Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zulethe]

Ok, well I'm down to a month and a half left until the end of my contract. I've never taken any sick days.

To me, sick days are a benefit that if not used, one should be compensated for them (at least that's how it worked when I worked for the government in America).

Here, there is no compensation if one doesn't use one's sick days. I'm vacillating between taking some three day weekends really soon or being the dedicated teacher until the end.

thoughts?

[amcnutt]

Hmmm I would probably be tempted to take them. It depends on how strict your school is. I've heard of someone's boss showing up at their apt to see if they really were sick. They might find it weird that you suddenly are "sick" every other week from now on until the end of your contract.
If you want to teach again (at that school or another) you might want to play it safe and end on a super high note? But I can understand wanting to use them, I probably would!
They should recompensate ppl who don't use sick days, like giving them that many days' pay in return for being such a dedicated and healthy employee

[chipsbebo]

Haha, thats funny. I'm in the exact same situation aand have been thinking the same. 6 weeks left and 2 days to take. I think I'm gonna have a "tummy bug" next monday. I feel morally bad for it, but I have been pitching in really hard at our school, seeing that we have been down from 3 teachers to 1 for the past 6 months. Also, I haven't taken a sick day since December 2005, so I think I'm due one..

Does this make me a bad person?

[Senior]

[jvalmer]

Wow, bunch of lazy guys here. You guys do realize sick days are a privilege, not a right? If you aren't really sick don't use them.

[nomad-ish]

[Senior]

[jvalmer]

[thegadfly]

I am in Korea, I work in a hakwon, and my unused sick days are to be compensated at my average daily rate. This is something I have been aware of pretty much since I started, since before I sign a contract, I ask questions. In this kind of situation, I only use my sick days when I must...and so far, haven't used any at my current gig (they also accrue from year to year, so I have "saved up" a bunch).

When I worked in a public school in the US, unused sick days were NOT compensated, and I was told to use them or lose them. There was a very solid substitute teacher system in place, and so the "harm" of calling in sick was minimized. I was also told to use them well ahead of time, as using up a bunch of sick days in the last couple of months of the year would "look bad" and would effect my renewal chances....

It isn't a Korea/not Korea thing, it is a differences in the workplace thing, and it would be a good idea to do some research and ask some questions, no matter where you are, before making assumptions and screwing yourself or others over.

[Zulethe]

[nukeday]

[jiberish]

I faught to get sick days in my contract. Never used any = /

[Senior]

[ippy]

dont use them unless youre sick. Honestly i come from the same place as you, i reckon you should be using 1 good sick day per term just to keep your sanity. Saving them though to the end, seems a bit more cynical and something i cant get behind. If you didnt use them then and you dont feel a psychological need to use them now (other than theyre there and burning a hole in your attendance sheet), then id advise you to eat it up and turn up to school. Kids are fun anyway, and unless you have a major trip planned, what you gonna do except sitting around in your undies browsing the net.
I know it sounds lame but you shouldnt really use sick days to get the most advantage for yourself, sure take one off, maybe two if youre feeling really sick of the place, but more than that and honestly, youre a bit of a 'hole.

[TheUrbanMyth]

Not only that but the more the NETS take sick days...the less we are likely to have.

EPIK used to offer 15 sick days. Largely due to people taking lots of sick days they pared that down to 11. I could see it dropping all the way to three if people start abusing it. Or zero as it is not a labor law issue anymore.