Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rowdie3]

My director announced today that there will be a three hour rehearsal for our beloved (gag) Christmas recital which will happen next week. She said my coworker and I "have to be there" on Saturday so I naively said "So, this will count as part of our hours for the month right?" and she said "No, all full time teachers have to be there. You don't get paid". This has made me angry (do the fun little horn gesture there) This means we are working this Saturday for free and doing the actual recital next Saturday again for free. Does anyone have any experience with things like this? Is there any sort of law that says we should get paid or should I suck it up? Thanks for your help.

[J.B. Clamence]

Unfortunately, that is how things often work at hakwons. You're sometimes asked to show up on special ocasions without pay. Sometimes it's in your contract that there are some events where your presence is expected, but even if it isn't there's really nothing you can do to force them to pay, as it's generally considered part of being their employee to show up at special events such as these. It sucks, I know. Luckily, Christmas is only once a year.

[crazylemongirl]

I think that these things are part of the gig of being a teacher here. since the middle of october I have worked four saturdays. That said I hadn't done any in 6 months.

Basically most contracts say other duties specified. If your not doing your 120 hours then take it on the chin. It's part of the gig here.

CLG

[hellofaniceguy]

Well I think most already know what I'll say on this subject; just because "that's the way it is in korea" does not make it right. Until people start making positive changes and standing up for themself, it won't change in korea. If your contract does not have it in it about working for free on Saturdays, then why would you do it? Unless of course just to appease the owner. Nothin wrong with "fitting in," and getting along. But, your school is in business and korean school owners and for that matter any owner does NOTHING for free. The school is making money, so, so should you I feel or at least a trade off; Saturday work and the same amount of hours off in the future. If the owner does not go for it then bells would be going off; you'll get screwed over on something else down the line. They are not following the contract now it sounds like. But if all else is copacetic, why not? Would I do it? One time I would and see how it went until I needed a favor from the owner and if the owner said no to a reasonable favor, I would not work again on a Saturday or for free.

[maxxx_power]

That's why you should have that stuff written into your contract, if you can. I'm lucky that I get paid for all hours that go above 120, my last hogwan was a friggin joke in that extra time department.

[Mr. Pink]

I can't think of a nice way to put this:

You sound like someone who is only at your job for a paycheck. Yes most people are, however being a "teacher" means more than just showing up for class.

Ironic too is that it is a Christmas recital. Isn't Christmas about giving? If your boss isn't "giving" with cash, does that mean you have to stoop to his level and not give your time, which is for the KIDS not for your boss?

Think about it a bit more and you might see the light. The job should eventually be because the kids make it worthwhile, not the paycheck.

[phaedrus]

I have experience with things like this. That's why I don't work at a hagwon anymore.

It comes down to this. In my contract it said we had to perform any extra work as detailed by the director. However my contract also said that the work week runs from Monday to Friday and the teacher will be scheduled to teach during this time. Hours of operation are from 10:00 until 7:00.

I felt this protected me in theory from working Saturdays. However..... mty director didn't really see it this way. It never came up to a serious degree, but me not wanting to give up my Saturday conflicted with her need to create a children's paradise and profit from it.

The other issue is that there is always some butt kiss or loud mouth at the school who will do it or say "why not" and then try to place it on someone else.

Fight it if you want. Read your contract closely. Be difficult.

[some waygug-in]

I have to agree with Mr. Pink on this one. Not that I would like it any more than you. I had to do the same for my last job, but just keep telling yourself that it's Christmas and it's for the kids.

You can fight it if you want to, but that will just make you out to be SCROOGE and will do nothing to help your relationship with your boss.

It's only 2 Saturdays, it's not that bad.

When I did it, I wasn't even part of the "show", I was there for more PR reasons than anything else, but in the end, I was happy to have helped out.

Anyway, do what you think is right,
Cheers

[Son Deureo!]

You should look at this as a favor for your boss. Do you owe him any favors? Do you think he will ever return this favor for you in the future? If the answer to both questions is "no", then I say dig your heels in and say no.

The fact that you are asking the question here in the first place leads me to believe that your relationship with your boss is somewhat less than warm and fuzzy.

Furthermore, maybe it is just these two Saturdays, but then again maybe it's a trial balloon to see how much more he can stick you with.

And who's being the real "scrooge" here anyway, asking you to work for free?

[crazylemongirl]

Just to further clarify what I mean about the saturday thing I like to add to things.

1) We are not paid 'by the hour'. We are paid a salary.
2) If you want to nitpick about these sort of things I think that you should negotiate an hourly wage rather than picking up a salary.
3) As for standing up for 'working conditions.' If two saturdays are all that's requried I don't know what anyone is complaining about. Most teachers back in the west aren't paid overtime to coach the softball team et al. Most of them pull saturdays on a regular basis and don't get overtime. We've got a good gig here.
4) As for the business arguement private school teachers back in the west have the same arguement.

Again if you want to nitpick about hours (and this includes those who complain about prep time) I really suggest that you negotiate to be paid by the hour.

CLG

[lush72]

[Derrek]

[phaedrus]

I can't believe that people are actually suggesting volunteering a Saturday to a private school. TWO Saturdays.

There are the arguments about it being for the kids. Remember that the parents are paying to send their kids to school and the boss is profiting from this. Only a fool would teach English for free when they could be getting paid. The boss is getting paid.

Secondly comes the boss. If the employee can be expected to volunteer the Saturday couldn't the boss volunteer to plan the concert for a Friday, or better yet the day before Christmas. At least do the rehearsal on a normal working day. Also, why can't you get paid? Only a really cheap boss/person would try to get extra work for free.

Oh, try to be nice though----- maybe you will get a really nice gift from your boss for Christmas or a long Christmas vacation or a big Christmas bonus or a kiss or a free car or a raise next year------ or maybe you will get squat and work two Saturdays for your February graduation and Easter or maybe a weekend summer camp.

[crazylemongirl]

[rowdie3]

Thanks for all of your advice. In response to Mr. Pink's claim that I'm in it for the money, I would have to disagree. I do a lot to plan extra activities and courses for the kids that are on my own dime and I don't asked to be compensated for this. My concern here is the setting of a precendent that my roomate and I can be walked on. There is a three day school trip over a weekend in February and it's becoming evident that we wouldn't be paid for this either. I'm worried that if I don't put up resistence on this issue that it will snowball into more things and extras that I was not prepared for when I came. As for my boss hitting me with a special Christmas present, that's very unlikely. She's tight with the cashola. NEways, thanks again!