Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mcorteau]

I arrived at the tail end of April and wasn't paid for my time worked from that point until the first payday(the 10th of every month). About two weeks into my job one of our other campuses joined with ours. Things have been pretty hectic. This week has been particularly tiring due to the schools refusal to turn on the AC and they bumped my workload up. And the icing on the cake is that the owner of our school held a meeting, which he was late to, and spoke to all the teachers in all korean only while we lowly native teachers listened helplessly. Once the meeting finished we were told by our supervisor that we would get a print out of what was discussed. Luckily one of our co-teachers told us that the next two months we would be paid at the end of the month instead of the 10th. I wouldn't be too upset if I had been paid at all yet and if they decided to let us know earlier than 5 days before pay-day.

We spoke with our supervisor and said we were a bit worried about it and she said not to worry, and that our owner mentioned being positive about potential investors. None of this feels right and I would like to know if anyone has been in similar situations and/or has advice as to what to do.

Is it possible to change schools without a letter of release? I feel like asking for that would be close to impossible due to the backlash the school would receive if a teacher left.

[Hatcher]

Take your contract to the nearest labor board. The new investors thing is BS>

[YTMND]

[Troglodyte]

If they are more than 14 days late (from what's stated in your contract) then you can go to the labor board. Any less and you can't really do much.

If they seem like they're going bankrupt then keep your eyes open for other signs. If they do go bankrupt or have to fire people because of financial issues (legally it's a justified reason for firing) then they still need to tell you at least 1 month in advance (even if you're in the 6 month probationary period). If they are selling the school (and thus finishing your contract early), they also need to tell you 1 month in advance.

[amnsg2]

It's a little early to go in guns blazing, and you might find it more productive to go to your boss (or supervisor) and explain that you're running out of money and would like to be paid up until either the 10th (as stated in your contract) or the end of April (as with the new payment system). Be calm, and argue your case. Say you had to buy things for your apartment, and can't last until the 31st.

It does sound a little like a 'running low on funds, keep the waegookins teaching until they realise we can't pay them...' situation, but what throws me is that they've just hired you. Did you pay for your own plane ticket? Are you in school provided accommodation? I can't see that they would put a financial investment on a new foreign teacher if they were running out of money only to fire you weeks later.

Don't throw in the towel just yet, but take the advice above and keep your eye out for warning signs. If you don't get paid anything by the 10th demand it. You should go to work, but don't teach. You worked, it's your money.

[ontheway]

[sojusucks]

Is your pay date in the contract? If yes, they can't just change it because they feel like it. Sounds like a crapwon. Resign and find something else.

[Los Angeloser]

You just got here and they only owe you for the last week of April? Well, don't expect to get paid for that until the first week or so of June(if your contract says pay day is on the 10th then the labor ministry won't accept a complaint until 13 or 14 days after that). You are more likely to get a loan from your employer than your pay for the last week of April. Be cool, you'll probably get paid if you sit down, shut up, and do what's expected.

[Troglodyte]

[mcorteau]

Sorry for the confusion. I arrived at the end of march and have no been paid. I was not paid from the time I arrived to the first payday which was April 10th. Then, instead of being paid this Thursday, the scheduled pay day, they are saying we will get paid at the end of May. Hope that helps.

The reason I seem a bit early to go, is that they boosted my hours exponentially, they started to have us foreign teachers cleaning the floors when we are on break refuse to turn on the AC and now of course not being paid is a real problem.

Thanks for your help guys!

[Weigookin74]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[oppa637]

So you have till the 24th of this month. If not paid by then, go to labor board.

[Troglodyte]

What is "the end of March"? Is that March 31? How many days in March did you work?

If you worked for a week in March then you can tell the labor board that you weren't paid for March.

[hogwonguy1979]