Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Freeghen]

So my buddy is in a less than pleasant hagwon situation...that is putting it kindly....it is a long story. Too long to bore anyone with.

She is talking about midnight running after the next payday.
I don't know much about these types of situations.

So, Is a midnight run a good idea or a bad idea? The boss at that place is less than reasonable and most likely won't write them over to someone else. My buddy is about half way through her year, I think. I would like her to stay here with me, but I know she is really unhappy where she is working and the boss treats her like crap.

Has anyone ever done this or know someone who did? What happened?

[dunc180]

I actually witnessed a midnight run. Well, it almost a midday run actually. Around 11 in the morning.

The guy was pulling his two suitcases and carry a backpack, sweating profusely.

"Where're you off to?" I said.
"I'm leaving," he replied.
"What do you mean 'leaving'?
"I'm leaving Korea. See ya," he said, stalking off.

I didn't see any of his classes but from what I heard they weren't very good and the Head Teacher was on his back (in a nice way). That day was pretty hectic but we got through it OK and HQ actually sent out a replacement for a couple of weeks. Probably a good thing he left because I don't think the Director would've sacked him.

[lifeinkorea]

If you want us to judge the merits of this runner, we need more details. If you just want a simple answer, no it's not 100% bad. Depends on the situation. Personally, I would rather work out a deal with the hagwon, even if it meant losing money in the end for the choice to go to another school.

[Freeghen]

Here as the details as I know them:

1. Her hagwon boss pressured her into working overtime and then never paid her for that overtime. When she asked him about it he said it was 'Korean culture'

2. The boss is constantly changing hours around with little or no notice

3. He calls her on weekends to do level checks for potential students and then gets angry when she refuses to do it (she is not paid for coming in for these level checks during her offtime)

4. He talks about her (personal insults) to the nighttime Korean teacher

5. If parents are having a problem with the school or classes, he blames it on her - knowing she cannot defend herself

6. He tries to make her clean the school (take out the garbages, clean the floor etc - she was hired as a teacher not as a cleaning ajuma)

7. He doesn't give her lunch breaks and makes her work 7 hours straight each day

8. He fired the Korean daytime teacher and pushed the Korean teacher and her classes together - even though the students are on different books and are completely different levels of English

9. If students miss classes (miss the bus, are sick), she does not get paid for those classes even though they are scheduled (as stated in the contract) and she is expected to make up for them outside of working hours.

10. Boss is rude and demands her to do things - for her first week at the school he didn't even speak to her


I'm sure there is more, this is what i can remember

[nomad-ish]

[Freeghen]

[lifeinkorea]

[VFRinterceptor]

Most paydays fall a week or two after the pay period to prevent runners. In other words, if you get paid every 10th, that means that if you decide to pull a runner on the 10th, you'll lose 10 days worth of pay.

My suggestion is, ask for an advance on the last day of your pay period. Tell them that it is for a family emergency or whatever you want, just get the money you earned, in advance, and not a penny more. Make sure you factor insurance, national pension and the whole lot.

You might also lose your security deposit, so if you have a few weeks before you 'run', you might want to tell your school you'd like to exercise your housing allowance clause in your contract, if they are keen on it. Tell them you found a place and all that. You'll have to stay at a friends place for a few days or so, maybe.

When your friend leaves, just make sure he/she gives her Alien Registration Card to the Immi officer at customs when you are leaving Korea. Just tell them that you are done and don't need it. Make sure they take it.

[nomad-ish]

[youtuber]

If you do a midnight run, don't bother coming back to Korea. It would seem that you didn't put in the time and research to find yourself a good job in the first place - you probably used a recruiter right?

So either commit yourself to doing it right the next time around (research properly) or leave and don't bother coming back because it will probably happen to you again.

[Freeghen]

[vaticanhotline]

[nomad-ish]

[oskinny1]

If she has a Korean man here, then I think it would be best for her to just give 30 days notice and then find a new job. No reason to run unless she fears harm from the boss. She is already getting treated like dung, so it isn't like telling him she is quitting will change that.

[nomad-ish]