Korean Job Discussion Forums

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Does anybody else pay a school facilities fee?

My school charged me 24,000 Won on my overtime pay for the use of the school facilities. It covers the cost of electricity and basically the rent of the room.

Why should I have to pay for electricity and rent to teach after school classes for them? That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. What employer charges you for the use of their space?

I told them no way am I paying this fee if they want me to continue teaching after school classes.

Not sure what they are going to say. They said they were being generous...that the charge was actually low.

Rusty Shackleford · Joined: 08 May 2008

Wow, that's a new one. I'm guessing you are at a public school? I would put my foot down on this one. What else will they try on?

SOOHWA101 · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject:

Wow!!

Not surprising, though.

A few months ago I helped a friend move and they charged extra money to use the elevator. Rolling Eyes

I was outraged and tried to reason with the owner, but i'm sure you can guess how that went.

wesharris · Joined: 10 Oct 2008

Just Say NO .
And if they don't understand No..

Code:

Say ANI ANI ANI.
You can't touch me there, no that's not cool.

Then punch the principle out. (assuming he's a he', if he's a she Run AWAY)

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

If you're paid 500,000 won an hour, let it slide.

If not, "go to hell!" is your best answer.

seoulsister · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Location: International Network

Are you hired directly by the school or are you working through a recruiter?

If you are hired direct by the school, they are charging you the same fee that they charge other after school classes, like violin, robot making or whatever. Just because you already work there in the day doesn't change the fact that you are making a profit from their resources after-school. All of the other classes will be paying this fee too. And it is minimal, to reflect the fact that the class operators are also not allowed to gouge the students on fees.

On the other hand, if you are working for a company, they should absolutely eat that fee instead of you. Back in my day we had to pay a monthly fee for drinking the filtered water, using the photocopier etc. I still think it's kind of ridiculous, but then I'm not operating on their budgets. And I do know that these fees are universally applied to AS courses.

Rusty Shackleford · Joined: 08 May 2008

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I'm certainly not paid 500,000 Won an hour. I'm paid the regular 20,000 Won an hour rate for overtime.

I'm not hired directly by the school either, but through a recruiter.

Nowhere in my contract does it mention having to pay fees associated with working overtime hours.

This is like a slap in the face to me. No one says thank-you for teaching extra classes. They just slap you with a fee for using their facilities. It's stupid.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

This is my recruiter's explanation of the fee:

As overtime class, about 5% of income tax is normally deducted from the payment. The tax might be used for the electricity and maintaining the building.

Public schools are independantly operated for their after school program and none of any extra things are charged from the payment.

This is due to the regulation of Korean Ministry of Education.

Is anyone else getting charged this fee? Do some schools who actually appreciate their workers waive this fee? It seems like a pretty frivolous charge if you ask me.

Imagine asking a worker in North America to pay rent for the use of their facilities. We wouldn't do it there...why should we do it here?

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

sarbonn · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Michigan

The solution is pretty simple. Don't do anymore overtime, and let them know the reason why.

The only problem is: You'll probably piss them off so they won't want to pick you up again, but it's either that or pay their fee to teach overtime classes. Most of the time, they're thinking you'll just give in, and if you do, they've pulled out a bit more of your soul to use as they desire.

ontheway · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:52 am Post subject:

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Ramen · Joined: 15 Apr 2008

The best way to approach this issue is by asking them for a raise. Ask them to give you a $10 an hour raise making it total of $30 an hour. If they say "NO", tell them you'll stop teaching overtime.

If they ask why? Tell them the sucky exchange rate story so it's not even worth it.