Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Merik Ronim]

I read the FAQ for breaking a contract, but I'm still not sure about whether I should tell my school I'm leaving.

I've been here for six months and plan to leave in two. My school is honest and the director is a kind person. I like my fellow teachers, and don't wish to make them pick up my classes on short notice.

The job is ok, but my neighborhood and apartment are terrible. I don't much like my city either. On top of all this I recently learned that my Dad is having some health problems. So, it's time to go.

What's the worst that the school can do to me if I give notice? I want to do the right thing, but I'm worried they'll shaft me for my last two paychecks.

Any thoughts, experiences?

cheers.

[TheresaTheresa]

Don't give notice.

[Troglodyte]

They'll likely shaft you on your last salary. They know that if they try to mess with you on your second last payday, you won't likely stick around for the last month.

It's likely that you'll also get treated badly for your remaining time.

But who knows. Sometimes they are sympathetic and understanding. From most of what I've heard (in person and online) it's more likely that they won't be very understanding.

[hotelcalifornia]

Are you a gambling man?

The honorable thing here is to save face.... read that as a strong possibility that giving notice may be interpreted as a slap in the face.

It's very hard to know what the right answer is, almost impossible.

I'd say learn from others mistakes and not your own.... get your check and jet.

In a utopian society, everyone behaves like a gentleman and we all behave honorably..... but you're not in Mr Roger's Neighborhood. You're in Korea.

Understand what has happened to others in the past, understand your environment, act as selfishly or as honorably as they would (and have in the past). Simple game theory. In Korea, it's a race to the bottom, and they're already there.

Clean apt, pay the bills, jet. my 2c, but hey I'm a psychotic runner.

[OculisOrbis]

[hotelcalifornia]

The things making him want to go specifically do not include wrongdoing and malfeasance by his employer. Cited reasons: Neighborhood, city, apt, dad's health.

Do you mean report them if they have not paid him? Of course, but that doesn't help him in the here and now, just (maybe) someone else down the road.

Jet. They will behave selfishly. It's a job, not a marriage. It's business. Nothing personal. Jet. jet jet.
report. report. report. always..... but don't hope for good behavior from someone who can save money by not paying you. You are a profit center for them. Jet.

[Merik Ronim]

There's no real reason to report my Hawgon. Like you said, they haven't broken any promises or withheld any payments.

The only reason I'm even considering giving notice is so my fellow foreign teachers don't have to cover my classes for a full month while the school finds a new sap.

[hotelcalifornia]

[OculisOrbis]

No, your school likely is fully aware of why you ran and doesnt care. Make them care by reporting them to any government agency that they lied to or cheated you out of benefits for....tax, pension, health are the standards. Wages and workings conditions are the labor board. They will tell your employer, along with applying a sizable penalty, that your employer is wrong and that might possibly change your employer's practices.

[Troglodyte]

Another thing that I forgot to mention before, and no one else has since mentioned, is that sometimes if you give notice, they will fire you on the spot or well before the time that you told them you'd leave.

e.g.
You: "Mr. Kim, I'm giving you notice that in 1 month from now, I'm leaving." Kim: "Blah blah blah. You can't do that! Blah blah blah. You bad teacher. Blah blah blah. Not acceptable....."
Four days later...
Kim: "This is your last day. You must leave your apartment tomorrow."
You: "You can't do that. I have a contract. I have no where to go."
Kim: "I have too many complaints about you. I lose a lot of students because of you. blah blah blah."
You move out. New teacher starts work there 2 days afterwards.

So, unless you have all your documents ready and COULD move out the same day, don't tell them anything. Sure it's illegal and you could probably win if you took them to court, but where are you going to stay until then? What will you THAT night if you go home and your stuff is out on the curb (in the rain maybe) and the locks have been changed? Unless you're prepared for that situation, don't tell them.

[CentralCali]

[TheresaTheresa]

[Merik Ronim]

[lawyertood]

[CentralCali]