Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mistermasan]

if a boss/school short sheets you, how many times do you tolerate it before you pull up anchor?

after more than a month in the love motel?
after 3 months w/o health insurance card and a visit to the emergency room and denied medical help for not having the card?
after not being enrolled in the required pension program?
after not having taxes taken out in due time? the last teacher had all her taxes taken off her "13th month" "bonus". she lost out on tax refunds and the pension program. he has the same charted for me. why should i wait for the final shafting?

yeah, i love the kids. they are great. but everything on the business side is so dodgey it as it i am just waintg around to get ripped off again.

so...is it forgive them 7x7x7x7 times(and honor the contract he doesn't) or shake the dust from the sandals and move on(to the great opportunity with the multinational corp)?

[cbclark4]

If they refuse to pay you you should refuse to work.

A couple of sick days should set them straight.

Just tell them you were having mental health issues.

Say something like this:

"I've been feeling a little paranoid lately I think someone is trying to rip
me off. It may just be a persecution complex. What do you think? Do
you know a good psychiatrist I could speak to about this?"

[poet13]

I think if all of that is happening, and you know it's happening, it's up to you to fix it so there is no need to wait until the end to get bent over....

[mistermasan]

it took three months just to get health insurance. months to get my diploma back9it was lost by immigration and magically reappeared). he already doesn't speak to me except when necessary. before my rabble rousing we were "family". now we are family that doesn't speak.

[the foystein]

Life is simple. If you don't like your situation find another one.

[ontheway]

Sometimes schools need a little time to get everything set up and straightened out. So, you have to be patient and give the school a little slack. Maybe you will be living in an apartment that is still occupied by the teacher you are replacing. You have to wait until they leave and the place can be cleaned and prepared for you. But how long should you wait:

E-2 Visa: don't leave home without it.

Your diploma: you should get it back on your first day of work at the school.

Apartment: up to two weeks in a decent hotel/motel.

Alien Registration Card: it might be up to you to go get it. It takes up to a week for Immigration to issue. Immigration will have your passport up to a week to do this. You should go to Immigration and apply for your ARC as soon as possible, within 2 or 3 weeks at most. Do it fast. You need it.

Insurance: you should be signed up within 2 weeks of getting your ARC. You need your ARC to get insurance.

Pension: you should be enrolled the same day you are enrolled for insurance. You need your ARC to be signed up for pension.

Taxes: actually, I don't care if they ever take out taxes if they have the insurance and health set up. But, the amount should be no more than the amount shown on the NTS website. I did have one employer wait until the very end to take out taxes. The total amount for the whole year was under 250,000 won. It was the exact amount required as computed by a local accountant and LESS than the NTS amount.

Documents: your school needs copies and maybe the originals for a day or so to register you with the local education office, for pension, and for insurance. After 3 days demand them back.


Once you have obtained your ARC, alone or with the help of your wonjangnim if you have one of the good ones, you should have everything set up within a couple of weeks tops.

If you're still waiting 30 days after you got your ARC, it's time to demand action or give notice.