Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Duder]

My girlfriend and I finished at a school in Daegu about two months ago and the school kept 300,000won each for bills. Which is completely insane. They said they would pay us the left over amount in about two months. After they paid the outstanding bills. We figured 'no big deal we are just moving up to Seoul to get another job so..alright'. WE give the school more then 2 months and call them up. The director says that the school does not have enough money this month and can't pay us. The school is a massive chain school called DING DING DANG. SO now what? give more time or go in yelling?

Should have known the school would do us, just by the name.
thanks

[waterbaby]

Get in touch with EFL Law and they'll give you some good, free, legal advice. Send them an email:
[email protected] They're usually very quick to respond.

[captain kirk]

I'll be leaving my school in a week and a half, so can relate.
When I arrived at the school I met the teacher I was relieving early. After she left, the boss was up in arms that she didn't pay her entire utilities bill. Even though the bill arrived after she left, there was 60,000 won to pay; hell is going to pay! The boss was stomping around talking through gritted teeth like a Korean Chartlon Heston.
So about this time I receive a little pay advance after work one night. We'd just straightened out that I'd be payed the same as the previous, inexperienced teacher, and had each other's best interests to heart in a hallowed, turn over a new leaf and start afresh manner, very sacred. During this meeting the boss mentioned the unpaid gas bill left behind by the previous teacher, is all. I didn't count the advance (400,000 won) at the table; my mistake. Because it was 60,000 won short. Without mentioning it, he had made me responsible for the previous teachers unpaid gas bill! And it was all so polite.
I didn't mention it. It was too late. Ought to have counted the dough. My mistake. Oops. The odd thing was we'd just 'cleared the air' and arranged to start on a new footing;sincere, genuine. Never mind that I signed for a one-year contract but received a ten month visa. So this boss is seeing me as a patsy, apparently. Politely ripping me off behind the scenes.
OP, you should have NEVER allowed the boss to hold 300,000 won pay for bills that might come after you leave, or 'damages', or whatever (the apt.). But you know that already. When you are leaving a school the boss should be standing back and treating you with the same consideration as when you first arrived. It 'looks good'. Boss doesn't want any fuss or disruption, smooth transition to the next employee. What would the teacher replacing you think about this 300,000 won withheld pay?It looks like a rip-off. A teacher should have all his focus on getting the last month's pay, and let the boss know there's a hair-trigger on the alarm should it not be forthcoming. You were ripped-off your last month pay, basically. Oops. And they were so polite about it !

[jajdude]

All that nonsense over a mere 60,000 won? Man, it never fails to amaze me how tight-fisted some of these people are, even some who have a billion won in the bank. One former boss (who was quite rich I heard) cancelled a subscription to the newspaper to save that 20,000/month. I hate when they try to nickel and dime you out of a few hundred bucks. And if you finish the contract, do your job properly and all, many will be uptight about the severance, try to pay you only half, or try to get you to pay as much as they can get from you for your airplane ticket home. When's it's good for them you must follow the contract. When it's in your favor, however, guess what can happen with many of these greedy buggers? Enough said. Well if it's too much hassle for a small amount I'd probably cut my losses and be happy to move on. One guy i know though was going to get ripped off a lot, so he threatened to burn the place down! He threw a tantrum and got his cash. Sometimes freaking out in anger works. Oh another place I worked at a few years back said they'd cover the visa run and expense for Japan, then promptly took the 500,000 out of the next payday. They did that to me and the other foreigner, so we both said give it back or no foreign teacher. They gave it back but held a grudge against us like we were greedy or unfair! Amazing.

[Lost Seoul]

[Duder]

looks like this will be harder than I expected..I was just thinking of going down there and attempting to talk to the director..rationally at first then maybe step it up a notch.
Thanks for all your help.

Duder