Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nimrand]

So, I'm working at a public school and I'm wondering how working hours are generally counted. Our school has a one-hour "lunch period" built into their schedule, but in reality I spend maybe 20 minutes eating lunch in the cageteria and then go back to the classroom to do research for my lesson planning. The school isn't in a convenient location to go anywhere on foot, anyway. My predecessor was very specific about telling me that my shift ends at 4:30 pm, and the argue the case if they tried to change it. But, today my co-teacher called me as I was leaving me telling me that I'm supposed to stay until 5:30, which is when everyone else leaves (except for teachers who have night classes). Now, my contract states that I can't be required to be at the school more than 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, unless I'm paid overtime. If one counts the lunch period as part of that time, then that comes to 9 hours a day, instead of 8.

So, I'm wondering if I should push back on this. In the US, it would be highly unusual to count the lunch period this way, but this isn't the US. And, since my contract is that same as just about any NET working in public schools (or at least anyone working in Chungcheongnam province).

I wouldn't even bring it up except 1) my predecessor specifically warned me about this (but he was also doing night calsses at the time that he left, so his situation isn't quite the same as mine) and 2) I'm actually much more productive working from home, as the computer at the school is very slow and is running the Korean OS, making it very difficult to use.

[FriendlyDaegu]

[Otherside]

The public school day is an 8 hour day, lunch included. So, if you start at 8:30, you finish at 4:30.

As for the lunch hour itself, it's pretty much "free" time, however you shouldn't really leave the school during this time (if you need to go to the shops quick, or occasionally go to the bank, this isn't an issue...) Most teachers just use it to lesson plan etc.

Regarding the 8 hour day, look at your contract, it's all there in black and white...my contract states:

[nimrand]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[waynehead]

The 8:30-4:30 shift is standard, it sounds like you're school's expecting you to follow the standard set by others and not the letter of the law in your contract.

This is typical for Korea; it's up to you whether or not you want to fight back on it. If that hour's important to you (and why shouldn't it be) you're technically in the right but you might start to earn a bad reputation which could harm renewing chances, etc. If it isn't, the Korean thing to do is what all the other teachers are doing, and you could definitely earn brownie points by staying the extra hour.

[wings]

when I worked for SMOE my school hours were 8:40 - 4:40. I always left at 4:40, after a few weeks one of my coteachers told me that I COULD leave at 4:40, but that I shouldn't, that I should stay until at least 5:30. I told her that since I could never get a promotion etc, that I would continue to leave at 4:40. I didn't hear anything else from them for almost a year.

The school asked the teachers to all come in 20 minutes early to walk around the track before class to promote fitness. I told them that it sounded like a great idea to me to change the hours to 8:20 to 4:20. They just smiled nervously at me and never mentioned it again. I kept arriving at 8:40 and leaving at 4:40. As long as you push gently and without insulting anyone you can get your way without causing any problems.

[nimrand]

No worries. I talked to them today and showed my co-teacher the contract. They asked me to make sure to say goodbye to the VP before I leave, but confirmed that 4:30 was okay. The VP seems happy, I'm happy, all is good.

[YTMND]

[Weigookin74]

Your contract says you leave at 4:30. You're both on different contracts and emploment agreements. You leave at 4:30 son. If she voluntarily chooses to stay until 5:30 and some Korean teachers do she can. But that ain't your problem; leave at 4:30. Show here the contract if necessary. Is there any specific work you need to do that would require you being there for an extra hour? I'd just say no and go home at 4:30. If she's a b!tch, you can call the local education office and get them to call her. Pull out the contract as necessary. (Hopefully, you kept a copy when you signed it.) Your co teacher knows what the contract says already. Maybe she's stupid or can't read well.....