Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chaz47]

I'm in 3rd year with the same hagwon (adults). I'm the only native speaker there. When I renewed this year (about 9 months ago) there had been some financial trouble and they could only offer me part-time work.

The school I work for is actually managed out of another branch about 30 minutes away by subway. Now the branch that I work for is kind of fed up with the management at the other place and is seeking to go it alone.

Both of the places want to keep me. I've never been in this kind of situation before. What would you ask for?

Considerations:
1.) 3 years with the company, 10 years of experience
2.) tightened market and economy
3.) currently contracted at 2.7 for 30 hours (housing allowance included in that amount)... unfortunately divided in half for the past 7 months (part-time).
4.) 10 days of paid holiday, plus one month unpaid in the summer to visit family
5.) I'm kinda sick of Korea but the economy back home has only gotten worse it seems.

I suggested to the first school, a similar schedule to my present part-time one (6-9 pm at 1.5 or so) but if they want me to come in at 6am, 7am, etc. to work I want 30 per hour.

A big part of their financial problems were paying me to teach empty classes at 6:50 and 7:50am so that one senior sales associate could make a profit if/when any students enrolled for those blocks. Very few ever did, but those that did were always company contracts from the nearby industrial area (in other words, big companies that paid for several salarymen to study but they usually skipped class). It was always a big commission for the greasy senior sales puke but it depleted the academy's coffers and made me miserable and sleep-deprived (harsh split-shifts to sit alone in a classroom).

Paying me 30 an hour on an as needed basis should keep me rested and them a bit more solvent.

(Luckily they got wise when they ran into financial trouble and got rid of that sales associate.)

I have yet to speak with the 'new' management that will be taking over soon. So, yeah... what would you ask for?

[Chaparrastique]

Be aware a lot of these sort of tugs of war are about a clash of egos with you as a pawn.

[northway]

Where are you front that the economy seems to have gotten worse?

[Evanzinho]

[northway]

[chaz47]

While I see your points about the economy at large back in the US, I really have no intention to re-enter a career in the US. Long-term, I have doubts about many things in the US. I was planning to take an off year in a little job with a little apartment to be around family (especially grandparents) and friends for a bit. Unfortunately, I'm from rural Wisconsin which has seen little if any economic improvement and now has become a 'right to work state' thanks to Scott Walker.

I'll probably take an extended vacation and then change countries before the winter if the cookie doesn't crumble in my favor at my current job here in the ROK.

Now, back to my original question if you'll indulge me?

What should/would be a *fair* annual raise here in Korea. This will be my 4th contract with this company and I've never received a raise. I asked for a better apartment, but they have never given any additional financial compensation in the form of housing allowance, etc. with the new room.

In fact, the room that I now occupy is near a university (and also the hagwon where I usually teach split-shifts) which raises the price of real-estate a lot. I had to pay half of the key money ($5000) and have an additional $100 taken out of my monthly pay for the rent here. The reality is that no other rooms with decently thick walls (split-shifts mean sleeping early... near a uni this is hard to achieve).

What I've proposed is a fair increase in my hourly rate for a 20 hour work week. And a 30,000 won overtime rate for any classes outside the 20 hour evening block. It's kind of part-time with the option for the academy to ask me to teach early morning splits. The classes in the morning usually have poor attendance and/or no enrollment. But I was still getting paid to sit in an empty classroom. I would have preferred to sleep and the school would have preferred to save the money. This will allow both parties flexibility.

But... again, what is a *fair* annual increase in an hourly rate?

I've also asked that they pay my full key money and rent. The key money alone should be paid for from the lack of return air tickets they would have had to pay annually had I not stayed with them this long.

[Troglodyte]

The standard rate for a part-time teacher starts at 40k per hour. You'll get that at any decent agency. (Although there is no shortage of agencies that will find you a job making less if you're willing to accept it.)

What is your situation with severance? When you switched to part-time, did the company give you a payout? If not, you're going to lose a lot of money from switching to PT since severance is calculated on your income over the final 3 months, not based on how much you used to made during your first 2 years at the company. Any recommendation that I could think of would be heavily influenced by your particular situation.

[postfundie]

whoever pays more and gives more vacation days..end of story. or ask them who really and truly deep down loves you..or go with your heart