Korean Job Discussion Forums

Homer · Guest

Well..it may be a small amount...but it seems it came out of the pocket of the supervisor...hence not company money. It is pretty sad that people would just pocket that.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I think a cab is a waste of money. If they gave me the cash with the specific instructions to use it for a cab, I would. If they just gave it to me as payment for going to the meeting, I'd do the same thing.

Barking Mad Lord Snapcase · Joined: 04 Nov 2003

Homer · Guest

I would regard someone giving me money out of her pocket because the company would not as an act of generosity and kindness and would not just pocket the money.

Clear enough?

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Homer · Guest

mindmetoo...the company gave nothing here...the supervisor gave money out of her own pocket to help teachers defray the cost of transportation....big difference.

Summer Wine · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: Next to a River

coolsage · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:29 am Post subject:

When some cheapass waygook pulls a stunt like that, it reflects on all of us. The money may not be huge, but taxes are low and the accommodation is free or subsidised. Most of us are banking the bulk of what we earn, which probably wouldn't happen where we come from. I have no respect for a pathetic nickel-and-dime loser who has yet to discover how good he's got it here. Avoid him if you can.

Summer Wine · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: Next to a River

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

I would have given any money back that I didn't use, but that's just me.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Take the money. You may be misinterpreting the situation. In Korea, 'transportation money' is usually provided in lieu of overtime. As most companies, especially smaller ones, don't have formal payment rates/systems for overtime work, the boss will often give employees 'taxi money' for coming out on a non-regular work day.

Sounds like the boss thinks you should be getting paid for this so he/she is making up the difference. And don't be all too sure about the 'out of their own pocket' thing, either. Most are not privy to the flow of funds our bosses have access to.

Forget it. Small change and not worth the worry. Are some foreigners cheap here? Sure. There are pleanty of cheap people back in N. America, too...

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

antoniothegreat · Joined: 28 Aug 2005 Location: Yangpyeong

it is just like meal money. if they gave you 10,000 for dinner and you went to burger king and only spent half, would you give the rest back? no of course not. it would be different if they didnt go to the meeting, that would be wrong. but the employer should give you enough money to get there and back comfortably plus food if the schedule is set to include a meal.
so if someone cant for some reason take a train or bus, then they must have enough to cover a taxi. if they can take something cheaper, no biggy.
but I would certainly be mad if i got less money with the expectation to split a cab, take the train or something, but my outside schedule didnt allow it and i had to pay some to cover my travel costs. i would be steaming. it is their job to overcompensate and if you dont spend it, it is yours. that is part of running a business. even if it is out of your boss's pocket, that is not your job to pay for it, it is their job.
if it really bothers you that much, just think the extra goes towards the wasted time and frustration of having to go to those pointless meetings. or other things your employer should have paid but didnt.
for example, my school gave me 30,000 won for going to a meeting in suwon. the bus costs 5,000 won each way. include a decent lunch, and i still have over 10,000. they didnt pay for my visa extension, that was like 80,000. i am still down 68,000. a few more trips and we are even.