Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shortskirt_longjacket]

a co-worker of mine is in an interesting situation, and i would appreciate the wisdom of the board members.

a while back, our boss asked her to stay at our hogwan beyond her contracted year (ending july 13th...couple weeks away) and she agreed to stay because she didn't get into the PPD program back in canada for the fall term. well, lo and behold, she appealed her denial and the school accepted her. so, she told the boss today that she wasn't staying beyond her july 13th date, and she'd even be willing to stay until late august to give them enough time to find a replacement. important to this situation is that she didn't sign anything saying she'd stay on until beyond her contract...only a loose verbal agreement.

she told our director today and she flipped out, saying she wouldn't give her her bonus or her airfare back home and our director wants the girl to pay a recruiter's fee and airfare for the new teacher that would come and replace her.

what legal recourse does this poor soul have? can she take her contract to korean labor or whatever and say "i'm owed this money, damnit!" she's already threatened to get a lawyer (the employee)...is that enough? or should she actually hire one in hopes that our director would back down? does our director have a leg to stand on?

please let me know what we can do...i've been to the efl-law website and there's some tangential information, but i wanna hear from you guys.

thanks.

[Zed]

I wouldn't think that there is legally anything that she can do about it now. If she and the school part company for any reason before July 13th she won't be able to do anything to get even a portion of her bonus. I don't know what to suggest though. maybe wait until the 13th and then make some ultimatums because she would have legal recourse then.

[osangrl]

this happened at my first school. We all bonded together to support him, and all made letters of resignation... with the ground that , if he didn't get his severence and airfare.. would we? So rather than losing all their teachers, they just gave in to him. Its balsey, but i think its good to show our fellow expats support in a time of need. Your boss is being unreasonable.

[chronicpride]

[kylehawkins2000]

As I understand it your friend is meeting all of the original contract obligations and should thus recieve her severence pay as per Korean Law and she should receive her airfare if stipulated in her contract. Any period of employment beyond July 13th would have nothing to do with the original contract, and should be treated seperately.

If I were her I would inform the school that I plan to seek legal action if they do not pay and indicate that if they are not cooperative I will do everything in my power to ruin their reputation by sharing the story with others (black listing, telling parents about the situation, posting her and on other ESL forums, etc.).

They have no right to withold airfare or severence if she meets her contract obligations.

[paperbag princess]

tell her to call the labour board at 02 872 9797 (english line), they are very helpful. the severance isn't something nice that the school does, it's korean law. if they don't pay her, she can get it back.

also, the efl-law guy is really helpful, she should get in touch with him. best of luck to her!

[shortskirt_longjacket]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Seriously, where does he get off? You finished the contract. Why did you wait to get the bonus?