the case.
However you stated you started your contract in October and it was a one year contract, so you have no entitlement to any severance pay. Trying to negotiate for pro-rated severance is going to be a waste of time, as it's extremely unlikely that anyone would give an employee money they don't have to.
Also, it may well irritate your boss further if you even address the issue - they seem quite offended that you have asked for overtime pay for working above your teaching hours and pay for working on a Saturday. With someone like this, it is much better to concentrate on getting everything you are actually owed - you don't want to rock the boat and find recruiter fees, airfare and money for things like utilities etc withheld from your last paycheck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
burnburn87
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Aine1979 wrote: |
You're entitled to severance pay as long as you've completed at least 1 year. If you were into a second contract, you would definitely be entitled to full severance for the first year and pro-rated severance for the second year, it wouldn't be a matter for negotiation. You could take it up with the labor board if that is the case.
However you stated you started your contract in October and it was a one year contract, so you have no entitlement to any severance pay. Trying to negotiate for pro-rated severance is going to be a waste of time, as it's extremely unlikely that anyone would give an employee money they don't have to.
Also, it may well irritate your boss further if you even address the issue - they seem quite offended that you have asked for overtime pay for working above your teaching hours and pay for working on a Saturday. With someone like this, it is much better to concentrate on getting everything you are actually owed - you don't want to rock the boat and find recruiter fees, airfare and money for things like utilities etc withheld from your last paycheck. |
Yeah, I was kidding about the severance pay. I know a few people who've asked for it and received it when leaving a job early because they gave them advance notice. Before this situation blew up, I thought it might be worth asking for it when handing my notice in. Now - not so much. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bongotruck
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 5:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ask yourself these questions:
On what date do you want to be in Europe for said MA program?
On what day of the month is your payday?
Find a ticket that is as soon after payday as you can and just go. Your boss gave up any right to notice when she threatened to fire you without notice. You will eat a few days in lost pay but you have your apartment to live in until that day.
Leave on a weekend if possible. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
Sounds like a typical noob year.
Although you are fresh in Korea, you still haven't got your feet wet enough to find the appropriate cirriculum or method to teach kids here, probably since you are teaching solo you don't have any one to show you the ropes.
You are focusing way too much on the contract.
Play it cool with your boss. He/she knows you are a noob.
Most of the job is politics. In Korea, getting along with the manager is more than half of the experience. Ask your boss out for dinner. Get to know them as a person. Schmooze up to them.
It's not too late to smooth things over and have the year go in your favor.
Just by reading your posts I can smell an 11-month firing where your boss recoups the bonus and flight home. Just think of all that planning you did to get all of your docs ready and to have it go to waste. Definitely have cash saved.
These days, Korea is the door to get into China where most employers need 2 years of verifiable experience.
It also seems you are here like many other backpack hipsters to travel, paying off student loans as you go. This is soooo 2002-2004.
With an 11-month firing, You would have to fight tooth and nail to get a release letter. In this instance, don't expect even a recommendation letter from your boss to go on to greener pastures. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
burnburn87
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 2:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
| matthews_world wrote: |
Sounds like a typical noob year.
Although you are fresh in Korea, you still haven't got your feet wet enough to find the appropriate cirriculum or method to teach kids here, probably since you are teaching solo you don't have any one to show you the ropes.
You are focusing way too much on the contract.
Play it cool with your boss. He/she knows you are a noob.
Most of the job is politics. In Korea, getting along with the manager is more than half of the experience. Ask your boss out for dinner. Get to know them as a person. Schmooze up to them.
It's not too late to smooth things over and have the year go in your favor.
Just by reading your posts I can smell an 11-month firing where your boss recoups the bonus and flight home. Just think of all that planning you did to get all of your docs ready and to have it go to waste. Definitely have cash saved.
These days, Korea is the door to get into China where most employers need 2 years of verifiable experience.
It also seems you are here like many other backpack hipsters to travel, paying off student loans as you go. This is soooo 2002-2004.
With an 11-month firing, You would have to fight tooth and nail to get a release letter. In this instance, don't expect even a recommendation letter from your boss to go on to greener pastures. |
Thanks for the advice. You clearly have a lot of experience teaching in Korea, though perhaps not in teaching reading comprehension skils, otherwise you may have noticed that an 11th month firing isn't of much concern in this.situation. But thanks for trying anyway, I'm sure if you keep offering your considerable wisdom on internet forums then sooner or later you'll say something thats of value to someone. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thegadfly
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| burnburn87 wrote: |
| matthews_world wrote: |
Sounds like a typical noob year.
Although you are fresh in Korea, you still haven't got your feet wet enough to find the appropriate cirriculum or method to teach kids here, probably since you are teaching solo you don't have any one to show you the ropes.
You are focusing way too much on the contract.
Play it cool with your boss. He/she knows you are a noob.
Most of the job is politics. In Korea, getting along with the manager is more than half of the experience. Ask your boss out for dinner. Get to know them as a person. Schmooze up to them.
It's not too late to smooth things over and have the year go in your favor.
Just by reading your posts I can smell an 11-month firing where your boss recoups the bonus and flight home. Just think of all that planning you did to get all of your docs ready and to have it go to waste. Definitely have cash saved.
These days, Korea is the door to get into China where most employers need 2 years of verifiable experience.
It also seems you are here like many other backpack hipsters to travel, paying off student loans as you go. This is soooo 2002-2004.
With an 11-month firing, You would have to fight tooth and nail to get a release letter. In this instance, don't expect even a recommendation letter from your boss to go on to greener pastures. |
Thanks for the advice. You clearly have a lot of experience teaching in Korea, though perhaps not in teaching reading comprehension skils, otherwise you may have noticed that an 11th month firing isn't of much concern in this.situation. But thanks for trying anyway, I'm sure if you keep offering your considerable wisdom on internet forums then sooner or later you'll say something thats of value to someone. |
Wow -- way to kick in the teeth of someone offering you decent advice and trying to be helpful. Was it "backpack hipster" that set you off? Considering you entered into a contract that you never had any intention to fulfill kinda fits that stereotype, though, don't you think?
I wonder why ANYONE would want to get rid of you early...so charming and endearing! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bongotruck
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Matthews World, its hardly advice when you talk down to someone.
If your post hadnt been insulting, maybe he would be thankful.
| thegadfly wrote: |
| burnburn87 wrote: |
| matthews_world wrote: |
Sounds like a typical noob year.
Although you are fresh in Korea, you still haven't got your feet wet enough to find the appropriate cirriculum or method to teach kids here, probably since you are teaching solo you don't have any one to show you the ropes.
You are focusing way too much on the contract.
Play it cool with your boss. He/she knows you are a noob.
Most of the job is politics. In Korea, getting along with the manager is more than half of the experience. Ask your boss out for dinner. Get to know them as a person. Schmooze up to them.
It's not too late to smooth things over and have the year go in your favor.
Just by reading your posts I can smell an 11-month firing where your boss recoups the bonus and flight home. Just think of all that planning you did to get all of your docs ready and to have it go to waste. Definitely have cash saved.
These days, Korea is the door to get into China where most employers need 2 years of verifiable experience.
It also seems you are here like many other backpack hipsters to travel, paying off student loans as you go. This is soooo 2002-2004.
With an 11-month firing, You would have to fight tooth and nail to get a release letter. In this instance, don't expect even a recommendation letter from your boss to go on to greener pastures. |
Thanks for the advice. You clearly have a lot of experience teaching in Korea, though perhaps not in teaching reading comprehension skils, otherwise you may have noticed that an 11th month firing isn't of much concern in this.situation. But thanks for trying anyway, I'm sure if you keep offering your considerable wisdom on internet forums then sooner or later you'll say something thats of value to someone. |
Wow -- way to kick in the teeth of someone offering you decent advice and trying to be helpful. Was it "backpack hipster" that set you off? Considering you entered into a contract that you never had any intention to fulfill kinda fits that stereotype, though, don't you think?
I wonder why ANYONE would want to get rid of you early...so charming and endearing! |
H
Last edited by Bongotruck on Sun Apr 12, 2015 5:46 am; edited 2 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| burnburn87 wrote: |
| I'm sure if you keep offering your considerable wisdom on internet forums then sooner or later you'll say something thats of value to someone. |
Well, this was the general point of the post. Hopefully someone would find it useful. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thegadfly
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 10:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Bongotruck wrote: |
Gadfly, its hardly advice when you talk down to someone.
If your post hadnt been insulting, maybe he would be thankful.
| thegadfly wrote: |
| burnburn87 wrote: |
| matthews_world wrote: |
Sounds like a typical noob year.
Although you are fresh in Korea, you still haven't got your feet wet enough to find the appropriate cirriculum or method to teach kids here, probably since you are teaching solo you don't have any one to show you the ropes.
You are focusing way too much on the contract.
Play it cool with your boss. He/she knows you are a noob.
Most of the job is politics. In Korea, getting along with the manager is more than half of the experience. Ask your boss out for dinner. Get to know them as a person. Schmooze up to them.
It's not too late to smooth things over and have the year go in your favor.
Just by reading your posts I can smell an 11-month firing where your boss recoups the bonus and flight home. Just think of all that planning you did to get all of your docs ready and to have it go to waste. Definitely have cash saved.
These days, Korea is the door to get into China where most employers need 2 years of verifiable experience.
It also seems you are here like many other backpack hipsters to travel, paying off student loans as you go. This is soooo 2002-2004.
With an 11-month firing, You would have to fight tooth and nail to get a release letter. In this instance, don't expect even a recommendation letter from your boss to go on to greener pastures. |
Thanks for the advice. You clearly have a lot of experience teaching in Korea, though perhaps not in teaching reading comprehension skils, otherwise you may have noticed that an 11th month firing isn't of much concern in this.situation. But thanks for trying anyway, I'm sure if you keep offering your considerable wisdom on internet forums then sooner or later you'll say something thats of value to someone. |
Wow -- way to kick in the teeth of someone offering you decent advice and trying to be helpful. Was it "backpack hipster" that set you off? Considering you entered into a contract that you never had any intention to fulfill kinda fits that stereotype, though, don't you think?
I wonder why ANYONE would want to get rid of you early...so charming and endearing! |
H |
Bongo,
It wasn't my advice -- when I read the original entry, the OP was so grating and abrasive that I didn't think it worth my time to comment. When he jumped on someone else who did take the time (but called him out for his attitude), I thought it worth mentioning.
You are right, though, that there were some attacks in matthews_world's post...I guess noob and hipster are offensive. I would have used culturally ignorant, inexperienced, immature, irresponsible, and intentionally misleading to describe the OP's behavior.
The OP is going to give MA holders a bad name, if the OP becomes one.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
burnburn87
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 8:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| thegadfly wrote: |
| Bongotruck wrote: |
Gadfly, its hardly advice when you talk down to someone.
If your post hadnt been insulting, maybe he would be thankful.
| thegadfly wrote: |
| burnburn87 wrote: |
| matthews_world wrote: |
Sounds like a typical noob year.
Although you are fresh in Korea, you still haven't got your feet wet enough to find the appropriate cirriculum or method to teach kids here, probably since you are teaching solo you don't have any one to show you the ropes.
You are focusing way too much on the contract.
Play it cool with your boss. He/she knows you are a noob.
Most of the job is politics. In Korea, getting along with the manager is more than half of the experience. Ask your boss out for dinner. Get to know them as a person. Schmooze up to them.
It's not too late to smooth things over and have the year go in your favor.
Just by reading your posts I can smell an 11-month firing where your boss recoups the bonus and flight home. Just think of all that planning you did to get all of your docs ready and to have it go to waste. Definitely have cash saved.
These days, Korea is the door to get into China where most employers need 2 years of verifiable experience.
It also seems you are here like many other backpack hipsters to travel, paying off student loans as you go. This is soooo 2002-2004.
With an 11-month firing, You would have to fight tooth and nail to get a release letter. In this instance, don't expect even a recommendation letter from your boss to go on to greener pastures. |
Thanks for the advice. You clearly have a lot of experience teaching in Korea, though perhaps not in teaching reading comprehension skils, otherwise you may have noticed that an 11th month firing isn't of much concern in this.situation. But thanks for trying anyway, I'm sure if you keep offering your considerable wisdom on internet forums then sooner or later you'll say something thats of value to someone. |
Wow -- way to kick in the teeth of someone offering you decent advice and trying to be helpful. Was it "backpack hipster" that set you off? Considering you entered into a contract that you never had any intention to fulfill kinda fits that stereotype, though, don't you think?
I wonder why ANYONE would want to get rid of you early...so charming and endearing! |
H |
Bongo,
It wasn't my advice -- when I read the original entry, the OP was so grating and abrasive that I didn't think it worth my time to comment. When he jumped on someone else who did take the time (but called him out for his attitude), I thought it worth mentioning.
You are right, though, that there were some attacks in matthews_world's post...I guess noob and hipster are offensive. I would have used culturally ignorant, inexperienced, immature, irresponsible, and intentionally misleading to describe the OP's behavior.
The OP is going to give MA holders a bad name, if the OP becomes one.... |
I responded courteously to everyone else in this thread. I think I responded appropriately to the one guy who wrote in a smug, condescending tone and made a bunch of assumptions about me, with the only advice his post offered being completely irrelevant to the situation described in the original post.
I've worked in Korea for a number of years and every other school that I've worked at has respected their staff's contract hours. When issues have arisen relating to the contract hours at other schools, they've either reduced the teacher's schedule or paid overtime for the extra classes. I've never worked at any school that expected teachers to do unpaid training, or to spend every break time between classes on work-related activities. My boss at this school actually tried to subtract 3 days wages from my salary for training she sent me on during weekdays, but I argued my case to another teacher at the school and the boss ended up paying me for those days.
I've been told by the Korean labor board that in each of the situations where problems have arisen between me and the boss, the boss is on the wrong side of Korean labor law. I could certainly have handled things a bit better in terms of exacerbating the situation with the boss, but after having to sit and listen to a lecture being translated from her to me by one of the other teachers about how since I'm working less classes than before I should be putting in more work during break times and treating taking care of the kids at the end of the day as teaching time, I got pretty frustrated. The point about working less classes than before was very annoying, as the number of classes I teach actually increased at the start of March. That was what prompted me to check the contract and work out I was technically doing overtime teaching if they considered the time with the kids at the end of the day teaching time. And if I hadn't brought up any of this to the boss, I'd be spending 12 hours travelling to and from an unpaid training course on a Saturday in a few weeks time, so I don't exactly regret having it out with her.
Breaking the contract early is a fair point of criticism, but it wasn't my original intention upon taking the job, and I fully intended to give the notice I was required before breaking the contract. I'd say working conditions at the school played a part in making me want to get further qualifications sooner rather than later. For what it's worth, the English teacher I replaced split mid-contract, and the vast majority of the Korean teaching staff quit and were replaced in March, with most of the teachers who left having lasted less than a full year there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bongotruck
Joined: 19 Mar 2015
|
| Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 5:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
Sorry Galdfly, I meant to post to Matthews World. My phone is a piece of crap.
I will edit my post,
| thegadfly wrote: |
| Bongotruck wrote: |
Gadfly, its hardly advice when you talk down to someone.
If your post hadnt been insulting, maybe he would be thankful.
| thegadfly wrote: |
| burnburn87 wrote: |
| matthews_world wrote: |
Sounds like a typical noob year.
Although you are fresh in Korea, you still haven't got your feet wet enough to find the appropriate cirriculum or method to teach kids here, probably since you are teaching solo you don't have any one to show you the ropes.
You are focusing way too much on the contract.
Play it cool with your boss. He/she knows you are a noob.
Most of the job is politics. In Korea, getting along with the manager is more than half of the experience. Ask your boss out for dinner. Get to know them as a person. Schmooze up to them.
It's not too late to smooth things over and have the year go in your favor.
Just by reading your posts I can smell an 11-month firing where your boss recoups the bonus and flight home. Just think of all that planning you did to get all of your docs ready and to have it go to waste. Definitely have cash saved.
These days, Korea is the door to get into China where most employers need 2 years of verifiable experience.
It also seems you are here like many other backpack hipsters to travel, paying off student loans as you go. This is soooo 2002-2004.
With an 11-month firing, You would have to fight tooth and nail to get a release letter. In this instance, don't expect even a recommendation letter from your boss to go on to greener pastures. |
Thanks for the advice. You clearly have a lot of experience teaching in Korea, though perhaps not in teaching reading comprehension skils, otherwise you may have noticed that an 11th month firing isn't of much concern in this.situation. But thanks for trying anyway, I'm sure if you keep offering your considerable wisdom on internet forums then sooner or later you'll say something thats of value to someone. |
Wow -- way to kick in the teeth of someone offering you decent advice and trying to be helpful. Was it "backpack hipster" that set you off? Considering you entered into a contract that you never had any intention to fulfill kinda fits that stereotype, though, don't you think?
I wonder why ANYONE would want to get rid of you early...so charming and endearing! |
H |
Bongo,
It wasn't my advice -- when I read the original entry, the OP was so grating and abrasive that I didn't think it worth my time to comment. When he jumped on someone else who did take the time (but called him out for his attitude), I thought it worth mentioning.
You are right, though, that there were some attacks in matthews_world's post...I guess noob and hipster are offensive. I would have used culturally ignorant, inexperienced, immature, irresponsible, and intentionally misleading to describe the OP's behavior.
The OP is going to give MA holders a bad name, if the OP becomes one.... |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
