Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kardisa]

I found a position through a recruiter that seemed to match my preferences and signed the contract thinking that I would be able to leave my current job on April 1. Unfortunately, my current boss had other plans and now wants me to stay until the 15th if I want a release letter (which I do).

I mentioned this problem to my recruiter, and she told me that the school said I MUST start work on April 1st. Since this isn't possible, I gave them my apologies and started looking for a job that starts at the end of the month. Everything seemed to be fine, but then I got this email from my recruiter:

[ttompatz]

The recruiter is blowing smoke at you.

a) The contract is NON-binding until the paperwork for the visa transfer is complete.

b) The labor office won't do anything about it.

c) Worst case - they try to sue for out of pocket expenses but they won't win (see (a).

.

[Louis VI]

Grow up and realize they were asserting a negotiating position.

Do the job you signed the contract for. You're making too much of their reaction. Let it go and get past it.

Or *beep* them over and leave the country, breaking your contract. If they blacklist you with immi they would be wholly within their right. You will have cost them money. Not to mention the greater inconvenience of the timing in terms of finding a replacement teacher.

Forgive them if you are Christian and see no issue here. Thank them for waiting the two weeks and go and do your job. You will look back on this as next to nothing six months from now. Really.

[kardisa]

[ontheway]

The above posters are misinformed.

Contracts are binding from the date signed.

What does your contract actually say. It may have terms that enable you to escape because you are unable to fulfill the contract for some reason.

Your liability will be for any financial damages they incur, including lost rent or deposits or lost tuition. If these amounts are small they may not sue you.

[ttompatz]

[ontheway]

[ttompatz]

[ontheway]

[earthquakez]

Kardisa - I'd listen to ttompattz if I were you. He's got the reputation of having a perfect score when it comes to knowledge of the ins and outs of contracts, labour issues, recruiters, and just about anything to do with living and working in Korea.

To add my half pence worth, a friend of a friend had problems with a recruiter carrying on in an incredibly disrespectful way. They were no newbie but a very experienced and credible teacher. They signed a contract with a school and a visa number was issued but in the end the recruiter threw a tantrum because they asked him what we would recognise as all the right questions to ask whereas he just wanted them to shut up and do as he told them.

The final thing that made this recruiter go hysterical was the teacher asked why they could not make their own way to the school as they had to do some things in Korea prior to the contract commencing. They were also paying for their own airfare upfront.

The recuiter wouldn't budge from demanding he take them 5 days before the contract started to the school. Remember, we are talking about an experienced teacher here who had worked in Korea before. This recruiter went into meltdown (I saw the emails) and screwed up the teacher's opportunity before they had even got the visa number processed.

They had signed the contract BUT theirs was the only signature on the contract. The school did not give them a copy with a school rep's signature on it. If this was the same in your case, the employer has even less of a case. So don't worry.

Re the teacher they can't get another job for a few months thanks to the visa regs and KImmi has their expensive documents and won't return them so they have to do everything again if they want to work in Korea again. The teacher is too nice - if I were them I would blacklist a recruiter like that on as many relevant websites as I could.

[millyfrend]

Talk to the recruiter or person you signed with.

[RMNC]