Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tua111111]

I found out today that everyone who is currently working at my hagwon gets paid a different day. Their pay is one month after their first day of work... The contract, for me at least, says I will get paid on the 10th of the following month (which I knew wasn't great, but whatever, that was good enough for me).

So, to clarify- I started May 24th. I was expecting to get paid June 24th and then on July 10th for the month of June. But I find out I have to wait until July 24th to receive my June pay. I was skeptical as to why I was waiting for the 24th of June for my first week's pay but it wasn't a big deal. Now it is a big deal because I learned it's going to be like that every month.

I am going to speak with the director Monday morning because this is completely unreasonable... What are my options? How hard is it to find a new job if the school doesn't budge and I quit? What would you do?

[SeoulNate]

I would refer to the contract and tell them that they should do one of two things:

1. Stick with the contract and pay you on the 10th of every month for the previous month

2. Pay you on 24th for the month you just finished working. As in, that day ends your pay period and on the 25th you would start a new one.

Both are reasonable and expected. I wouldn't believe they delay pay almost two months for each teacher working at the school, there must be something else doing on

[AsiaESLbound]

Shouldn't you been paid on June 10th for 1 week pay and then on July 10 for June pay? What is this getting paid on July 24th for June stuff 24 days late stuff? Sounds like rubbish. I would have a direct talk with the director on this one. You will be challenging their screwed up business practice, but it's necessary to make or break the relationship and very possibly get paid on July 10th for 5 weeks pay. Only way your valid discussion will break it is if they are dead set on screwing you over. Don't worry about coming off as crass over talking about money.

[ontheway]

This sounds like a system that levels the paperwork out over the month (innocent, but annoying for you), and more importantly perhaps, spreads out the payments for cash flow purposes. This could mean that things are tight financially at your hogwan and would explain the deviation and delay in everyone's pay date. If you watch and listen, you may find Korean teachers, van drivers and others being paid late, or a shortage of supplies and repairs going undone. These things will confirm the financial trouble and are warning signs for impending failure, unless someone can turnaround the situation for the school. Good luck.

[tua111111]

[Linda868]

I don't really see it as a big deal (unless what you are saying is that you are not getting paid for your May 24-June 23rd work until July). My contract had said that I would be paid on the 10th of each month but because I started on the 20th, my payday is the 20th of each month. I started on April 20th and got paid the following month on the 20th. It works out fine. But as I said before if they aren't paying you for the time you've worked so far until July that would be a huge problem.
Good luck and hopefully everything works out for you!

[tua111111]

[hagwonnewbie]

My first job was like this. I was told I'd be paid on the 10th. I was once in 12 months of employment. This is not so uncommon.

Koreans are almost all paid on the 24th of the month. That is to say that the Koreans you work with are probably all getting paid an entire month earlier than you. Of course he would like to just pay everyone on the 24th. It's easier that way.

In your case you are being paid later than any other person you work with. Are you OK with that?

My advice is to sit down and think about how you can argue your point without pissing them off. You should make up some story about how you have to send all your money home on the 12th of each month or you pay a huge penalty.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

Paying you on the 24th for the previous month is ridiculous. Often, I've heard of and seen and experienced situations where you get paid for a whole month exactly one month after you start working. I'll be that's the case with this employer (not sure, though). If it isn't, ask for it and see what they say.

I had one contract in Korea (hagwon) where they started off paying exactly one month after I started even though the contract stipulated that payday was on the 5th for the time worked the previous month. There were three teachers and we all had different start dates and were paid this way. Anyway, I just told my boss that he could stick with what was in the contract and pay me on the 5th.

Another contract paid me on the 30th of the month for that month's work. That was pretty sweet for a hagwon.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

[Ramen]

Not acceptable. You need to get your foot down until your boss pays you like it says in your contract or to your satisfaction.

[ontheway]