Korean Job Discussion Forums

bbud656 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010

Does anyone know the law when it comes to overtime? Do I have to work it?
My contract has a clause that says something along the lines of "must work overtime if requested to." I don't want to be there all night even if they are paying me.

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Aug 28, 2013 3:58 am Post subject:

Whether it's the law or not isn't the right question to ask really. Think about it, did trade unions not go on a strike because it was against the law? No, they went on strike anyway. You are not going to work overtime just because it's the law. No, you're going to work overtime because it is your pleasure. If you no longer care about the welfare of the organization that employs you, then don't do the overtime. Period. Sounds like you don't need the money and can get a job elsewhere anyway. Cool

YTMND · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Location: You're the man now dog!!

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

If you work at a public school, most contracts state that, if requested, you must work up to the first 4 hours of overtime, though you get paid the extra wage (I think it was 20k when I worked in PS). Anything over that you can refuse. These overtime hours are supposed to be during work hours, though (so they would be overtime in the sense of teaching extra hours, not staying there later).

Not sure about elsewhere.

bbud656 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010

My time is more important to me than a little bit of money. My contract is extremely vague and just says basically "you will do whatever we ask you to." My regular job is fine. I have been doing the overtime classes for about 6 months now. They are constantly changing things (larger classes, no level testing, more lesson plans, younger kids, etc) and the deal is no longer the same as what I agreed to. I Just wanted to know if they can fire me if I refuse to work more than my contracted hours. Its about 6 hours a week teaching, but a lot more than that planning. I could drone on about how ridiculous the situation is, but im sure you can imagine what a hagwon run by greedy incompetent people is like. For the record, my normal job is great, they just opened up a pseudo hagwon after hours and make me prop it up.

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

Oh, it's a hagwon. Yeah screw that unless you want the money.

bbud656 · Joined: 15 Jun 2010

It's not really a hagwon. My contract is closer to a university (affiliated), however, my director decided to expand and do a separate program 'afterschool' type thingy. It's all through verbal agreements, they didn't write up a new contract or anything. They won't break the law, but they really want me to do this program, so me quitting would put them in hardcore spite mode. I can handle that, but if it is grounds for termination, I don't want to deal with that and then be forced to keep doing it all while they hate me for trying to get out of it.

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

If they are hours you haven't worked before, maybe you could try apologizing when you say that you've paid in advance for several months of Korean lessons during those hours.

I don't know, really. It depends on how much you like the job, and how much of a bother it will be to get a different one (visa documents, etc).

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired