Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cellphone]

Going through a release at this time, two more days at work and I finish Wednesday evening (Feb 2). The boss seems to be in a 'good business attitude,' or at least moderately so, however few things need to be cleared up to make sure both parties get what they deserve.

Read on here that in order for a LoR to be considered as good conduct (not firing) the boss and former teacher should go to immigration TOGETHER and inform them. However my boss is saying that what they will do is, they've already found the new teacher, he will start work on Thursday (obviously still applying for visa but that's ok), and then my boss somewhere around February 15 will inform immigration they've hired a new teacher (because the Seoullal holiday causes a but of a delay, otherwise it'd be closer to the 7th). Now I don't have a problem with waiting the extra week or so because of the holiday, actually gives me more time.

But my boss says they will just inform immigration they've let me go and will process the new teacher's visa all in the same day/at the same time that they inform immigration they have a new teacher (i.e. not on my last day, but when they will process the new teacher). He said that essentially I no longer need to do anything with them, and that I myself won't need to go to immigration until I've found a new school. While I assume he agrees we will write up an official LoR and that should be clear, I think he is saying it will all go well without making extra trips to immi.

In any event my boss says he and I won't need to go to immigration together even that this is a good business release. Is this absolutely untrue? Details and help please. He said it can all be done with phone calls and the normal process of hiring a new teacher/filling out new visa apps (i.e. extra trips don't need to made just for the LoR). I don't necessarily think my boss would be trying to pull the wool so to speak, however we should make sure he is doing the best thing as well, since ultimately Immigration has the last stand and most power.

Anyone have direct, working knowledge of this?

[Blind Willie]

I dont know how it all works, but a good suggestion for survivng the hagwon world is to assume what you get told is bull.

[the eye]

yes, it's legit.
a few of us told you it could be done that way in your last thread. he has to free a visa 'slot' in order to hire a new teacher. so, he can call them and tell them he's firing you.
once he's done that, immi will issue you an exit order.

[cellphone]

ok thanks..... but uh, actually I think what we mean here isn't 'fire' but a 'good will' release, hehe... also, actually I remember when I read the comments made before, someone stated that the boss should go with the exiting teacher to the immigration office if they aren't firing the teacher. i may not have understood very well, but i thought what was being said was that if the two don't go to immi together, it is like the boss is firing the teacher (i.e. bad relations break), and not a good relations break.

however, just thinking about it, i would think that a boss only making a phone call, or only showing up to immi at his own leisure when he's processing the new teacher, would still be considered all the same by immigration and all parties involved still held in positive light.

But, I could see how immi would want the both of them together, as anything less would make things less than clear (i.e. boss and ex-teacher could state conflicting, unmatching stories, or one could be screwing the other while the other isn't there, so immi would demand they are both there)? Hmm, anyways.

[the eye]

what matters, is what he tells them on the phone. if he is hiring another teacher, he is going to tell immi that you are being let go. fired. in a nice way 'let go'. it's not ideal, but, it's not going to cause you problems in getting another job.

summarily, that you are getting what you wanted. you are free.

[cellphone]

ummm. appreciate the replies. but as a quick note, it sounds like I may NOT be getting what I wanted. I wanted a 'good business' release, not a fire-related one. Moreover, I personally believe and felt that the current situation has come to what it is based on circumstances being against me, beyond my control despite my best efforts. But anyways I guess that's more technical.

Developments.

Tried to talk with my boss on the way out the door tonight, about last minute stuff and wanted to confirm with him one more time about the release letter for tomorrow night. Asked him about it and asked if we could write one up in both english and korean tomorrow after work. He said they will only be writing one up in Korean language. This and the fact he seemed less than available to talk about it gave me more questions. He then seemed to imply almost that a Eng/Kor one is not something he's considered before. When I explained that both languages would be best so that both sides understand perfectly what is said, he gave a "ummmm" more like a "yawn" or "hmm yah anyways... hmm i dunno yah maybe, hmmm"

After several "ummmms" and a few lip bites, he then seems to budge but not directly acknowledge a Kor/Eng one, but gave a headshake or something then immediately said "but anyways" release letters aren't really official anyways, which he's right, but he's still kind of avoiding or continually ignoring. By his face expression it seems and feels very clear that he's purposly doing this, not accidently. (I should say I think a Kor only letter might leave some room for misunderstanding or unfairness against the teacher, especially since I've given my boss my promise and done my best to still keep up all the classes as best as possible and allow nor cause any extra troubles, and said a few times that a good-business release letter is what is important to me).

Then, when I tried to clear up that it only needs the very simple information like dates, sigs and release agreement, he said "yes I agree" but that the letter should also include "a reason." This again pops up that question from almost a month ago. I asked him what reason, but he was rather unclear but then finally said "oh because you said you wanted to quit" almost like he wasn't being full and clear with me. Interesting as I've already stated a couple of times that i believe 'technical reasons' wouldn't necessarily need to be stated.

Sorry but it's just a bit too much dancing to be so simple. What I'm thinking is he might want to put just a little last shot on the letter, like "teacher had troubles with the kids" or "caused us grief" type of thing, something that might not prevent you from getting a new job, but enough that it'll be a stake through the heart and something enough that it would follow you around for awhile perhaps(?) Especially not good as over the last month I stated clearly a positive or neutral release letter and a basic last pay are my only two requests, and in exchange I would still conduct the classes with best terms. Even just a day or so ago he was shaking his head affirmatively about it, or so it seems. Now it seems less than firm.

In final something else. He's not the wonjongnim. The WJ never interacts with teachers. So he's just the main 'boss.' Then there's this thing that, when it comes to business, his 'english isn't good.' But in casual conversation he's good. So there's the main supervisor, a girl, whose english is great and 'handles' all the english is business conv. Interesting. He told me on the way out the door tonight that, tomorrow 'she might late (i.e. VERY late or no show) tomorrow as she has a pregnant related sickness.' I could almost imagine the worst, she doesn't show, he acts like he can't talk about it, and I get messed around. Anything seems all possible.

Again it's all dancing, "ummmming", lip curling.... Someone made the comment "but you're free", sure that's good (well not till tomorrow night), but apparently I might risk getting less or far less than what I asked and agreed for a few weeks ago, all on good business terms.

Constructive comments or helpful insight welcomed.

[schwa]

Man, youre so obsessive about details, I'm really not surprised your boss & coworkers wanted you out the door. You've begged this board to hold your hand through every minuscule step of the process of being released. Cant you figure anything out on your own? Your boss is trying to let you go as kindly as he knows how & youre still second-guessing everything he does. You've talked about stress -- have you considered how much you might be causing others?

[Derrek]

Those letters are proven to work.

Ask if there's something about them refusing to sign a release, becasue I think you can sign it and turn it in, writing also that the boss refused to sign it.

You probably don't need to bother with that, though.

Either way, you're going to be off the hook. You really should be asking questions in the EFL-Law forum. I think a lot of the people "in the know" about these things have moved on to another forum than here, or have been banned. I wouldnt' worry so much about being, "fired" as much as worry about pissing off your boss. People are fired and hired elsewhere from hagwon jobs all of the time.



By the way, you shouldn't be "talking" about this. You need to stick the letter in his face daily.

[ajuma]

Is there some reason that you haven't called IMMIGRATION to find out exactly what you need???? Sheesh!