Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fromtheuk]

I want to know from my esteemed cafeers, preferably public school employees, how many sick days have you taken off work?

Also, I've read here about various co-teachers visiting the sick employee, or asking a doctor to call the sick employee etc.

I've also read about various co-teachers fuming because the native teacher wouldn't come into work.

I think it is pretty cheeky to check up on someone in the ways described on this forum.

Lastly, did you notice any tension/anger on behalf of your co-teacher when you returned to work?

I haven't taken any days off sick, and I have been here for almost 7 months now.

Thanks.

[cruisemonkey]

I'm on my 3rd public contract:

First year - all 15 calendar days... long story, but it was due to trauma (broken clavicle) and I was hospitalized.

Second year - one day (the first day of my new contract) to go to a dentist after discovering I had an absess in my jaw while flying back to K-land.

Third year - zero days (so far).

I would never take a sick day without having a reason, and don't respect those who do.

[boyne11]

[cruisemonkey]

[Gamecock]

I've not taken any sick days this year...

Koreans generally don't take sick days unless they are hospitalized, and the concept of using sick days is really frowned upon in this culture (which seems a contrast to the need to go to the doctor every time they have a headache). Also privacy is not really an esteemed issue here. So you do here bizarre stories of co-teachers showing up at your home to check on you or offering/demanding to take you to the hospital. I've not heard so many stories of coteachers fuming because someone takes a sick day.

However, one thing to keep in mind is that your coteacher is essentially made responsible for you by the principal/school district, etc. So they are often under alot of pressure to make sure the enigma that is the foreign teacher is doing his/her job. This may explain some of the bizarre behavior.

[boyne11]

[nomad-ish]

[schwa]

In 8 years here I've missed a total of 4 days -- 2 days twice, prearranged, for necessary eye surgery I tried to but couldnt get scheduled on a weekend.

[Dome Vans]

[schwa]

I have some say over a contract that governs about 160 teachers that presently includes 15 days annual sick leave. I think thats way too generous -- some regard those days as an entitlement. Use even half of them & youre generating some serious resentment among your Korean colleagues & administrators. Serious doctor-substantiated issues, no problem. I'm thinking 5 days would be more realistic, with a requirement for documents beyond that. Would that be unfair?

[boyne11]

[crazy tigger]

I think anything after 5 days it is fair to ask for a doctors note, after all at that point you shuld see a doctor anyway if you aretoo sick to work.

[MarionG]

I have taken 1 day in 9 months. Doctor called my director, told her I couldn't come in. But time for my first class and guess what? Phone rings, where are you? Why aren't you here?

Next day, a Saturday, she shows up in the morning...I went to the door in a bathrobe, hair going 16 directions...I was not very pleasant.

[PGF]

back hoe I used all of my sick days as did all of my co-workers. We called them personal days.

Here, I use all of my sick days. The contract states that I have to produce a doctor's note if I use a sicky, which I do.

When the boss tried to take me to the hospital I kindly told him "F8uck off, you're not my mom, I can go to the doctor by myself".

If they are in your contract, use them. A doctor visit costs 3000W.

The boyscouts who've never yused a sick day and would never use one unless they were dying are frraks of nature and need to get back to 1953 where they belong. The Beaver misses them.

[crazy tigger]

And the people who are justlazyand skive off work need to grow up.