Korean Job Discussion Forums

wjf1 · Joined: 14 Apr 2010

Up until recently I've been given at least one break a day, but on Monday my school made me teach from 5:30 until 10 (they forced me teach an extra hour). That wouldn't have been too bad if I started at 5:30, but I'd already taught from 3:45 until 4:30.

Today they made me work from 4:00 until 10:00 without any breaks at all (my headteacher said it was just how the schedule turned out). I don't mind working long hours, but without a break is brutal.

Another English teacher at my school said it is illegal to work over 4 hours without a 30 minute break. Is that true and is there anything I can do about it? So far I'm the only teacher who's been given these crazy schedules and I'm worried that they might do it again.

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

SeoulNate · Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Location: Hyehwa

What your friend was talking about is that it is illegal to work for a 4 hour period of time with a break sometime. As in your work can not make you work for 4 straight hours without making a break available to you.

Since I would guess that you either have a break before or after that, the school is totally in the legal bounds of the law.

Now if they have you working From the time you walk in untill the time you go home, that is illegal without a break.

liveinkorea316 · Joined: 20 Aug 2010 Location: South Korea

Don't you get a 10min break between classes? If not then you definately have a bad situation.

In my school we often have to teach 4 hour stretches but with 10min breaks between classes.

alistaircandlin · Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul

Yeah, I had to do that when I first worked here: six hours straight with no breaks. 55 minute lessons with 5 minutes in between each to move classrooms.

That's just insane though: I would refuse to do it now. That was at a Hagwon in 2004; we were all new teachers there with no experience.

Other problems included: only 5 days vacation a year; squalid, unsanitary living conditions, a boss who was a vindictive, neurotic bullying sociopath, having to clean the school on New year's Eve, no real professional development or proper support with behaviour management.

Today I look back on that and think: why the hell did we put up with it? But, we didn't know any different and must've thought that this was just how it was done here. It's not: if I was at a place like that now I'd just walk.

Sorry about the rant. Back to the OP: I'd try being polite but firm with your line-manager - just explain that it's not acceptable to work without a break and ask if they can reschedule classes. stand your ground and if it comes down to it, refuse to do it. I guess you've got to decide whether it's worth doing that though, or whether you will just put up with it. It would be illegal in some countries, not sure about here.

Bloopity Bloop · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Seoul yo

valkerie · Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Location: Busan

It is against the labour laws to work for more than 4 hours without a full 30 mins break to do what you want with.

I think it's one thing if they make you do say 5 and then you get the break, but nothing for 6 hours, bad news.

In my current job they had me working on a Saturday from 1pm - 10pm with 30 minutes. i knew it was wrong, told em so, pointed out the law, they changed it.

SeoulNate · Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Location: Hyehwa

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

It depends on the workload and quality of lessons. By workload, I mean more of what the school expects. By quality, what do you get out of it. If you are only there to earn money, try to get overtime pay.

If you are genuinely interested in making better lessons and these additional classes will help you in this direction, then it's foolish not to do this.

If you took a break, what would you do? It's only 30 minutes to an hour of actual "breakage" Laughing

I buffer the beginning and ends of my classes with break time "stuff". I am not right at the board teaching if I feel I have worked a lot already. This allows me to pace myself for all classes instead of doing the first 4 classes with full energy (leaving myself exhausted in the 5th round).

Start with a game or something. If they are higher level, add something fun.

If the school complains, simply tell them "Either you give me a break when I need it, or I will make my own 1-5 minute mini breaks along the way to do the job".

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

bendnathan · Joined: 22 Sep 2010

Thanks for asking about this! I'm a new teacher at a hogwon and have three days of six hours straight each week (the other two days are lighter, and I do have a 5 or 10 minute break between classes). In addition, I'm supposed to spend one hour at the school before class, and I spend an additional one-two more doing prep at hours. I'm pretty exhausted by the schedule and am beginning to wonder if I am in a bad situation? Can someone give me an opinion? Aside from the schedule, the staff are pleasant and helpful...However, so far, the heaters are not on and the teachers and students are freezing.