Korean Job Discussion Forums

[perryredmon]

I have found that my employers are very nice people. But one of the directors is holding my paperwork until I pay her the 1000 dollars for the plane ticket that she had bought me. They have been unable to help me with many things mostly because they are literally too busy to deal with anything that would give them a heads up on how to do things. They really just aren't that organized. It took me 6 weeks to get an ID card which seemed a bit long. I had to go with my director to get a bank account and he rushed me through it just to get me back to work. The work me for 55+hours and I only get paid for 30 or so. Which, if you go by their standards, is right. I am quite certain that the director holding my paperwork has it out for me. It also took me 6 weeks to get a bank account so now I am almost three months behind on bills in the US. She keeps on telling me that she is there to help me but really doesn't have time for anyone but my Korean Co-workers. She goes out with them constantly, and has time for them everyday but can't even spare five minutes before or after work for me. I have seen this for the last two months. the only reason I have actually been able to speak to her finally is the fact that I told her I am giving my two months notice and leaving. As soon as I told her this I had at least two hours to talk to her. It was nuts. Then she pretty much threatened that she wouldn't give me a release to anywhere until she took that money out of my next paycheck and found a replacement for me. The she looked me right in the face and said " Its just business." Is there anything anyone can do to help me just get out of here once I get my next check that she is apparently going to take a 1000 dollars from? I had to go get my own cell phone, my own cable and internet, and meet friends on my own. To be honest I know Korean but I am not a Korean person and in this town there is nothing to do. I am in a bad situation and need a little help. I need some advice. Possibly legal advice too.

[ttompatz]

First time away from home?

If you are under 6 months you are pretty much under the 8-ball. You can be released in a heartbeat without cause or notice. They are under NO obligation to give you a letter of release.

Time to READ the relevant labor laws and actually READ your contract.

http://www.moel.go.kr/english/topic/laborlaw_view.jsp?idx=254&tab=Standards

Now for the really bad news:
You are NOT in the Litigious States of America.
YOU have to take responsibility for yourself. It is NOT your employers job to get you a bank account or get you your ARC. It is NOT your employers job to hand hold you through your transition to life as an expat.
You are NOT on a paid holiday.
It is your responsibility to deal with unfair labor practices in an appropriate manner. Learn about the labor board and how to deal with it.
Lastly, airfare is strictly a contractual matter and if your contract says that you repay it if you terminate early then you get to repay it.

The good news is that you can quit.
You can stay in Korea (learn about a D10 visa), get a new job and get on with it.
You can fight for unpaid wages (50 hours or 50 classes? it makes a difference if a "class hour" is NOT defined in your contract).

.

[perryredmon]

I was told by the woman who said and did all of this that she has to help me and sign off on my bank account. I know its my responsibility. I am asking if there is another way to do things. I pretty much did everything myself. I work from 9am til 7~8pm. Idont have time for anything xuring the day for business hours.

[Allthechildrenareinsane]

[YTMND]

Take this as a learning experience. Each time I work at a school, I learn something new. Hopefully, I have minimized my losses with more success also.

As mentioned, look into the D10 visa.

Look over your contract, see exactly what classes you are required to teach. Feel free to post it in the contract thread and I'll give you my take on it. I quite often go to my schools with a notebook and current schedule and give them ground rules. For example, 1 block of classes is about 3 or 4 classes at 45 minutes. If they need to spread my available time out, then I allow for 1 hour somewhere between those classes. You don't want a horrendous split-shift schedule.

She should still owe pension, so you might want to stay quiet on this or she is likely to screw you by taking more pay from you. You can collect on it after you go to your new school.

You mentioned 1,000 for airfare, but without a contract it is unclear if you were required to pay for it. Usually the school pays for it. As for internet, you can move the line to your new location. You may want a Korean friend to help out with this. The phone thing is a non-issue, that's 100% your responsibility.

There isn't much legal recourse here, so I suggest you play it nice, don't mention pension because you can collect on it later. If she didn't plan that into her expenses, it will be a nice surprise later on. Post your contract if you want in the contract thread.

[perryredmon]

I am very thankful for the info on being able to transfer my internet and cable. I am obligated to pay her for the cost of the ticket. The phone I had to go to seoul for because the busineses where I live aren't open past 7pm or weekends. I already gave her my two month notice. My collegues don't speak to the foreign teachers. They are no help whatsoever. The only other foreign teach doesn't have communication with them either or any of the bosses and works the same hours pretty much. I teach all grades besides college and no it isn't a split shift. And yeah its pretty hard making friends working from 9am to 8pm . The only people I know are all business owners here where I live. They are all korean.

[ttompatz]

http://www.moel.go.kr/english/topic/laborlaw_view.jsp?idx=254&tab=Standards

http://www.koreanair.com/ is the other option.

.

[gobbledygook]

FYI just in case you forgot, call up your embassy for advice. Even if they dont know the areas that youre enquiring about, they can always refer you to the relevant people/agents who may of good help to you.

[zombiedog]

Contrary to what has been said above, you're employer actually is responsible to help you get set up, at the bare minimum, in Korea. That means: helping you set up a bank account, helping you get your ARC, helping you get your medical check, and helping you out with problems in your housing should they arise.

Unfortunately sometimes you need to be pretty forward in order to get what you need. Don't take it to the extreme, they aren't there to wipe your butt, but because of the language barrier they are there to assist.

Good luck.

[ontheway]

[zombiedog]

for a newcomer to Korea these are not "little chores". These are about major issues to survival in Korea, and the employer has implicit obligation to to provide some sort of help is solving these questions.

Sure, if you stay around for years and years like some of these old crusties that post on this forum, you'll probably figure a lot of this stuff out for yourself, but you shouldn't at all feel like you are putting a burden on your boss for getting help doing them.

If you are, you could very well be working at a dismal place.

This is not to say that you shouldn't figure out how to do these things. That's fine, but having lived in a number for foreign countries, there is no shame in having your employer help you.

[thegadfly]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ontheway]

[denverdeath]

What exactly are the e-2 sponsor's obligations/responsibilities? anyone know?