Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CustomX]

It's pretty lengthy, but I would appreciate anyones feedback. I spoke to a current employee, and he made the place sound pretty good. I know Topia does not have the best reputation, and I have taken this into consideration. I had a few things in the contract modified, and they were very helpful in doing so. Anyways, take a look at tell me what you think please. Thanks.

*EDIT*
I was asked to remove the contract from this site.

[hellofaniceguy]

1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings stated:

A. ��Employment Date�� shall mean the actual date that the employee begins work at Topia English Zone December 1st 2004
B. ��Termination Date�� shall mean the date one (1) year from the Employment Date.
December 3rd 2005

My opinion:
The contract is for one year...December 1st starting date. Ending date should be 30 November. In any event...those dates WILL change. Your starting and finishing dates depend on immigration. The date that your passport is stamped with the E2 is the ACTUAL starting date. When you apply for and receive your immigration ID card...it will have the correct dates. Just remember...before your contract finishes...get an extension in order to complete the one year that the school wants.
Next up
The Employee shall have the duties and responsibilities for the teaching of the English language overseas, in the physical premises located in South Korea to students of Korean origin, by complying and following the academic programs set forth by the Employer.

B. Duties may include, but are not limited to;

i. teaching
ii. substitute teaching
iii. supervision of students
iv. preparation/production of teaching materials
v. curriculum design and implementation
vi. attendance at teachers�� meetings and workshops
vii. writing evaluation comments and preparing evaluation reports
viii. essay and journal correction
ix. execution of duties as an assistant Homeroom teacher
x. implementation of teachers�� policy
xi. participation in micro-teaching group presentations
xii. interviewing new students

Above....Lot of extras.... it seems... but...you have no choice except to not agree. And if you don't sign....another teacher WILL! One never learns.
For the salary involved...I would not agree.


D. The Employee��s schedule will be different during the summer and winter sessions of the school year. Each session will be 4-6 weeks long, and will take place in January and July/August of each year. During these sessions, overtime will be required. The Employee may work longer than the usual working hours with a class load of 10 classes. Overtime rules will apply and the Employee will be compensated as outlined within this agreement. Due to the way the Korean education system works, this schedule is unavoidable. The Employer understands that this is a heavy load and the Employee��s appreciation is greatly appreciated.

Overtime is YOUR choice...don't agree if you don't want it.

E. There is one main area where the Employee may be asked to come in on his/her off duty time.

It is for student placement testing. In this case, the Employee will be asked to assess students�� English ability to determine what level the student is at. Additionally, the Employee may need to correct the written placement examinations. These tests will be approximately 2 hours long and may take place a couple of times a month. Time required to conduct these tests will be considered overtime and paid as such. These events may occur on any day of the week or on an Employee��s day off. Topia management will seek volunteers first for these occasions. If is sufficient participation not volunteered, the management will need to assign these duties, evenly throughout the Employees, to meet the needs of the school. Taking days off from the Employees will be as limited as possible.

Above...never! I'd tell the owner to stick it. Day off is my time. And no mention of pay.

B. Housing

i. Single housing with furnishings will be supplied by the Employer.

--> Below (from iv to x) are for the Employee residing in the premises of Topia:

ii. The Employer is not responsible for utility charges such as electricity, gas, telephone charges, etc.

iii. The Employee will have to share his/her apartment for up to 15 days a maximum of 1 time with a new incoming teacher.

Above...share....even for 15 days. Never. Tell the owner to share his apartment. He won't. Your housing will most likely be one room...studio like. Do you want to share one room?

vi. The Employee agrees to pay (500,000won) as a housing management deposit. This deposit is to cover unpaid monthly services, utilities, telephone charges, and a cleaning fee of 50,000 won after the Employee leaves the premises. The Employer agrees that the deposit will be returned, in full, to the Employee in the event of no outstanding charges. The Employer will deduct 100,000 won per month for the first 5 months where the Employee makes their total base salary (i.e. a full month��s work). In case of you, you need to pay a housing management deposit from March 1st 2005.

Above...seems excessive. 500.000 Won.


G. In addition to the Employee��s paid vacation, there are also 13-15 Korean National holidays observed in Korea, depending on the calendar year, which the Employee will be granted off.

Above...granted off...Gesh! It's the law!

The contract is somewhat standard issue...school just wants to make sure it's rearend is covered. But...like ALL things korean...it'll change and the changes will not be to your benefit.
Would I sign this contract and teach for this school? Never. I'd interview and then tell them to find someone else and why.
You'll get other opinions on your contract. Get the best deal for yourself however. And if you are happy with it...that's all that matters. Just remember...once you sign and start work...no grumbling and complaining...afterall...no one forced you to agree. Stick it out for the year, find a better place to teach.

[CustomX]

[Son Deureo!]

[manlyboy]

Based on my experience at Topia:

[quote="CustomX"]


B. Duties may include, but are not limited to;

i. teaching
ii. substitute teaching
iii. supervision of students (You have to babysit them when you're not teaching. After class you have ten minutes to line them up, walk them downstairs, say goodbye and then rush to your next class. You'll be doing this for six hours straight every day. You may not even get time to put food in your stomach.)
iv. preparation/production of teaching materials
v. curriculum design and implementation
vi. attendance at teachers�� meetings and workshops (Meetings will probably be daily - whether they're needed or not)
vii. writing evaluation comments and preparing evaluation reports(You'll have around 100-150 students. You will not have time to finish these reports within your normal working hours. You'll either have to come in early, leave late, or take the work home. Of course, you will not be paid for this.)
viii. essay and journal correction(same as above)
ix. execution of duties as an assistant Homeroom teacher
x. implementation of teachers�� policy
xi. participation in micro-teaching group presentations(You must present a "mock" lesson in front of your peers. For most teachers, this is more stressful than it is educational. Most teachers resent having to do this.)
xii. interviewing new students(You won't be paid for this either, unless it's on a weekend.)

Don't think that you won't be made to do each and every one of these things.

D. The Employee��s schedule will be different during the summer and winter sessions of the school year. Each session will be 4-6 weeks long, and will take place in January and July/August of each year. During these sessions, overtime will be required. The Employee may work longer than the usual working hours with a class load of 10 classes. Overtime rules will apply and the Employee will be compensated as outlined within this agreement. Due to the way the Korean education system works, this schedule is unavoidable. The Employer understands that this is a heavy load and the Employee��s appreciation is greatly appreciated.

(After one of these 12 hour a day month long intensive sessions, my overtime amounted to 300 000 won... For me that was not worth it.)

E. There is one main area where the Employee may be asked to come in on his/her off duty time.

It is for student placement testing. In this case, the Employee will be asked to assess students�� English ability to determine what level the student is at. Additionally, the Employee may need to correct the written placement examinations. These tests will be approximately 2 hours long and may take place a couple of times a month. Time required to conduct these tests will be considered overtime and paid as such. These events may occur on any day of the week or on an Employee��s day off. Topia management will seek volunteers first for these occasions. If is sufficient participation not volunteered, the management will need to assign these duties, evenly throughout the Employees, to meet the needs of the school. Taking days off from the Employees will be as limited as possible.

(How large is your school? The less teachers there are, the less volunteers there will be, and you may be forced to give up some of your Saturdays)


6. Compensation and Benefits

During the Employment, and subject to the pursuant to Section 8.D (Early Termination by Employee), the Employee shall receive:

A. Monthly compensation in the amount _____2 million ____ won Korean Won will be paid based on 30, 50-minute classes per workweek during the described working hours and days. In the event of 60-minute classes during summer special sessions, the Employee will be paid the monthly salary for 25 classes per week. The Employee shall perform his/her duties for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, Monday through Friday. The Employee will be paid on the 10th of the month for the previous months services rendered. For example, the employee will be paid on September 10th for his/her work in August. Additional classes taught beyond the agreed upon 30/25 periods per week will be compensated as outlined below under letter C.

Salary paid for a partial month��s work will be calculated as follows: Base monthly salary divided by the # of days in the month, multiplied by the number of days worked. For example, if your last day of work is March 19th and your base salary is 2,000,000 won, you would divide 2,000,000 by 31 and multiply by 19, for a salary of 1,225,806 won.

(The issue of overtime is mostly redundant. The school's class schedule is 6x 50 minute periods a day, or 30 per week, so it's impossible for them to give you more than 30 classes. Therefore they never have to pay you overtime outside of summer and winter intensives. You won't be paid for subbing someone else's classes, but you will be penalised if someone has to substitute for you.)


iv. Due to hygiene and pest control matter, an extra 50,000won cleaning fee will apply upon regular cleaning fee of 50,000won for the instructor who has kept a pet in anytime during his/her stay at the housing place provided by TOPIA.

(Have you seen your apartment? Is it clean? Mine was dirty when I moved in, clean when I moved out, but they charged me this fee anyway despite the fact that it was not in my contract.)


vi. The Employee agrees to pay (500,000won) as a housing management deposit. This deposit is to cover unpaid monthly services, utilities, telephone charges, and a cleaning fee of 50,000 won after the Employee leaves the premises. The Employer agrees that the deposit will be returned, in full, to the Employee in the event of no outstanding charges. The Employer will deduct 100,000 won per month for the first 5 months where the Employee makes their total base salary (i.e. a full month��s work). In case of you, you need to pay a housing management deposit from March 1st 2005.

(Try to get this cost reduced. I had to return and extract it personally two months after I'd left and they had "forgotten" to pay me.)

vii. This deposit will be paid back to the Employee after all bills that he/she is responsible for have been paid.


F. The Employee will be granted 10 days paid vacation. The Employer will schedule all 10 days of paid vacation to coincide with the school��s operating schedule.

(You will get 10 scattered days off.)


G. In addition to the Employee��s paid vacation, there are also 13-15 Korean National holidays observed in Korea, depending on the calendar year, which the Employee will be granted off.

(This is your vacation time.)


I. In case of Subbing, The employee will receive subbing fee on the basis of the overtime payment. In case the employee is about or misses his/her classes, the employee shall be responsible for the subbing fee. That means the subbing fee shall be deducted from the monthly payment.

( As they don't have to pay another teacher overtime to sub for you, but they deduct your pay all the same, this school makes a profit when their teachers get sick.)


The Employer has the unrestricted right to terminate the Employment at any time for cause.

(I saw a teacher fired over a very subjective interpretation of "cause")

Termination for cause is restricted to:

i. the Employee��s deliberate and intentional refusal to perform his duties owed to the Employer as provided in this Agreement (Employee��s breach of contract);

ii. the Employee fails to make corrective actions based on written and oral feedback provided by the Employer based on the Employee��s performance and evaluations.

iii. the Employee��s dishonesty and moral turpitude with respect to his relationship with the Employer;

iv. gross negligence or reckless behavior by the Employee which may result in demonstrable material harm to the Employer; or

v. any breach in this Agreement resulting in or which may reasonably be expected to have, a substantial adverse effect upon the Employer, or as may be reasonably expected by the Employer to affect adversely the Employee��s duties pursuant to this Agreement.

vi. The occurrence of any event constituting cause for termination shall permit but not require the Employer to terminate the Employment. The decision to take any other action, or no action at all, in response to any such occurrence shall be in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Employer.

I'm biased because I didn't have a particularly easy time of it at the Topia I worked for. I think if it had been my first year in Korea I might have seen things a little differently, because I was prepared to put up with more crap then than I am now. I made a lot of good friends there, and that's largely why I stayed on. It mostly comes down to what kind of guy your school president is. Ask how many teachers have been fired or quit in the last year. That'll give you a good indication of how pleasant a place it is to work.

[Grotto]

Lets start at the top.

My first picky part is the definition of a year. A year is 365 days not 368. If your contract starts on December 1'st your last day should be November 31'st.
Wow thats a lot of duties, I notice there is no mention of prep time. No mention of a schedule..so you could be doing split shifts. 30 fifty minute classes is a pretty heavy workload for only 2.0 mil.

Curriculum design and implementation? Yeah right! If you want to pay me 50mil won I will design and implement a curriculum.

Attending teachers workshops...how many, how long, paid or unpaid?

Writing comments and evaluations, how many students? How often?

Essay and journal correction..when? Paid time?

Assistant homeroom teacher? Duties? what are they?

Micro teaching group presentations? Which are?

Interviewing new students? On my day off Go fornicate yourself!

Section D. 10 sixty minute classes a day NO FREAKIN WAY! 50 hours a week? + prep +marking + all the other crap! You would burnout quick. I would set overtime at 30,000 won an hour if you actually wanted to do something this stupid.

Forced overtime if there are no volunteers

Section G. Your diploma is your property and they have no right or need to post it at the school the part about it being Korean labour regulations is pure bullcrap!

Section H: You want photos to be used in your advertising you pay for them you cheap ass bastard! You want my email address no way. I would make up a seperate email address and post that and never check it!


4. No Other Competitive Employment or Activities. Wow this section is a bit Nazi-ish isnt it. You spoke English to someone outside of school Dont deny it


6. Compensation and Benefits 2 mil is low for the amount of work they are expecting, I wouldnt work for such an asinine company without at least 2.4+

The overtime section I would delete out and just write overtime will be paid at a rate of 30,000 won per hour. Period Having 6 or 7 different rates is just stupid.

Change this section.Salary paid for a partial month��s work will be calculated as follows: Base monthly salary divided by the # of days in the month, multiplied by the number of days worked. For example, if your last day of work is March 19th and your base salary is 2,000,000 won, you would divide 2,000,000 by 31 and multiply by 19, for a salary of 1,225,806 won.

Since your specified hours of work are Mon-Fri Change it to divided by the amount of working days per month.

iii. The Employee will have to share his/her apartment for up to 15 days a maximum of 1 time with a new incoming teacher.

Ummm NO They can spring for a yagwon or whatever there is no reason for you to play host. What do you care you are leaving. It's actually kind of stupid.

iv. Due to hygiene and pest control matter, an extra 50,000won cleaning fee will apply upon regular cleaning fee of 50,000won for the instructor who has kept a pet in anytime during his/her stay at the housing place provided by TOPIA.

First of all in Korea it is customary to leave the apartment without cleaning it. I have no problem with people who own pets paying a deposit in case of damage but cleaning the apartment is the duty of the person moving in. This is a cash grab pure and simple.

vi. The Employee agrees to pay (500,000won) as a housing management deposit. This deposit is to cover unpaid monthly services, utilities, telephone charges

Considering that you have to present reciepts showing you paid all your bills to get your paycheck this is a bit redundant. I would have it removed. See viii

viii. The Employee is responsible for paying all utilities and must submit the receipt of payment to the school, no later than the 5th of each month. Failure to do so will result in the withholding of the Employee��s monthly salary until receipts showing payment of utilities are submitted.


F sucks. If they give you a day here or there its like having no holidays at all. You should be able to schedule your own vacation.
F. The Employee will be granted 10 days paid vacation. The Employer will schedule all 10 days of paid vacation to coincide with the school��s operating schedule.



Termination for cause is restricted to: This is almost hilarious in its length and stupidity.

iii. the Employee��s dishonesty and moral turpitude with respect to his relationship with the Employer; I would add in a clause reversing this: the employers dishonesty and moral turpitude with respect to his relationship with the employee!

ii. Immediately after the Date of Termination, Employee shall deliver to the Employer all of the Employer��s personal property, documents, records and other items in Employee��s possession or custody. NO mention of your documents being returned interesting!


9. Applicable Law and Venue
This agreement and each and every provision hereof shall be interpreted pursuant to the laws of the Republic of Korea without regard to any conflicts of law principles, and the venue in which a claim, action or lawsuit may be brought shall be exclusively the Republic of Korea.

This contract is bad news. The only reason they have so much crap about people quitting is probably because they go through teachers on a monthly basis.

Almost forgot one thing that really really set me off was :In case the employee is about or misses his/her classes, the employee shall be responsible for the subbing fee. That means the subbing fee shall be deducted from the monthly payment.
You have to pay for your substitute....cheap CHEAP CHEAP

Find another job [/b]

[CanKorea]

Hi, I worked for POLY School and my terms were similar to yours. Yes, you will put in some extra hours and grading can be a pain but it wasn't all bad.

I know a few teachers who've worked or are currently working for Topia and they don't seem to be overly stressed or unhappy about their job. I don't know exactly what your expectations are but you probably will have to do more than the average share of work, but it isn't insane either. I didn't work Saturdays. If I did any extra work for the school I was compensated accordingly for it (this didn't include grading tests/assignments).

2 million won for a hagwon is fair as I understand it these days. Contrary to the others who've replied, I'd take the job.

[CustomX]

Grotto, Manlyboy, Son Deureo!, HellofANiceGuy - THANKS!
I really do appreciate you guys taking the time to go through that long contract. I think my desperation to get to Korea and willingness to let things slide in the contracts I have received from several schools has led to anger. I'm going to ask them to change SEVERAL items in the contract, and if they dont change it then I wont sign. I feel like I overlooked a lot of the contract. This may be explained by the fact I've never taught so I don't know what to expect. Thanks again for alllll your help!

[OiGirl]

I would not agree to a contract that says you can be called in on your "days off" )presumably weekends?)

I don't think you'll ever see any of your housing management deposit back.

If these things don't bother you, go for it! They would be deal-breakers for me.

[CustomX]

I was asked by the school to remove the contract so I complied

[phaedrus]

[Gollum]

That's hliarious!!!!

Dude, don't work for them... they obviously are upset that you posted it here. So much for pulling a fast-one on you... on to the next candidate!!!!!

AHAHAHHAHHA!

Nice try, Topia! We teachers try to take care of our own.

[CustomX]

The thing is, I have no problem with taking the contract down. If someone really wanted to see a Topia contract, all they have to do is search the boards for 'topia' and they'll find someone else who posted it a while back. Its almost the same exact contract that I received, with a few minor changes.

[phaedrus]

[uberscheisse]

just a hint: my housing charge is about 50,000 and i live in apkujeong. though apkujeong is a slum, it has the highest housing rates in korea i'm told...

just trying to help you ascertain what the market is. are they putting you up in tower palace or something?