Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pollyplummer]

Hey guys, my friend works at a hagwon, and she asked me to find out some information for her. They are not paying her for the public holidays in Korea when she does not work. Is this illegal? Also, none of the teachers at her school have ever been paid for their vacations (I think they get a week or 10 days)... The contract is a bit ambiguous about it, but she's going to read it further and find out what it says. Does anyone know if it's illegal for them to not pay for Korean public holidays? She works from 10 a.m.- 7:30 PM with some breaks in the middle. I think that's pretty lame, but she seems to be happy with it. However, if they will not give her holiday pay, she may be looking for a new job. She wants to have a justifiable reason, though. I have no idea where to look for any information. I already tried performing a search in this forum but couldn't seem to find an answer. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[FUBAR]

Teachers are paid to teach 20 days during the month. Their salary is the same regardless of national holidays or other days given off during the month. To answer your question: No, the teachers are not paid for National Holidays.

[hellofaniceguy]

[FUBAR]

Let me clarify. At least this is the way it works at adult hagwons.

Each month you must work 20 days. No more, no less. If there are 21 working days that fall on that month, then the hagwon gives you the extra day(s) off, but you are still paid the regular salary.

This Thursday is children's day and a National Holiday. Since there are 21 working days during the month, the employee will only be working 20 days during the month. The employee will not be paid the National Holiday since they only worked 20 days during the month.

[schwa]

Heres my take on standard hagwon accounting.

The 120 hours a month in the contract is a guideline. The general expectation is that you will work up to 6 hours a day monday to friday, week in week out, & receive your regular monthly salary. When you go above & beyond that, overtime kicks in. Its not a question of calendar quirks, but extra effort. Quibbling a long month is likely at best to stir up bad feelings.

A day missed due to a national holiday shouldnt affect pay. Its just an extra day off & your monthly salary shouldnt be affected. If a national holiday falls on a regular day off, tough luck.

You get into a rhythm, work your weekly shifts, & get your monthly pay.

Unpaid vacation, on the other hand, is a crock. To put up with that, your deal would have to be otherwise mighty sweet.

[Homer]

I think most jobs hire you on a monthly pay basis.

You are contracted to teach so many classes per month.

The fact that there are holidays in that month should not affect your pay. If it does that is unfair. You should discuss this (note the word discuss and not confront) with your employer.

[mindmetoo]

You are paid a salary. A salary is, by definition, a fixed year wage divided up into equal monthly or semi-monthly payments. Whether you work 30 days, 20 days, 21, or 18 days, it is immaterial as far as a salaried system is defined.

[Kimchieluver]

I know for a fact that they have to pay for public holidays. They at least should give you some sort of vacation, usually 5 days winter and five days summer. These are not chosen by you however, they are chosen by the director and it usually means 2 or 3 days tacked on to another holiday or the hogkwans holiday including a weekend. So you dont really get 10 days of real vacation, but you should get something.

Personally I wouldn't want to work at a place so stingy, bad sign that your boss is going to be a hardcase or that he will not be paying you on time.

To confront about the public holidays would be a wise choice.

[Badmojo]

I don't know about everyone else, but every hagwon contract I've ever signed said I get all National holidays off and paid for. I always considered it a law. What does EFL law have to say about it?

[sadsac]

Nationally gazetted public holidays are paid. Vacation time is a different matter. You contract should read, all National holidays are paid and x amount of paid vacation..............It's up to the individual when signing their contract to ensure that these elements are clearly spelled out.

[susmin]

Many hogwans consider that if is not docked, it is paid. For holidays at many hogwans, you do not work. You are not paid for them, but you do not lose pay for it either. They consider it paid because you are not losing any money. In actuality they just work the schedule around it.