Korean Job Discussion Forums

Peggy · Joined: 01 Sep 2009

Anyone know how school admin feel about pregnant unwed english teachers? Just found out I was expecting and the father lives over seas.

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject:

Ministry of Labour says:
can't fire people because of pregnancy. Sexual discrimination.

There is no pregnancy leave in Korea, yet.

teachergirltoo · Joined: 28 Oct 2006

Public schools have pregnancy leave.

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject:

I think Op is worried more about the Korean social perception of of UNWED mothers, especially non-Korean and how that'll impact on her job. I will do the smart thing and speak no further on this subject.

Carla · Joined: 21 Nov 2008

Also, the Ministry of Labor says that you cannot give pregnant women overtime and MUST transfer them to light/easy duty if they request.

Not that the light/easy duty applies to teaching.

Honestly, it probably depends on how much time you have in your contract. More than 6 months, they will probably get rid of you, less than 6 months, they'll probably just not renew your contract.

I'll PM you with more.

Peggy · Joined: 01 Sep 2009

Thanks for all the replies! I will be starting at a new school in November and won't be showing for awhile. I just hope they don't fire me and leave me stranded!

pie eater · Joined: 07 Jul 2009 Location: The Bando

Peggy,

You would be an ABSOLUTE FOOL if you turned up showing at around 4-6 months without telling them.

The contract says what it wants - but don't we all know by now that our Korean employers have a lassiez faire attitude towards our contracts.

Turn up pregnant to teach in Korea (especially if you haven't told them yet) at your own peril - I am serious!

NightSky · Joined: 19 Apr 2005

this post is confusing...what are you doing for a month if you're not starting till November? finishing an old job? unless you are planning to have the baby here, why would you not leave now?

your new employers will NOT be happy and will NOT give you pregnancy leave. they would much rather and are much more likely to fire you on the spot, either as soon as you tell them you're unwed and pregnant or as soon as they notice/suspect it. they are not going to subsidize your bedroom activities.

koreans are very judgmental and about 100 years behind the times. I have a friend who experienced this during pregnancy, they asked her to wear certain clothes to hide it as long as possible, even though she was married. Rolling Eyes

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Yeah, I know we're supposed to be politically correct and say "wow, that's great, congratulations!" but come on. Of course Koreans will be upset. And with good reason. It's not like being pregnant and single is a good thing.

Furthermore, after you become too pregnant to teach, what will you do. Stay here? I don't think so, with no job, no insurance, and no visa. Go home? Why not just stay there from the beginning?

Why would you pull a fast one on your school? You know you can't complete your contract. And you can just anticipate the response here if she gets fired for being pregnant. "Sexual discrimination!" "Cretins!" If you don't plan to work for a year, don't sign a year contract, don't lie about it, and certainly don't any of you turn around and pretend it's gender discrimination.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject:

UrbanMyth:
Because I respect you, I'll ignore that slight.

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

My contract stipulates maternity leave. I don't know specifically, but it's there.

OP, I can't speak out of experience but hope you find someone who can, and that you have the support you deserve.

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

UM - thanks for the announcement. We need much more of that - this site has so much disinformation, it is like it is infected with a virus or something...

Cheers,

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

pie eater · Joined: 07 Jul 2009 Location: The Bando

I'll say it again - tell your school the news and see what they say - if they tell you not to bother coming then you have saved yourself a lot - and I mean this - a lot of hassle.

Like the principal is going to pay half of the medical fees of any unannounced preganancy on a foreign teacher on a year contract - yeah right! Laughing

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

Don't tell them that you are single. Tell them the truth, that the father lives abroad right now. You don't need to tell them that you are not legally married.

However, since you will be giving birth during the contract, I doubt that they will be too happy if you don't tell them. Since foreign teachers are temporary employees and not treated like tenure track workers, most schools won't want to hire someone if they know that they won't work for the full year.

If you start in November you will only be able to complete about 4-5 months of a contract. Who in Korea is going to take care of your infant? I really suggest going back to your native country to have your baby.

Good luck with the situation though. I might be a man, but I do have a sister that was a single mom. It was hard for her, but she had help from the government and family. While in Korea, I doubt that you will have either.

My advice is to finish the contract you are on and go back home for a while and then if you want to teach in Korea again come back when the baby is strong and healthy.