Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kirsi]

I'm in contact with a private school and they said they would negotiate the contract with me. However, this is what they said about sick days (no mention of them at all on the contract):

[afsjesse]

Insurance is just over 2 percent of your income while the pension, which he doesn't mention, is 4.5 percent of your income. So if it includes the pension, then yes it's about right.

[nahanni]

They're trying to get you to accept employment as an 'independent contractor' not as an 'employee' of the school.

As an independent you do not get pension or NHIC and your income tax rate will be higher at around 3-3.3% vs under 2% for an employee. Health insurance will be some sort of private thing....which tends to be the school paying any bills out of their pocket....good luck if you have a serious bill to pay.

Have been told that it isn't technically possible to be an independent under an E2 visa....but plenty schools do it anyway.

Recommend you demand NPP, NHIC....but good chance they won't bite....move on until you find a school that will

[nahanni]

go here to check your monthly withholding tax....

http://www.nts.go.kr/eng/help/help_52.asp?top_code=H001&sub_code=HS05&ssub_code=HSE2

[warren pease]

I had no "sick" days at my previous hagwon. Just don't get sick, or do what Koreans do; get sick and then come to school and make everyone else sick

I also have a $600 security deposit on my place this year. If I were you, I'd walk in the first day with the supervisory and photograph and point out every flaw the place has, so you will be less likely to be screwed. I didn't do this, and now 6 months in I keep finding little things that I'm afraid i'll be held responsible for.

[sugarkane59]

It's standard practice in my home country to pay a security deposit, or bond, which is usually reimbursed to you after you leave the apartment.

However, when you arrive, you must go around the house with someone in charge and look/list any issues down. Also, I'd suggest taking some dated photos of the apartment and emailing them to said official on top of this.

A bond is commonplace when renting and the landlord has the right to safeguard his property.

[Skippy]

Ahh sick days. I am guessing the school does not want to give sick days because they were likely abused in the past. Somebody had the Monday Blues and wanted a little longer weeked. Or somebody overdid a Wednesday night bash and needs some recovery.

It sounds like the school is trying to be fair saying if you are sick they will give you the time off. STILL you have to remember there is different attitude to sickness here in Korea and work. You will see kids in school when they are tired, snotty and coughing up a storm. The mothers and fathers feel that ass long as the kid can listen he can learn. The only time you find a kid can get to stay home is he is in a COMA. Almost the same with work. If you can move you can get to work. Hell I have heard of people being in a serious accident and the school wanting them to teach the next day or hell that afternoon.

I like to think I have a good attitude towards sickness. I feel if I have the sniffles I can still do the work but if I am really sick then I want the time off. But there as been times I have come in to school like the second part and they still wanted me to teach. Thru I have had other schools that have seen my condition and said GO home.

My advice is ask the teachers at the school about their experience. Have the been expected to teach when horribly ill, what about just the general sniffles. Accidents.

Good Luck

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Otherside]

[kirsi]

The girl that currently works at the school emailed me and said that her boss was "insane" about people taking sick days. I understand that people don't (and shouldn't) get days off for the sniffles but.. there is such a condition as actually being ill!

I am going to email my recruiter back and ask for them, or pass.

[Young FRANKenstein]

[Otherside]

[kirsi]