Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Patong Dong]

I am trying to see what is generally done when you are extending for another year at the same school and you will not be taking the airfare home offer. I brought up that in case I wanted to leave early and gave my notice I wanted it clarified that I had already earned my airfare home, but my employer is saying I will have to finish the next year to get it again. Now, I know why this is a bit of a rip on many levels but I am just curious as to others experiences along this line.

[shortskirt_longjacket]

obviously if you are returning, their regard for you is not negative. they must trust you and/or like you. therefore, the ball is in your court. you can come at them with numbers of how much it would cost them to fly a new teacher out here and how much they would have to pay in recruiter's fees, etc.

let's say that number was two million won. tell them that you like them, and you're gonna cut them a break and only ask for one million for what you would be compensated for for return airfare. if they laugh in your face, then say "alright, then i want my return flight home and you can pay to fly me back when i start my new contract" (even if it's only a few days in between).

if you're wanting to leave your current contract early (even if you're signing on for another year) they have the legal right to deny you the airfare (at least, that's the extent of my knowledge on the matter). if you stay, though, and don't necessarily want to go home between your contracts, you're owed some compensation for airfare, i think. i don't know what your contract says, though.

you could always threaten to not re-sign if they don't give you something, but then you run the risk of them saying, "okay, we were just keeping you on so we didn't have to pay airfare and recruiter's fees anyway."

your choice. but be firm; don't be afraid to ask for what you want. they'll respect you a lot more if you don't let them take advantage of you (clearly they know what a great deal they're getting by keeping the same teacher).

i have found that if you come at directors with any sort of logical explanation for wanting what's due to you, they are mystified and struggle for an immediate response. this gives you even more of the upper hand. remind your school that they are running a business (if you're at a hagwon) and you are an employee with similar business interests (making money).

[Patong Dong]

Some good tips, thanks for the content and the speed of delivery.

[shortskirt_longjacket]

no probs. but anyone who has been through this exact situation should chime in as well. i'm only giving you my opinion about what would be best based on my experience with other types of negotiations with my hagwon (and, believe me, there have been many). i haven't had the particular i'm-renewing-and-what-will-you-give-me-in-lieu-of-airfare conflict.

[lepid gecko]

I extended for an extra 6 months with my school, and included a clause in the contract saying that if i leave at any point within the time period, i would be given a flight home.
my boss was cool with that, "you succeeded one year, so you get the flight."
i think that's only fair, sounds a bit whacked that.

[Juggertha]

I take it all in cash now. Simplifies things for me and I can make my own arangements.

[Dawn]

I extended for a year w/o discussing the airfare issue, as I liked the school enough that I didn't really care whether I lost out on the value of a one-way ticket. Got ready to go home over vacation this summer, only to have my boss inform me that the school was paying for the W1.8 million RT ticket (peak season prices), since I hadn't used the return ticket at the end of my previous contract.

May not be standard, but if you would like to go home for a visit at some point during the year, it might be worth asking them if they'd buy you a RT with the money they otherwise would have had to spend flying you home and a new teacher over. After all, you already know that they like you enough to keep you a second year ...

[Zyzyfer]

[Badmojo]

[manlyboy]

I've been perusing Korean labour laws as they apply to foreign teachers a bit recently and I've seen no overriding government edicts regarding airfares, (can any litigators out there confirm?). Therefore you would be bound to whatever you signed to in your contract. If the contract is vague, and the management chooses to interpret it in the most negative way, I guess there's very little you can do.

[sadsac]

Had the director cash in the return portion of our tickets and then got the cash. New contract new flights home.