Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jellypah]

Very recently I was reading a poll here on the amount of sick days people take in a year. Go figure, I came down with a nasty little bout of gastro or somethng on Monday.

I've had my share of maladies here in K-Land, but if I'm able to go to work, I go. I've gone in with many colds and flus, lack of voice, bronchitis and even after a fairly serious car crash. However, I've gotten laid up a couple times in the last five years when I've pulled a muscle in my back and wasn't able to walk, pretty much.

On Monday, though - I had a problem which required me to either be writhng in bed with gut pain or on the toilet - if you know what I mean. So there was no way I was going to make it in and I let my co-workers know.

My body would have preferred I spend another day in bed recovering, but I dragged myself to work today because I could. I should mention I've worked at the same hagwon for a long time now, but my boss sold the school this past summer, and now I'm working with a new boss and co-workers.

So one of my co-workers comes up and tells me that I'll be making up the classes I missed during my breaks in the upcoming days. I told her that wasn't how things worked 'round here. (ha!)

In the past I've worked through four teachers who quit without notice by just calling in one morning- and in the interim between finding a new teacher I covered all the classes I could. When my former co-worker would call in sick (and she'd call in with the sniffles!) I covered for her and never expected her to make up classes. So I was put off when my co-worker came up, pointing to the holes in my schedule, "You'll teach here, here, and here."

"Ummm, no I won't!"

I've got a whole three sick days per year in my contract, with no mention of making up missed time. Also, I've got extra vacation days that the K-teachers don't get and I'm planning on taking a week off around Christmas. Of course, I'm not expected to make up classes that I'll miss when I'm away on vacation.

My co-worker protested that it wasn't fair she had to cover for me, and that may be true. But I promised her that if she's ever sick and unable to teach I'll cover for her. (Truth is, I wouldn't even mind teaching the classes later in the week - but it's the way she ordered me to that got me riled today. I'm pretty crabby when I'm not feeling well. And she is laaaazy! Also, I know she's double pis**d because she figures the wongjangnim should have covered for me instead of her.)

What do you think? Do you other hagwon teachers have to make up classes you miss? Do you think you should be expected to?

[Seoul'n'Corea]

[John_ESL_White]

It's typical.

I had a princess complain because I was 10 minutes late to her class because i was doing a speaking/level test with another class.

The princess actually left her class and went to the wonjangnim to complain.

W-J-Nim asked if I would skip my 10 minute break to make up the missed time in princesses class. In said, "NO, it's not possible". She looked shocked. I chuckled to myself.

You're sick? You have sick days. You don't work the hours you missed. It's retarded they assume otherwide (you are not korean). The exception is if you are offered OT and you accept the offer.

granted, your OT is probably less than time + 1/2. So, it's best just to F off any OT requests and do what you agreed to in your initial interview.... or what's in your contract.

easy for an F visa to say, but when i was an E2, I had my battles. Stand up for yourself.

[Jellypah]

If I were to teach the make-up classes, it wouldn't be overtime since I'm about 7 classes under from my maximum of 30/week. I've got holes in my schedule because of our low enrollment numbers. Still, I see almost every class twice a week.

Princess (and seriously, you guys absolutely nailed that one on the head - I have never met a bigger princess!) said that it wasn't HER who wanted me to teach, the students were complaining I missed their class when I was sick. True,..but I'll see them today or the day after. It's not like they're going to die if they only get me once this week.

The students really like me, which is good. They come in everyday and ask "Today Jellypah?" and when they're told yes they do a happy little dance or high five each other. Ha!

But my co-worker did say that in every other hagwon she worked at, the teachers were expected to make up for any sick days. Are there any other teachers on this board that have to?

[Xuanzang]

Before they just let it slide. I suspect they would have wanted it made up for but punished me in some other way by asking for small favours throughout the rest of the year.