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Quitting my job - looking for general tips and etc
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cobradiner



Joined: 14 Oct 2010

PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:03 pm    Post subject: Quitting my job - looking for general tips and etc Reply with quote

I have six weeks left at my old job, and I'm looking to stay in Korea. I'm currently job searching, but the next six weeks my boss implied she's going to make my life hell now. I'm currently going through a lot of hate and stress all directed at me at my job, so I would like to know how to move on and secure my next job.

How my decent hagwon turned into a nightmare overnight: I've always had some disputes and problems with my boss from day one, but we've managed to comprise many times. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to do a lengthy assignment outside of my working hours because I wasn't given proper planning time to do it. I now no longer have sufficient planning time (I used to) because I have to constantly watch over my kids, so I told my boss this was not fair. In my contract, it says I'm given one hour of planning by myself, with co-teachers, to make syllabuses, but to also supervise kids.

As soon as I mentioned overtime pay, she flipped out and became emotional. Ever since then she has tried to make my life a ****hole by barging into my class telling my teaching is horrible because I can't control 3 year old kids 5 hours at a time. She has taken my little lesson plan freedom as well forcing me to teach to the TEXTBOOKS she gave me for kindergarten. I've been yelled at in class for trying to use games and also for when my kids ripped and crumbled the worksheets I gave them. I'm given minor tasks to do during my class as well, and it's impossible to constantly watch my kids while doing them. I have a co-teacher, but I'm expected to do everything now. I know now she is doing this intentionally, so I would quit this week. This will probably continue for the next 6 weeks though.

Unfortunately, I think I've lost any fighting ground because although I've been coming to work on time recently I was late many times my first months here coming in 10 minutes late. Yeah I'm not perfect, but it looks like we teachers have to be when in Korea. What should I do regarding my visa because I don't think she'll give me the release letter. Do I go about my day at work as normally as possible? Also, she has threatened to doc my pay because I've been late many times before.
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Leaving a contract early, no LOR then your ONLY choice will be to make a trip out of the country, hand in your ARC on the way out (to cancel your status of sojourn), return as a tourist and begin the E2 process all over again.

.
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cobradiner



Joined: 14 Oct 2010

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ttompatz wrote:
Leaving a contract early, no LOR then your ONLY choice will be to make a trip out of the country, hand in your ARC on the way out (to cancel your status of sojourn), return as a tourist and begin the E2 process all over again.

.


Can I be blacklisted as a teacher for doing something like this?? If I'm back home doing interviews for schools, then will they know I ran from my last school??
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cobradiner wrote:
ttompatz wrote:
Leaving a contract early, no LOR then your ONLY choice will be to make a trip out of the country, hand in your ARC on the way out (to cancel your status of sojourn), return as a tourist and begin the E2 process all over again.

.


Can I be blacklisted as a teacher for doing something like this?? If I'm back home doing interviews for schools, then will they know I ran from my last school??


Your hagwan (or the hagwan association that they belong to) may blacklist you on a private blacklist. Public employment blacklists are illegal under the labor standards act.

Immigration won't care.

.
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cobradiner



Joined: 14 Oct 2010

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ttompatz wrote:
cobradiner wrote:
ttompatz wrote:
Leaving a contract early, no LOR then your ONLY choice will be to make a trip out of the country, hand in your ARC on the way out (to cancel your status of sojourn), return as a tourist and begin the E2 process all over again.

.


Can I be blacklisted as a teacher for doing something like this?? If I'm back home doing interviews for schools, then will they know I ran from my last school??


Your hagwan (or the hagwan association that they belong to) may blacklist you on a private blacklist. Public employment blacklists are illegal under the labor standards act.

Immigration won't care.

.


So if I'm blacklisted, then finding another hagwon job will be next to impossible, right?

I REALLY appreciate the quick responses. I've put a lot of thought into how to handle this situation, but I need all the help I can get.

Ok, so there are three options I see.

1. My boss gives me my LOR, then I can easily secure my next job. I'll find out tomorrow if she will. They are not legally liable to give you one right? Is it a matter of if they do or don't hate your guts completely?

2. If I don't get a LOR, then I may still be able to apply for another E-2 Visa while in Korea right? My FBI background check is still fresh for another 10 days actually, so I I would just need to get a letter of recommendation, my transcript, and some small documents I think. Do I have to leave the country in order to restart the process?

3. The midnight run. If she doesn't give me my LOR, then she deserves it right? Along with all the other unnecessary crap she has given me makes it fair I hope.
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cobradiner wrote:
So if I'm blacklisted, then finding another hagwon job will be next to impossible, right?

I REALLY appreciate the quick responses. I've put a lot of thought into how to handle this situation, but I need all the help I can get.

Ok, so there are three options I see.

1. My boss gives me my LOR, then I can easily secure my next job. I'll find out tomorrow if she will. They are not legally liable to give you one right? Is it a matter of if they do or don't hate your guts completely?

2. If I don't get a LOR, then I may still be able to apply for another E-2 Visa while in Korea right? My FBI background check is still fresh for another 10 days actually, so I I would just need to get a letter of recommendation, my transcript, and some small documents I think. Do I have to leave the country in order to restart the process?

3. The midnight run. If she doesn't give me my LOR, then she deserves it right? Along with all the other unnecessary crap she has given me makes it fair I hope.


You may be blacklisted in the neighborhood (GU) that your school was in.
There are lots of other GU's in Korea so it is no big worry.

1) They are NOT obligated to release you and give you a LOR. You ARE legally entitled to quit and there is NOTHING they can do to prevent it.

2) If you do NOT get a LOR and your contract has not expired then you have to:
a) leave the country and hand in your ARC to cancel your visa.
b) return to Korea, find a new job and begin the E2 visa process again.
c) you need to re-submit all documents for a new E2. (I hope you have hard copies with apositlles handy).
d) AFTER you find a new job and the employer has obtained a NEW visa confirmation number for you - you will have to make a visa run to (Japan) and get a new E2. The new employer usually pays for this trip.

3) midnight run is doing #2 the day after payday (and not telling her) cause you can bet you won't see your last month's pay if you are quitting early and she knows about it.

.
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cyui



Joined: 10 Jan 2011

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds like my old boss
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Oreovictim



Joined: 23 Aug 2006

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 2:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You have six weeks left. DON'T let your boss win. Of course the psychopath is acting, well, psycho so that you'll leave. Just be a smart a$$ and say, "MA'AM! Yes, MA'AM!" like it's boot camp or something.

Seriously, just stick it out. It will be difficult, sure, but do you really want her to keep your severance and airfare money?

You can do it!
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Blackthorne



Joined: 02 Oct 2010

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

With six weeks to go, I'd tough it out. You don't have much time left, and when it's over, you can breathe easy, and hopefully get your severance/airfare.

It sounds like hell. Stay strong and I hope it works out.
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cyui



Joined: 10 Jan 2011

PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:28 pm    Post subject: