Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sir John Hawkins]

They are now 4 days late on my pay and I have not heard anything about when I will be paid. What should I do?

[oldtactics]

Did you... ask them about it?

[John_ESL_White]

[Sir John Hawkins]

[John_ESL_White]

BS

Are you the only FT?

How many kids do you teach a week?

You have to remember that as a FT, the moms pay for you ONE MONTH BEFORE YOU STEP INTO THE CLASSROOM AND TEACH.

The hagwon gets money for you one month in advance.

You should never NOT GET paid late unless the students drop off dramatically.

"financial issues": is the same BS I've had from every crappy hagwon that ever paid me late.


Put the "the moms paid for me in advance", in their face.

Then, if you don't get paid.... go to work, do your thing, but file with the labor board.

They've broken contract.

Post another post saying you have not been paid and "what should I do: I'm NEED HELP"

that will get the ttompatz's and other longtimers to help you.

wait until sunday night or monday.

I'm just an insomniac. I wish I could help you more, but I don;t have the knowledge that the long-long timers have.

Good luck.

[ontheway]

[Cheonmunka]

I am an insomniac too but not through lack of financial planning. Most directors hit hard times because they bite off more than they can chew. He/She'll have substantial debts or things to pay and others are asking for it now, earlier than expected causing cashflow problems. You could in this situation easily be without income yourself as caught up in the chain effect. Well, I'd go with the advice of talking properly with the one who gives the money and if you get the runaround either then and there work out a way to get released and so you don't lose a visa or go with the labor board suggestions.

[John_ESL_White]

[ontheway]

[John_ESL_White]

[John_ESL_White]

PS-when I said ask the long timers I meant the LONG timers who know how to fight.

I've been here five + years. There are guys who have been here two years with more knowledge than me on these matters.

Like I said before, ask TTompatz. He's knowledgable about e-2 problems. I'm not.

[ontheway]

[ThingsComeAround]

some things make me wonder as well...

did they pay for your airfare upfront, or is it going to be "reimbursed"?

how large is the school? being the only FT may make a difference

how many times have you met the director (or manager- whoever controls your pay) about this issue? getting paid late is not good getting paid in cash should be a red flag (no pension, medical)

i would say, go with your gut about this situation. it seems like you like your employer do you? can you put up with this happening every month? because it will

[ontheway]

Getting paid in cash is not a red flag. It is normal in Korea. There are no checking accounts available here. Many teachers, especially in the first few months, have no bank account and have to get paid in cash since a wire transfer would not be possible. Some teachers prefer to get paid in cash. At my current school, every teacher has been paid in cash for many years. They all have the option to get a wire transfer instead, but all have preferred to be paid in cash. We all have pension, medical, vacations, large, fully furnished 2 bdr condos (single housing) and lots of great fringes.


If you want to know if your school is in financial trouble, you have to look for the signs:

Other people hanging around when they should be out working, such as the school van drivers. They are looking to get paid too.

Unusual business type visitors - probably collecting late payments.

Collection phone calls. May be hard for you to know if you don't speak any Korean.

Various difficulties with school copiers, computers, computer access, phones, other equipment that don't get fixed or utilities not working. Cash shortage unable to make payments or repairs.

Shortages of basic school supplies: paper, chalk, markers ... stuff you need every day but you're always out and they buy in small quantities if at all.

Of course, if you know other teachers are not getting paid, or quitting due to a lack of pay, or if you have small numbers of students per teacher, these are more obvious signs.

[John_ESL_White]