Korean Job Discussion Forums

[joshuahirtle27]

Here's the story; one day I was told by my boss that he wanted me to do school work at the school on the school's computer instead of taking it home to do it. I asked why I needed to stay after classes to do school work when i have a perfectly functional computer at home. I was told that the Korean teachers do their school work at the school and it's not fair that I can go home and do it while they stay and don't get paid. I said It's really not my fault they live an hour subway ride away, I really don't see why I can't do my work at home where I enjoy the setting... especially since I'm not being paid to be there after my classes are over.

Can someone tell me why it's my fault the Korean teachers live in Itaewon , Uijongbu and other cities that are an hour away?

Can someone explain the logic behind me doing my work at a cold Hagwon rather than my nice cozy apartment, especially when I'm not being paid to be there after my classes are finished?

[jellobean]

Does your contract say that you have to stay at school. If not, go home. If so, you're probably stuck.

[EzeWong]

Well it's not fair either way you see it.

If you go home, the other teachers would be pissed off. I mean, why would you get special treatment? Because we're international? hardly fair. And the boss would have bigger problems on his hands with the teachers rioting.

Don't worry bro I have the same problem and I understand, the logic makes no sense. I have to stay 1 hour after school everyday to do nothing but browse daves esl cafe. I can't complain though compared to the workload the teachers have here.

In fact, we have it very damn good compared to the Korean teachers. Count the blessings.

[joshuahirtle27]

"Other tasks as assigned" but that doesn't say I have to be there to do them

[jellobean]

Then I would let your boss know that staying isn't in your contract. "Other tasks as assigned" is task oriented, not location oriented. Unless the task requires you to stay then you shouldn't have to. (But I wouldn't put it quite that way or he will come up with a task to make your stay.)

Hagwons will take whatever advantage of you that they can. Put your foot down and stand up for yourself. Yes, you are different from the Korean teachers, they go home to their families -- you do not!

You could also make the complaint about the work environment being bad. Koreans may be used to cold schools and offices but your "poor little western body" can't take the cold and the hard chairs. The boss doesn't want you to get sick and need to take time off does he?

[Draz]

[nizpaz]

Very simple, this is Korea, land of Big Brother

Your boss wants the work you do. He wants access to it (on the school computer) He wants to check it. He wants it after you've gone.

[joshuahirtle27]

[yingwenlaoshi]

What does your contract say?

You didn't mention anything about your contracted schedule. If your contract says you work from 2 to 8 then I guess you have to stay until 8. If you're finished teaching at 8 then get your arse home.

My contract reads 2 to 9. I, however, don't always go in at 2 because I start teaching at 4. None of my classes finish at 9, so I just go home early most days. That's how I go about it. You've got to let them know who's boss (even though they're the actual boss).

Know what I mean?

It's been my experience that your boss will normally let you go home if you have no more classes. You're only really paid to teach. You're not really paid enough, in most cases, to do prep. It's good to do it, but teaching 5 or 6 classes or more a day is plenty for the pay. And if they've got you there for 8 hours, you've earned at least a half hour to an hour break to FRIGGIN EAT!

[branchsnapper]

That's right. Because if your boss asks you to do something not in your contract, Koreans will be outraged. Lights will flash. Sirens will sound. The authorities will come and drag him away. The courts will eventually be horribly harsh on that person.

Actually you've probably got two options. Bow and scrape like a Korean underling would, or be "bad" foreigner and get treated bad.

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

taking work to do at home and NOT getting paid, or staying at school to do work and NOT getting paid.

They must have you on a good salary, i would NEVER do work without getting paid, plain and simple.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

This is one of those things were it really comes down to how much you like your job and how much you want to fit in. Unless you really like your gig, I'd tell them sorry, I don't stay at work longer than 30 hours a week unless I'm on OT.

On the other hand, if things are going really well and you're working less than 30 hours already, keep in mind that your boss could respond by giving you extra work to keep you busy at your school.

[branchsnapper]

Yes, you have to choose which battles you want to fight as well. You can't fight them all and be treated well. You shouldn't always give in either though, or you'll be given lots of work.

[little mixed girl]

the simple answer is that work is to be done at work.
work isn't done at home.

none of my co-workers take work home.
in the rare chance they do, it's something simple like cutting bigger holes in fake flowers that are going to be used at an event.

my suggestion is:
- stay after and do the work at school
- take the work home, but don't tell anyone that you're doing it
- do what you can during work hours

[Seoul'n'Corea]