Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hugekebab]

I'm being optomistic.

I have just realised that all of the teachers at my uni are quitting at the end of this semester. My manager doesn't yet realise this. To date, my uni has only been able to obtain 1 or at a stretch 2 teachers per term because everyone agrees to the job then takes a better offer (my manager has a really bad rep around my city.)

Basically this means my manager is fucked next semester. They need, at the very least, 4 teachers to manage the daytime semester classes. There's also an afterschool program. No teachers want to do this because we are all working at our peak contractual hours (which are double the most hours the Korean staff teach). Also, we are never asked or even informed we are doing them, we usually happen to see our names on a poster advertisment stating when our classes are. This has, amongst countless other things, caused some very bad will amongst all the foreign staff. There is zero communication, it's basically a 'shit drops down' technique taken to the limits.

My manager doesn't realise that I am handing my notice halfway through my contract because of the incompetence and unbelievably bad people skills that has resulted in a department with zero morale and total, furious outbursts of rage by teachers here at least once a week. Four other teachers are leaving at the end of their contract because of this. I think, once my manager realises that everyone is leaving, that the knife is going to be stuck in me for wanting to leave (as per the contract terms and conditions) halfway through.

Recently we have had a new chair of the English department and he was asking us lots of questions about our manager at the beggining of this semester(asking if we were happy) and not a single person spoke up because it was the first meeting, but the guy just kept asking and asking throughout the hour long meeting; I got the feeling he knows that there are problems. Now at least two teachers are handing in their resignation and then going to meet this guy to list all the incompetencies. I am considering doing this too, because I need to cover myself if the department head tries to stick a knife in my ribs to force me to stay i.e. no reference/won't cancel the visa. I've already decided, if blackmail is used, then I will speak to the chair.

How rare is it for a department head to be sacked in private unis? Has anyone here experienced it? Am I wishing for a miracle. If the department head is sacked then I will stay as will most, if not all the other teaching staff.

The mode retention rate of a teacher here is one year, which says it all.

[cruisemonkey]

[harlowethrombey]

[hugekebab]

[hugekebab]

[cdninkorea]

What's the compensation package like (vacation, teaching hours, pay, housing) and location? I guess whatever it is, it's not worth putting up with such horrible mismanagement.

Best of luck with your resignation and your hunt for a new job!

[cruisemonkey]

[Milwaukiedave]

OP,

Please keep us posted on this. Especially with all the teachers leaving. It could be interesting hearing what eventually happens and whether the head of the department does get fired. I would guess that would be pretty rare here in Korea.

[hugekebab]

OK, Milwaukee Dave asked me some questions:

How many teachers are in your department and how many are leaving?

5 teachers; all will be leaving by September. 3 are not renewing, 1 has been told he won't be invited to renew and I am resigning mid contract (according to the contract termination clause.) There are no other teachers on staff. We will be mentioning this to the chair of the English department, as it will be almost impossible judging by past recruitment failures to fill the bare minimum semester requirement of 4 teachers. At least two to three teachers will be meeting with the chair to complain, not including myself (I want to see how the meeting with the manager goes first.)


What has the turnover rate been like since you've been there?

We were all talking about this last night. Nearly all teachers have only stayed for one year or less. The exceptions are those currently on staff, all of whom have decided not to renew or to quit. We are going to bring this fact up with the chair of the English department.

I am meeting with the manager this week; I am considering taping the conversation because I expect some threats.

Question: Are taped conversations admissable in employment tribunals in Korea? This isn't normally the sort of thing I would do, but the other professor here has been taping conversations to cover himself.

[hugekebab]

[hugekebab]

[Tobias]

[Milwaukiedave]

Taping conversations? Wow, it must be bad.

[hugekebab]

It is!

[Young FRANKenstein]