Korean Job Discussion Forums

[themagicbean]

I landed what I thought was an excellent gig. But I am now informed that we have to buy our own office supplies. I won't get into the other negatives, or the positives (there's a fair list of both). But just wondering: Is it standard for uni profs (E-1 visas) to have to buy stuff like PENS AND POST-ITS?

[yfb]

Are you really that miserly?

Why would you care about that?

[madoka]

[andrewchon]

You could always pillage and plunder your colleague's supply.

[lifeinkorea]

[Hobophobic]

Go to a Morning Glory (not as much dirty fun as it sounds, but very cheap)...

...well....my university dims the lights during 10 minute breaks, where upon the taekwondo students immediately give a demo, the fine arts students sketch my daily portrait, the music students play soothing music, and this goes on all the while 5 of the hottest staff in the building give me a full body massage and tell me how awesome I am...you got duped...

ADD
...seriously though...you can go to the main office or department head and if you really want the cash bring your reciepts of your supplies...most have a form you can fill out and get reimbursed...there is also a text allowance and so on..look into it...

[Mr. Pink]

[Hobophobic]

^+1

Seriously though, don't most Unis supply board markers, copy paper, computers, coffee packets and tea bags, have staplers and so forth around...at least they do where I teach....so a few pens and pencils, some tape, and odds and ends a few times a year isn't going to break the bank...

[frankly speaking]

I have my own stationary and always bring it with me to every job. I hate having to battle for things, but some schools are pretty good.

Where I draw the line is that I don't think that teachers should have to buy white board markers or other things that are used in the classroom.

But I do think that buying your own personal pens or post it notes is the teachers responsibility. I don't see the big deal with that. I too use a lot of pens, but don't consider it the school's responsibility.

If you have to make a lot of copies and teaching packets, I would insist on a stapler.

[madoka]

[tzechuk]

Yes - the first year that I got my uni job, I bought my own office supplies. Didn't cost that much, may be 50K?

Now, though, it is provided for, out of the Dean's money.

[themagicbean]

Thanks to all (on second read, really just one) of you who ignored my question or who have never worked in a professional office for your useless and insulting replies.

I was asking if this was standard policy in a culture I'm not familiar with, little things like this--if not standard--can be a good baromoter for the employer's overall timbre in dealing with employees.

I'm a bit more used to the western thought of office expenses being paid for by ... the employer! So strange. Clearly a cultural barrier here. Can't think of a Uni or an office in the west doing the same thing. But if other places do it then it may just be a small, common thing and not a bad sign.

@ Madoka: Take your BA, inexperience, and condescending attitude and go get a real job. Oh wait you can't. That's why you're here assuming everyone else here is also a loser. Great for our collective image.

[NYC_Gal]

[frankly speaking]

Magic Bean:"'m a bit more used to the western thought of office expenses being paid for by ... the employer! So strange. Clearly a cultural barrier here. Can't think of a Uni or an office in the west doing the same thing. But if other places do it then it may just be a small, common thing and not a bad sign."

You clearly have not worked for any University in the west. It was like pulling teeth to get anything requisitioned at the 2 universities I worked for in the US. They didn't even give a computer.


Many of the smaller lower ranked schools in Korea will pinch their pennies any way they can. I still wouldn't make an issue of it or worry too much.

However, if this is something that you find really important then bring it up. you could also keep your receipts and just hand them in to admin and say that you need reimbursement for class materials. It might get passed through.

[madoka]