Korean Job Discussion Forums

[butimshy]

Hello friends.

So my director called me in to a meeting Friday saying I can no longer have personal conversations during our prep time at work. I would be fine with this however I considered my prep time to be my break time since we don't have an actual break time. My schedule is like this.

1:00-2:50 prep time (unpaid and mandatory)
2:50-4:10 class
4:20-5:40 class
5:50-7:10 class
7:10-7:30 dinner (still can not leave the building)
7:30-8:15 class
8:15-9:00 prep time (unpaid and mandatory)

the 10 minutes between classes are used to take the kids to the elevators and change our books in the teachers' room.


on friday my director specified that prep time is not break time and I should not be leaving the building or doing anything other than preparing my lessons. we are not allowed to leave the building at any time.

after reviewing the Korean labor law, i believe im entitled to an hour break (instead of 20 fucking minutes) and should be allowed to leave the building on my break if i choose, right?

I just want to know what possible excuses my director can make and how I can challenge them before I bring it up to her. and to be sure I'm understanding everything correctly. thanks. ^^

[jlee83]

While your director may be a bit overbearing, your schedule is definitely one of the better "hagwon" schedules out there.

Do consider that before you decide to raise a stink and potentially lose your job on the spot and/or not get renewed.

[12ax7]

20 minutes for dinner/supper? Ask him if he's also planning on paying you 15000 won per month like they pay those who are stuck doing their military service here.

[andrewchon]

Oh don't you love that old micro-management. This is only the beginning. Get yourself a parachute.

[ewlandon]

[nicwr2002]

You are not a prisoner at work and shouldn't accept these conditions.

[IPayInCash]

Thats considered a GOOD schedule for a hagwon? Wow.... makes me love my job even more working a fraction of that

[J Rock]

What exactly does he mean you can have no personal conversations during your work time? Like you're not allowed to speak to anyone other than job related? That's strange, there has to be something more, like were you on the phone everyday for an hour straight talking to your BF/GF?

I don't think any rational person would just come out and say you can't talk during your prep time. I would imagine this came about for a reason.

Me personally I got talked to from my first Hagwon a couple months into it when I would show up for my prep time at 2pm then run out to get something to eat at 2:06pm and not come back to until right before my first class. My director talked to me about it and explained I needed to be here for my prep time. I agreed and stopped skipping out on my prep time duties.

Point is I brought that on myself and I was called on it. Can you think of any reason at all why your director would say you cannot talk to anyone?

[12ax7]

[Waygeek]

I heard that ten minute breaks between classes is required by law, is this true?

[ontheway]

[Waygeek]

Thanks for the clarification. Interesting, I've worked five or more hours through without a break, as have all my coworkers.

[augustine]

[ontheway]

[Waygeek]