Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Hmm... I'm kind of pissed. I get 10 vacation days at my workplace. I only have a little over 4 months left and taking the first 5 of the 10 next week (to Thailand).

In January, I have a very close and very dear friend of mine who I really want to spend time with. We're planning a January trip to Philippines (so I have already reserved the airline ticket) around the holiday season.. plus they'll be coming to Korea after Philippines and staying with me. So I want to use my other 5 vacation days at that time (2 for Philippines and 3 while in Korea - all in January/February).

They are actually telling me "NO" I can't take my vacation time! Their reasoning is these two vacation periods are too close together and I can't have all 10 vacation days in the same 3-month period! (Wish they'd told me that when I signed the contract, or wrote it in the contract!). In addition, they are telling me its better for me and my students and the entire company if I just take my vacation days at the end of my contract.

What do you think about that?

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

Tell em "guess I will be sick for 5 days" I did that once when they scheduled a "teacher workshop day" before a 5 day holiday and I wanted the day off. Said I booked my tickets.

Your employer should see it is pointless having 5 days off at the end of your contract.

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

*****

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

I had a similar problem with the first hagwon I worked in. I wanted to slap my vacation days around the some national vacation days. the boss told me it was too many days to have off together (12 days in total). I grovelled a bit and eventually he let me have them off.

In your case, you may have to compromise somewhat but don't be discouraged so easily.

For other teachers: Plans you vacations in advance and let your boss know with plenty of prior advance. Easier for all.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

I would take all 10 days (or most of them) and enjoy more time drinking with the groovy Bobster!
Very Happy

Harpeau

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

Vacation time is a sensitive issue for hagwons it seems.
My old contract said two weeks (10 days) paid vacation.
Their calculation for pay was based on sessions though, and miraculously twelve-twenty day sessions allow for two weeks off with no classes. We were paid by session and guess what----- no paid vacation.
It stank, but I couldn't find a legal way around it.
What pissed me though was them giving it spread over two weeks such as TH, F, M, T, W. I mean five days fits so nicely into one week with the weekend cushions. The contract said during school closure period we got vacation.

Contracts!! Argh. I always thought employers that respect their employees don't try to trick them with wording of signed papers.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Yeah, actually I'm pissed about it.

My contract very specifically says I can have anydays off as long as I give 30-day notice which vacation days I want and I can only take 5 days off maximum at any given time. That is all.

Does everything have to be this complicated? I mean out-of-the-goodness of my heart I thought I was being nice by only asking for 2 days (monday and tuesday) of the Asia New Years Eve.. then I was going to scatter the other three vacation days to make 3 4-day workweeks so I can spend with my visiting friend.

Realistically I could have just as well took all 5 as a string of days following the Holidays and had a super vacation out of it.

It looks like I'll be going into Round 2 or Round 3 today or whatever it is. Annoyingly I feel I won't be backing down on this one, and it might ultimately end up that I'll resign and just spend the entire month in the Philippines with my friend instead. But would love to just have the contract honored and fulfill my end of the bargain without any problems like this.

Harvard Material · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Hey T.Beer, call this number; 02-872-9797. They translate for teachers at the labor office via telephone. You might want to call this number, explain your complaint and see where it gets you. It may or may not help, since your boss can always say "Your fired!" if he/she disagrees with you.

You are permitted to take your holidays when you wish - provided you give acceptable advance notice, which you obviously have.

Good luck man...

Blue Flower · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 8:54 pm Post subject:

At least you get holidays! From what I've been told there will be no winter vacation at my hagwon. I had 3 days off in July for summer (i refuse to count the weekend), and now no winter. I am pissed off as i badly need a break, and the idea of working straight till next june kills me.

In my contract it states that i can have 5 days off - i thought it meant five in winter, five in summer. obviously wrong. Surely thats illegal?

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I keep hearing rumblings about holidays at my school but no one has actually confirmed when they are going to be. And as I am getting towards the last 2 months of my contract I would kind of like to know.

CLG

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

Blue Flower · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 9:19 pm Post subject:

If it's illegal - even though I signed the contract - can I do anything about it? They have asked me to stay on, so I know that they don't want to lose me.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I'm still wired up about this. About vacation days. Sheesh.

About 3 years ago I quit a job in Seoul for the same reason. I wanted to take a few days vacation to go back to the US to be the Best Man in my only brother's wedding. They wouldn't allow it, and I resigned shortly thereafter so I could be apart of the Wedding.

Sheesh.. same concept here. Apparently I *can't* get the time off yet again at this place either. Anyhow, I'll have to go round-and-round on this one again in a little while. But it drives me insane that these things have to become a major issue at the workplace when they should just give me the days off and deal with it. (I'm honoring and obeying the contract and not asking for anything that isn't there - in fact, its stated right there). Can't they just accept its written, give me the days off, and deal with it like anywhere else?

gajackson1 · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:25 am Post subject:

Happening to ANYONE is bad. But when I see it is friends, it is worse . . .

Straight from the Ministry of Labor, Labor Standards Act:

E. Holiday & Vacation

http://www.molab.go.kr:8787/English/ladm/sub_3.jsp

And yes, it says EXACTLY the same thing in Korean.

Sic 'em!!!

Glen

gajackson1 · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:29 am Post subject:

And the longer, formal version, in Article 59:

http://www.molab.go.kr:8787/English/law/sub_Content1.jsp

G.