Korean Job Discussion Forums

[steve416]

Hey,

So this past thursday I had some dental surgery (gum grafting done) because I was in some discomfort and the surgery (if the grafts "take") will "fix" the problem.

Im in my second year at my hagwon I finish in February. Before I booked the procedure almost a month ago I spoke to my supervisor. I asked her if it was okay that I take some of my sick days (it was like a day an 1/3rd that I missed) and we worked together to pick a good day for the operation. I missed 7, 40 min classes as the morning of the friday I missed was a halloween play day so no one had to cover for me.

My friend brought me my pay stub on friday and I've been docked pay for all the absent time (including the halloween play day time). I feel this is unfair as I'd been told it would be okay to use my sick days and tried to be upfront and considerate about everything. How would you deal with this situation?

If it matters Im out about 200'000krw and my contract gives me almost double the time off that I took for sick days. I was pretty uncomfortable friday (swollen, still bleeding from stitches unable to eat, brush my teeth etc) so I feel the time off was legit. In the past when people have taken sick days (ie calling in the morning cause you have the flu) there able to use sick days with out penalty.

Thanks for you help

[vDroop]

[lifeinkorea]

Does getting dental work really allow teachers to use sick days?

Sick days I thought were for people who got sick and didn't plan in advance to be sick. It's like those loans you apply for at college as if you need them, but the college tells you to pay all the tuition upfront and receive your financial aid later. If you really needed it, then you wouldn't have the money to begin with.

The "halloween play day time" is just icing on the cake here folks. Now it is sounding more like this person skipped college altogether and never left their parents' home. The silver spoon has been implanted where the teeth should be.

Sorry, but I can't give my sympathies on this one. When you are really sick, go see a doctor. Get a note, show it to the school. If the school has any common sense they will let you stay home just from a telephone call.

Those are the real legitimate reasons to use your sick days. Getting drunk the night before, entertaining your family when they come to visit, or expecting American holidays off because your high school buddies have it off in the states are not reasons to take sick days.

You are an adult now. Work or get docked.

What you could do is offer to do overtime to get that money back. This way you can still give them the time owed to them without losing money they agreed to pay you before you inconvenienced them.

[Carla]

[steve416]

lifeinkorea,

You and I obviously see this differently I was gonna take time off because without being overly dramatic I had to have minor surgery so I was aware I would miss some time (this wasn't a cosmetic thing it was something that needed to be done at some point). Your metaphor about financial aid doesn't really work when you think about the host of medical problems people can have that don't require immediate attention. Not everyone (I don't mean me here) wakes up with the flu and can't come to work some illnesses require more prolonged treatment but do require treatment.

The halloween playday bit was my supervisors idea because then no one had to come in early to replace me.

I'm on good terms with my boss and thought I was being a more standup guy b approaching them about it (as opposed to calling in sick on the day). I haven't taken any other sick days so I asked ahead of time if I could use them (my sick days) they agreed that was okay.

This was not reflected on my paycheck which might be a clerical error or what I was told and what has happened are different. I was looking for advice on what to do if its the latter.

[lifeinkorea]

[steve416]

alright I understand you dont think I have a right to use sick days for this, which makes some sense but I dont think your really understanding the question I was asking or maybe Im not articulating myself.

"Now you want the school to compensate you for a "host of medical problems" you have?"

This was not at all the point I implicitly stated it was a hypothetical

"Your metaphor about financial aid doesn't really work when you think about the host of medical problems people can have that don't require immediate attention. Not everyone (I don't mean me here) wakes up with the flu and can't come to work some illnesses require more prolonged treatment but do require treatment."

The diabetic example seems extreme I was thinking more someone was really sick and had to go for a follow up appointment for some tests or something you really think using a sick day/class is inappropriate for that? (again obviously not talking about me here.)

I was unhappy because I was told it was okay to use sick days then it was not reflected in my pay or I was told one thing and then another happened. If I had been told I could have the time off/ or I couldnt have it off/ or they wouldn't let me use my sick days I wouldnt have been happy but it would have made sense. Whether or not you think its okay for me to take sick days for this isn't really helping me with what I was asking which was (again) how can I best approach this to get what I want:

which is lost sick days as opposed to lost wages (my contract is close to completion)

Naturally if you think thats just a crazy thing for me to want its hard for you to offer anything constructive.

Also your sick days being consecutive or not seems stupid to me if someone is sick for several days then take them consecutively if not dont.

Also:

"There is no "the day". Don't try to BS us.

You clearly stated, "I feel this is unfair as I'd been told it would be okay to use my sick days "

PLURAL, days not the day"

I dont understand any of this?

[Pikkle]

I have to go with steve on this one here, since he specifically asked if he could use his sick days towards this. He had something medically to do and asked if it would be ok to use his sick days towards this. I think that was a good thing to do. And if the hagwon didn't want to pay him, all they had to say was no. But they didn't. They told him that it was ok when clearly it wasn't since he was docked pay. Talk to your boss about it - I hope you can get it sorted out.

[DosEquisXX]

He agreed to it, then went against his word. That sucks.

To be honest, I'm surprised that he said it was okay in the first place.

I'm sure it will get fixed though.

[liveinkorea316]

I think this is a tricky one.

The owner might have misunderstood what it mean't to be using the sick days. Maybe he thought he was giving you the days but you were voluntarily forfeiting your pay.

In the West it would not go down like that but this is Korea.

Ask your boss - he might have made an honest mistake. If you show him the contract you might get the money.

[lifeinkorea]

[steve416]

okay, liveinkorea obviously your not grasping exactly what happened or Im misunderstanding your or something:

I approach supervisor about wanting to use sickdays. We agree upon a time etc, I book surgery at the agreed upon tome, Im only absent for classes specifically agreed upon, I dont continue to use sickdays after the fact or anything like that, My boss new ahead of time exactly when I would be absent and agreed it would be ok.

angry becuase I was told one thing and another happened

there is also a real chance this is a misunderstanding

I havent been trying to skirt the issues or BS you at all think I've explained the situation several times pretty clearly.

Thanks to everyone else that added something

[calicoe]

Of course you should use that as a sick day. A sick day is when you are too sick to come in and work. You should not be penalized for being healthy the rest of the year and planning ahead for your surgery.

Would they require someone who had to have surgery for cancer to come in the day after, even though they knew in advance? NO, and the answers on this thread that suggest such are moronic.

Plain and simple: you needed a sick day for your surgery, you told them about it, and they still docked you, even though you still have plenty of sick day time.

Go get your money, and even better, ask someone at Seoul Global rather than listening to moronic rants on this board.

[lifeinkorea]

[inkoreaforgood]