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ash530
Joined: 09 Dec 2013
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 Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:18 pm Post subject: Did I make a mistake? Not sure what to do |
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I accepted an offer because I wanted to be in Seoul (and it's a good location) and work daytime hours (I was working 2-10 before). I also wanted something with set lessons, so I was sure to ask during the interview and the teacher I was replacing about planning, and they both made it seem as if everything was laid out.
After actually coming to the school, I find out there is way more expected of me than I thought. I know a lot of this is a problem based on my stupidity of accepting this position.
The 2.5 pay sounded good at first, but now I wonder if that's a bit low for working Monday 9-630, T/Th 930-730, W/F 930-630?
I was given a binder filled with rules and guidelines to follow with surprises such as observations every other month and more reports than I was told was required, along with monthly and weekly separate lesson and homework plans. I don't even get a chance to observe a class, as was stated I would in the contract, because they had me come while the school is on vacation (I was not aware until I went in for "orientation"). I'm also thinking kindergarten perhaps isn't a good fit for me after actually seeing all that will be done and since I'm not really a super active high energy teacher (I hate singing and dancing. I did work with kindergarten back in the US but apparently that really is very different than here in Korea).
I was hired on a D10 and it's in the process of being switched to an E2 (waiting for ARC). In my contract, 8 weeks notice of quitting is required. I've seen during my research that there have been teachers that were given letters of release from leaving the school early (should have been a warning sign) but obviously not this early. However, if I don't feel that I can perform my teaching duties properly, is it really a good idea to stick with this place? I'm just worried they won't want to give me a letter of release.
Sorry this is so long, but my questions are basically:
-Is Monday 9-630, T/Th 930-730, W/F 930-630 too much for 2.5?
-Should I be upfront after the first week that this isn't what I expected and not right for me? (Since I need to give them 8 weeks, I'd be stuck here two months anyway)
-I've already done a year on my E2 at another school, would there be any problems transferring my visa this early, especially since I just came off the D10? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Did I make a mistake? Not sure what to do |
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| ash530 wrote: |
| In my contract, 8 weeks notice of quitting is required. |
The law says you can quit without 8 weeks notice. The rest of your post shows that you realize that teaching in kindergarten in Korea is not a good fit for you and the kindergarten. My suggestion: resign, seek employment elsewhere (another country) to teach a different age group. |
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ash530
Joined: 09 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 6:44 pm Post subject: Re: Did I make a mistake? Not sure what to do |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| ash530 wrote: |
| In my contract, 8 weeks notice of quitting is required. |
The law says you can quit without 8 weeks notice. The rest of your post shows that you realize that teaching in kindergarten in Korea is not a good fit for you and the kindergarten. My suggestion: resign, seek employment elsewhere (another country) to teach a different age group. |
I understand that the law doesn't require 8 weeks notice, but I'm sure the school definitely would not give me a LOR if I wanted to leave sooner. I don't want to leave Korea, I have a life set up here and I really enjoy being here, it's just that I'm better suited for older students and that's why I'd like to switch to a school that doesn't have kindergarten. (Again though, I should have known this even before accepting, but I was shocked at all these rules and things I have to do once I got to the school). |
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Pianote
Joined: 29 Apr 2015
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2015 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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You should get out now while you still can! Haha. You said you have a D-10 and it is "being switched to an E-2". Meaning *right now* you have a D-10, this means you don't need a letter of release. Do you need a LOR for a D-10, no it is only for an E-2. Now is the perfect time for you to resign.
The fact that you came over while the school is on break, is a HUGE *red flag*. This means #1) The previous teacher quit very suddenly. #2) The previous teacher is being fired very quickly! #3) Previous teacher pulled a midnight run.
Trust me, I am teaching mostly kindy on almost the same hours and the money is not worth it! A few days a week I teach 12 classes a day with only a 30 minute break. I have to plan the majority of my lessons, meaning *find my own materials*.
| Quote: |
| I was given a binder filled with rules and guidelines to follow with surprises such as observations every other month and more reports than I was told was required, along with monthly and weekly separate lesson and homework plans. I don't even get a chance to observe a class, as was stated I would in the contract, because they had me come while the school is on vacation (I was not aware until I went in for "orientation"). |
"Rules and guidelines to follow" aka ways you can get in trouble for "not following rules" or "breaking the contract". It is good to have rules but sounds like they are micromanagers. Also no observation or training period is another red flag. At my current hagwon I had no observation period or training. I thought it was fine, till a few months in my boss yelled at me for "not following the rules". In reality, there was zero communication from them, and to this day, they expect me to be a mind reader.
Please write up a resignation letter right now and give it to them on Monday! If you still have a D-10, you don't need a LOR. There are plenty of jobs in Seoul, though the market is competitive. |
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ash530
Joined: 09 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:14 am Post subject: |
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| Pianote wrote: |
You should get out now while you still can! Haha. You said you have a D-10 and it is "being switched to an E-2". Meaning *right now* you have a D-10, this means you don't need a letter of release. Do you need a LOR for a D-10, no it is only for an E-2. Now is the perfect time for you to resign.
The fact that you came over while the school is on break, is a HUGE *red flag*. This means #1) The previous teacher quit very suddenly. #2) The previous teacher is being fired very quickly! #3) Previous teacher pulled a midnight run.
Trust me, I am teaching mostly kindy on almost the same hours and the money is not worth it! A few days a week I teach 12 classes a day with only a 30 minute break. I have to plan the majority of my lessons, meaning *find my own materials*.
| Quote: |
| I was given a binder filled with rules and guidelines to follow with surprises such as observations every other month and more reports than I was told was required, along with monthly and weekly separate lesson and homework plans. I don't even get a chance to observe a class, as was stated I would in the contract, because they had me come while the school is on vacation (I was not aware until I went in for "orientation"). |
"Rules and guidelines to follow" aka ways you can get in trouble for "not following rules" or "breaking the contract". It is good to have rules but sounds like they are micromanagers. Also no observation or training period is another red flag. At my current hagwon I had no observation period or training. I thought it was fine, till a few months in my boss yelled at me for "not following the rules". In reality, there was zero communication from them, and to this day, they expect me to be a mind reader.
Please write up a resignation letter right now and give it to them on Monday! If you still have a D-10, you don't need a LOR. There are plenty of jobs in Seoul, though the market is competitive. |
If I already applied for the E2, I'm assuming it would be too far in the process even if I gave in a letter of resignation Monday. Would I have to contact immigration and tell them to stop the processing of the D10 to E2 transfer? I'm afraid with my luck I'd resign on Monday, then try to stop the visa transfer, and be told it's too late. |
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Fallacy
Joined: 29 Jun 2015
Location: ex-ROK
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 5:56 am Post subject: |
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| Pianote wrote: |
| You should get out now while you still can! |
This.
| ash530 wrote: |
| I'm afraid with my luck I'd resign on Monday, then try to stop the visa transfer, and be told it's too late. |
A large, blinking pink neon arrow points toward the exit, yet you hesitate, so I have to ask: what do you have to lose? Or: what are you really afraid of here? Outline that in more detail, and I think we can give you more explicitly helpful recommendations. |
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ash530
Joined: 09 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Fallacy wrote: |
| Pianote wrote: |
| You should get out now while you still can! |
This.
| ash530 wrote: |
| I'm afraid with my luck I'd resign on Monday, then try to stop the visa transfer, and be told it's too late. |
A large, blinking pink neon arrow points toward the exit, yet you hesitate, so I have to ask: what do you have to lose? Or: what are you really afraid of here? Outline that in more detail, and I think we can give you more explicitly helpful recommendations. |
My fear is I won't be able to stay in Korea. If my visa is already being changed back to E2 then I can't get a new job without a letter of release and I'm afraid they won't give me the letter. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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| What is so important about staying in Korea. There are other countries to go to for the same job without the hassles you're facing now. |
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Fallacy
Joined: 29 Jun 2015
Location: ex-ROK
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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| ash530 wrote: |
| My fear is I won't be able to stay in Korea. If my visa is already being changed back to E2 then I can't get a new job without a letter of release and I'm afraid they won't give me the letter. |
It is illegal to withhold a LOR (letter of release), so fear not: you can continue to live and work in the ROK. The employer is legally bound to issue the LOR immediately upon receipt of a LOR-2 (letter of resignation) from the employee, which can take the documented form of an email to that effect. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Fallacy: Where did you pull all that from? |
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tophatcat
Joined: 09 Aug 2006
Location: under the hat
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 3:19 am Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| Fallacy: Where did you pull all that from? |
+1  |
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ash530
Joined: 09 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 4:33 am Post subject: |
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| If a LOR was guaranteed, then I wouldn't be worrying. But from what I know, they aren't legally required to give one. And I've heard they often don't. However, I'm hoping if I work with them, they'll be willing to give me one. I'd even be willing to pay the recruiting fee, but as a last result of course. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 7:43 am Post subject: |
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| Do you have any idea of how much the recruiting fee is? That's not a last resort. Sorry to put it this way, but agreeing to pay that is sheer stupidity. |
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Fallacy
Joined: 29 Jun 2015
Location: ex-ROK
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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Consultation with an attorney or a close reading of the labor laws and immigration regulations is all that is required to understand that a LOR cannot be held hostage by any employer. OP: give a copy of the resignation letter to both the old and new (prospective) employers, so that in the event both parties wish to simultaneously lay claim to your working visa with the immigration authorities, that document, particularly the date upon it, will provide the necessary evidence required for accountability, and ensure the provision of a release letter. Compliance will be immediate. Good luck!
Last edited by Fallacy on Sun Aug 02, 2015 5:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Fallacy
Joined: 29 Jun 2015
Location: ex-ROK
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| Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2015 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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For your reference, in case my words seem incredible:
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| Korea’s immigration law trumps labor law for Native English instructors because they entered Korea for employment. In cases where ... [an] instructor usually requests a Letter of Release from the employer ... The Labor Relations Commission and the court often view such requests for a Letter of Release as “agreed termination,” or “implied agreed termination.” |
My bold. The key legal terminology is "request," hence the necessity for a dated resignation letter outlining exactly that. Along with the resignation letter, why not also present an already written release letter to your current employer and request them sign it on the spot? Regardless, someone like yourself is:
| Quote: |
| ... allowed to obtain a D-10 employment visa so they can work elsewhere without needing the previous employer to issue a Letter of Release. In addition, in cases where someone is staying under a Lawsuit Visa (G-1) to pursue a case of unfair dismissal, a D-10 employment visa should be issued to the instructor if he/she wins the lawsuit. |
So as I said before, fear not. You can continue to stay in the ROK. |
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