Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fred zepplin]

Hi.

So ive managed to get myself in quite a pickle. Where to begin..

So im coming to the end of my first epik contract and have my vacation coming up. I got some flight offers and (like a dick) I booked them. I finish my camp Dec 29, i (stupidly) assumed that school was out until around Feb 25/6 (when i began last year), but turns out there is school from the 6th-17th.

My (presumed and booked) vacation is from Jan 13th to Feb 13th which would have worked fine (but). So after lenghty dialog with ct and dmoe i have to show up for school but take my holidays from jan 6th to Feb 3rd (friday before classes begin).

The interesting thing is I am leaving transferring to another school on Feb 25th, not mine or the schools choice: 2nets cut to 1 net). My trip consist of multiple flights, so changing the dates on all will be next to impossible and crazy expesive I think.

So, what would happen if I instead of returning to school on Feb 6th, I come back on 14th as previously planned (missing 6 days work) with a doctors note from Ireland (pretty sure my doc will sort me out)? I've used 3/11 sick days this year. I know they would be pissed but would i be fired or manage to flee to my next school 2 weeks?

I know it was my own stupidity that got me in this mess, but its done now so time to be pragmatic. What your opinion?

[plchron]

don't even hint that you are going to do this and then go ahead and do it. Your CT will rat you out in a heart beat, no matter how cool they are with you. You aren't required to be in korea to use your sick days (I think). don't even tell them where you are. call them on skype every morning there time and say, "i am sick with...". I can't go to the airport. Say you had a high fever and thought you would get turned away at the airport and were too ill to travel. read your contract (they better not require you to stay in a hospital for your sickness) and make sure that you have a legit doctors note.

[fred zepplin]

[koreatimes]

[fred zepplin]

[koreatimes]

I would just say nothing to them. Right now, they will say no. When you get home, send an email about a day or so earlier than you think they expect you (like at 3pm their time) asking when you should return. Then, wait till the next day before replying. Tell them, "My flight back isn't until ____." See how they respond.

Wait 1 more day, if they demand you come back, tell them, "Ok. Let me talk with the travel agency"

Wait another day, email back and say you can't unless you buy another ticket. Apologize, but don't say anything about losing money for these days they expect you there.

Wait another day, if they are still wanting you to come, break down the expenses. Be honest, tell them the cost of the flight you ALREADY paid for. Then tell them how much more it would be to get another.

If they offer to pay (highly unlikely) pack up and go back. If they still demand you pay for another flight after all that, then make plans to leave the school cause it doesn't seem like they will be reasonable (after giving you 11 sick days, which I still find odd but good on ya.)

If they decide to fire you, they need to give 30 days or pay, which would be double that of a flight back

If they are cool about it and don't cause too much trouble, you might want to offer some extra teaching on the side for the next month to make up for it. Either teach some good students more or teachers, something like that. There should also be a spring break near the end of February. Negotiate something after you get home.

[fred zepplin]

[koreatimes]

If they know you already have the flight, that doesn't mean they know you got a second flight to return earlier.

You could still do my idea, but in the first email say something like, "I couldn't get an earlier flight." Pretend to misunderstand if they expected you to buy a second ticket and that you thought they meant they wanted you to simply change the dates on the flight you already paid for (which would cost you little or nothing according to this premise). As I mentioned, wait, and then tell them you have to pay for a new one and you don't have the money with you (It's all in your Korean bank account!! )

Then offer the sick day idea. Tell them you have not used 8 sick days. Normally you should get paid, so final offer would be to not get paid for them. I just think pretending to be sick and having the sick days would be too much of a coincidence. They understand the meaning of cutting costs, and YOU WANT TO CUT COSTS. You don't want to pay for a second flight.

If it doesn't work and they decide to fire with only 2 weeks left before you go to a new school, then you could sue for 11th month firing if you wanted and then get return airfare from them.

I think the worst they will do is pay less for those final weeks. If you are still worried about it, then be honest and chalk it up. Tell them you can't pay for a new flight and won't be able to come back earlier. You didn't know their schedule when you got the flights and if you were informed earlier you wouldn't have booked the flight. Apologize now, or later. Your choice. I personally would do it later. Earlier just means they will try to take advantage. Depends on your "boss", only you know how they will react.

[fred zepplin]

[koreatimes]