Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Soccerstar]

So my wife and I took a "promotion" to a university (Pusan National University) last year. Our situation was acceptable when we joined, but this semester they increased our hours and lowered our pay.

Just want to know if there is anyone working at a University making less per hour than we do.
18 hours/week for 1.5 million/month take-home.



Of course if we had known this was going to happen we never would have left our great previous job...

[D.D.]

30 days notice- they don't deserve teachers for that.

[wayfarer]

wait, you work at a uni for 1.5 mil? is that possible?

[Soccerstar]

[gangpae]

1. Every ESL slacker struggles through a year at hagwon or public school, and then immediately starts sending their resume out to every University under the sun.
2. Every University language program is staffed by the ultimate ESL slacker; ie dude who wants to make himself employable by getting an F-2 visa.
3. Want a way to increase the 'entertainment budget' for the monthly room salon visit, cut said slackers wages and reduce staff by increasing hours.
4. If you want to get rich, get a 'hard' degree backed by insane hours of study and cut-throat competition. Then you too can start exploiting slackers.

[jellobean]

Doesn't your contract state the number of hours? If they changed the contract for the worse after the deadline for resigning, I'm not sure they could have forced you to sign a contract that had been changed. If you are in the middle of the contract, then they couldn't change the contract without your permission.

[KoreanAmbition]

1.5 take-home after base of 1.8 means you're giving 16.67% worth of deductions?

9% is for pension, and another like 3% or so should be for tax since you earn such a low salary. That's 12%, and I'm surprised that your half of the medical contribution should be 4.67%. I think you're deductions are a bit too high. Can someone verify these numbers?

Unfortunately, if they are taking too much in deductions, it doesn't amount too that much. I'd say the biggest downside is the increased hours that you speak of.

I feel bad for your situation, but wouldn't it be a good idea to finish up your year and then move on to another university, which should be easy once you are both done your Master degrees?

I'm curious, if you are at 18 hours for 1.5 million (take home) now, what were you at before?

What is your vacation situation?

[Soccerstar]

The hours issue was another sleight-of-hand that the university uses.
Our contract says 9 hours maximum, but reality is that each "hour" is actually 2 hours -get it?

We talked to the people who worked her before us, and they told us how they only had to work 10 hours, or 600 minutes/week. This sounds fantastic compared to the 25 we had been working.
Once we found out that each one hour class was actually two, we at least were promised reduced hours in exchange for living in the middle of nowhere so that we could work on our masters online full-time. But second semester they gave us the full 9 hours which is really 18 hours, and very close to the 25 we had been working before this job.

Anyway, it is within the written contract, but was certainly not in the oral agreement. Low hours (10-12) was our stated reason for taking this job. Our beef is that our previous employers worked to always help us improve our situation. This university is fully taking advantage of our predicament.

I know some hogwon teachers have to teach 30 hours or more, but what gets me is how a university gets away with 18 hours for such low pay. I guess we were suckers who should have assumed the worst.

[Soccerstar]

[traxxe]

I'm sure you and your wife get housing right? That's wicked low if not. She should get her housing allowance as a bonus. So your salary is more with benefits.

A uni job paying 1.8 with housing is not terribly uncommon. Mine pays 2.2 without housing. I only work 4 days a week, 20 hours.... but they count the hour and forty minutes classes as two hours. Actual teaching hours is about 14 hours.

Then I get 3 or 4 months vacation a year. The vacation makes it worthwhile.

[ttompatz]

[ajgeddes]

I just can't believe they get away with saying one hour actually equals two hours. If you could do that, hagwons should just advertise 5 hour work weeks, but then say that 5 actually equals 30 hours.

[Trevor]

The future looks bright. PNU looks good on a resume and you have four months to find something better. Winter break is a great time to look for a better gig and employer's generally like couples Also, You have a shot at the 3-4M+ gigs in the spring if you are close to finishing your MTESOL.

My advice: suck it up, chalk one up for experience, and don't let the door hit you in the butt come December.

[jlb]

2.4 base salary for about 12 hours actually in the classroom for me. You're getting ripped off. That's all there is to say basically.

[PRagic]

2.5 million base plus free housing next to campus for 15 actual contact hours. Fully paid summer/winter breaks.

Oh, no, wait, THAT WAS 1998! Man, have things ever gone down hill.