Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Saxiif]

Hi all. My contract says that I teach for 35 hours a week. I teach eight 45-minute classes a day with seven in the afternoon/evening and one evil split shift ajumma class at 10:30 (at least my villa is a five minute walk from work) and my boss wants to add even more classes on my head, probably getting me up to around 168 a month if I calculate correctly. And on top of that he's been telling me to do more prep. And the korean english teachers at my school only teach 100 classes a week

The real kicker is that he doesn't calculate the few-minute break as me working so I wouldn't get a cent of overtime for doing even 180 classes a month. Now I do get nice base pay (2.3/month) but that's mostly to compensate for me teaching out in the boonies in at town where nobody else wants to teach and were I'm the only native speaker. Now I know he can afford to pay me overtime since the teacher who was here before me had a second year contract that gave him the use of a car for a year for free and overtime pay for anything over 120 classes and in any case enrollment is going up and business is generally booming.

Aside from the schedule issue and him being really bad at getting things in my shit-hole apartment fixed he doesn't he doesn't give me any problems and doesn't micromanage me or go on power trips. If I had the schedule that the Korean teachers in my school have I'd love this job.

Now I'm thinking of giving him an ultimatum to knock me down to 140 overtime-pay-free classes and have me not work after 8 on fridays (since the last bus to Seoul leaves my town at 8:20) or I quit, which I think is pretty reasonable. Any idea how to broach this while having some chance of his accepting (and without making him loose horrific amounts of face if he does)?

I've got two things working in my favor. First, its going to be relatively hard for him to get a replacement for me since most waygooks don't want to live out in the sticks and I really don't care if I loose this job since being the smart guy that I am I ended up with a gf in Seoul and its a real bitch basically only being able to see her from whenever I get to Seoul on Saturday to when the last bus leaves Seoul to my town at 7 (except on National Foundation Day and on the week beforewhen I was able to get my last class on friday cancelled) and the motel/transportation bills are starting to pile up already...

On the other hand I've finally really gotten settled in my town (have been here since August 7) and my only real problems are my schedule and the annoyances of a long distance relationship, so I don't want to burn that many bridges necessarily (yay indecision).

Also tomorrow is my first pay day (was in a training 50,000 won a day in cash limbo for three weeks when my predecessor was still here, which I didn't really mind since he was actually able to train me good bit) and I think my boss said (his english is awful) that he's going to start docking my airfare from my pay. Is that legal? I thought that E-2 visa sponsors were required to pay for all of their workers' airfare.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. This is my first real job (if hagwon teaching counts as a real job, which is doubtful), just graduated from college in May so I'm pretty ignorant...

thanks!

[Gord]

You haven't even got a paycheque yet and you already want to give an ultimatum change the terms to which you agreed to work for?

[posco's trumpet]

[waterbaby]

[Saxiif]

Gord: I expected to be teaching 140 classes/month and get overtime pay for anything on top of that, and that's what I would be having if he counted 1 class + the couple minute break between classes (which I often spend doing level testing for new students or other chores) as one hour of teaching instead of only counting the time when I'm actually in front of a class. Having 160 classes a month and then be told you're going to get more w/o a cent of overtime is a bit much. And I do get paid tomorrow

"Don't make threats (much less idle ones). Do as little as possible to enflame your boss if you decide to demand changes."
I don't want to get him angry at me but any threats I make won't be idle ones, it would hardly be a sacrifice on my part to be forced to move closer to my gf. I know that most other teachers get overtime pay after 120 and it really shouldn't be too much to get overtime if I teach more than 140 classes (especially since my contract says my base pay is for 140 hours of teaching).

"No, they are not required to pay for your airfare. It's great that they do but it's not a legal requirement."
Thanks for the info.

[Gord]

[Saxiif]

[Gord]

[Basil Brush]

Gord's right. English teachers are paid to prepare and perform, whether this is explicitly stated on the contract or not. Employees are always replaceable if they are unreasonable.

If your boss is following the contract then it would be reasonable if you did so. However a class at 22.30 seems a little unreasonable, but wouldn't warrent an ultimatum. But nor would I suggest aiming 'your negotiation goals a little lower and just aim for the Friday night bus ride'.
Would your boss cancel the class? Would he hire somebody to sub. for you from outside the school? Would the students want a different teacher on Fridays from Monday to Thursday?

Ultimatums are embarrassing and are often the first step to arguments. You haven't a good chance of winning this argument. Ultimatiums and arguments with Korean managers guarantee plenty of risk, but don't guarantee any reward.

As Gord outlines, if you loose this job by acting ureasonably, then you could find yourself without another job. Whether you can get another legal job in Korea until your visa expires, depends on the letter of release. You need your employer to sign this letter to get another job. Your employer doesn't have to give you this letter. If you act irrationally and have an argument with him, I guess he will act irrationally to you and not sign it. If you acted irrationally, the labor office won't be interested in helping you.

Waterbaby is right about the airfare.

http://www.koreabridge.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=22&t=2225&s=41577e83bcce076385e22af8f4544bbb

Article about loss of face.

www.expat.or.id/business/lossface.html

[hellofaniceguy]

No one can use you unless YOU let them. Anyone is a fool who agrees to teach over 6/7 50 minute classes a day! Let alone 8! Are you a robot? No teacher in the world can teach that many classes day in and day out and do a GOOD job of teaching. It's just not possible. You'll burn out. You can do better elsewhere. The school owner does not care about the quality of teaching; only MONEY and how cheap he/she can pay you vs. the amount of classes they can get you to teach.

[The Man known as The Man]

[BTM]

One small piece of advice to add to that offered - make absolutely sure that you are speaking with the boss privately when you have your showdown. Be calm and professional and all of that, firm but not obnoxious, and definitely don't let anyone else be there. If you do allow others in the meeting, he'll perceive that if he makes any concessions whatsoever, he'll be losing face publicly, and won't budge an inch.

Try and pitch it to him as a money-saving thing - the hassle and expense of bringing someone else in if you leave. The advantages of having a well-rested, adequately paid employee. How you will be a good little employee if he makes some concessions toward making your life liveable. Etc.

Which all may be obvious, but I thought I'd toss them in the ring.

Good luck.

[Austin]

As usual, Gord is spot on.

You really do not have any room to confront your boss. The fact is that you were ignorant of what your duties were truly going to be.

You will only be shooting yourself in the foot if you make a stink, but that is your call.

I can think of only one reason your employer would give you a release letter, and that is if you reimbursed him for all the money he is out from you leaving (including you tossing in a little extra). However, apart from that, my bet is that you will find yourself out of a job and unable to be legally employed until one year from the start of your orginal contract. If your employer calls your bluff, and you decide to stay, the remainder of your stay will more than likely be miserable and frought with conflicts.

You might want to consider biting your tongue.

[justagirl]

Okay, let me see if I have this straight.

Your contract is for 35 hours a week, and 140 hours a month.

Currently, you work 6 hours a day teaching (8x45 min)

This totals 30 working hours a week (mon-fri) (40 classes a week)

You could technically work 5 more hours, or 6.5 more classes a week with this schedule, and still be within the hours of your contract. This would mean one more class each day (roughly)

This brings you to 9 classes every day, Monday-Friday.

Your complaint is that your boss wants you to teach 168 classes a month, and this is 8 more classes than your contract states you have to work. (40 classes a week x 4 weeks = 160 classes/month)

What does your contract say about work hours? Do they list from 10am-9pm or anything like this? If it doesn't, you really don't have any choice when you work.

I do agree that you should get overtime pay for anything over 140 hours a month, and you should take in your math figurings and show it to your boss. However, I'd only do this after getting paid and if it was incorrect for the last pay period. If you have not worked over 140 hours this month, I would not bring it up.

I understand it's frustrating to know that the former teacher had a better deal than you do, but that's the nature of the game and you gave your word to work as worded in your contract. Sucks, huh?

Please check your contract to see if your employer states he'll pay for your airfare. If it's not there, he doesn't have to pay it.

Honestly, this sounds like a beastly job compared to other hakwons. The 8-9 classes a day would be very draining. If you can stick to it, I really admire your dedication. 2.3 a month is a good salary. I've been in Korea for over 2 years and I'm working for 1.8 right now. (all taxes, utilities, bills paid by employer, though) Good luck.



justagirl

[bjonothan]

I didn't have time to readt the last few posts but I just wanted to add that I found when it comes to dealing with Korean bosses, hit them with the news that will hurt the most. For example: If I teach that many classes a week I can't possibly make them energetic and exciting which means "You are going to lose money". Either way he will fire you or say yes. If he fires you he would probably have to give you a release letter. If not just find a job in another country on elscafe that will pay for you to fly there.......This stuff is never ending here......I read the American embassy statement before, it said something like this.....Due to the problems our citizens have had in South Korea, we woul not advise people to go there for the purpose of teaching....Good luck!!!!