Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mercer Cheese]

I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times (especially lately), but I'll ask anyway, because I haven't been able to find quite what I'm looking for in old posts.

My hogwon has decided to close down in three weeks. While my contract states that they must give me 60 days notice, they have given me only 24. Their excuse is that as that "I am not being fired". The school is closing so they don't have to give me 60 days. Am I right in thinking this is utter crap?

[Michelle]

Utter crap, but what can you do when they're going out of business?

It the same deal as some of these Koreans thinking they don't have to pay the salary, or can pay it later because they can't afford it.

[crazylemongirl]

dude you are like the touch of the death to all hogwons.

[Grotto]

take as much stuff as you can, projectors, pencils, photocopy machines etc

I would recommend you contact the labour board asap. See what they say.

Does it actually say fired in your contract or termination of employment.

There is a difference.

[Mercer Cheese]

The contract speaks of "terminating the contract". Annoyingly, they are only closing the hogwon, while their kindy business will stay open. They want me to work the last 2 months of my contract part time. Which of course means half the pay and no severance!

[Gollum]

[spliff]

Still interested in that item you are selling! And, sorry about the Hogwan...I'd stick to the contract, though...60 days is not 24!

[philipjames]

I got the same treatment a year ago. My school closed after I'd been there seven months. They gave me 10 days notice, with the same rationale that I "wasn't being fired", therefore the contract didn't apply. Only in Korea can such thinking pass as logic. So it would have been more advantageous to be fired?

[Mercer Cheese]

[prairieboy]

Labour board. Contact the Labour board and file a complaint if you can't work out an agreement with your employer.

They have to give you 30 days notice by law. If you don't get the 30 days then they have to pay you one month salary in lieu of notice. That's providing the labour standards act applies to your school.

In any case, if you can't negotiate the money with the owner then go to the labour board and take it from there.

[sadsac]

Check with the Labour board regarding severance, I believe that you will be entitled to a pro-rata payment because the hagwon is closing.

[Demophobe]

Man...just walk out and get another job in 15 minutes.