Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Teufelswacht]

Saw this while reading EFL-Law's website. What do you think?

[wild sphere]

it's been a long time coming, but well worth the wait.

[Ilsanman]

That's pretty much all of them.

Anyways, it's not fair to the legitimately good schools out there. My school is not so great, but they don't rip anyone off. And we have 15 or so employees.

[Real Reality]

[JongnoGuru]

[weatherman]

Smart move. Means keeping away from mom and pop operations.

The wave, if it ever gets going will be for a more corporate system and organization to the ESL industry in Korea.

[Teufelswacht]

EFL LAW started a jobs section where employers could post help wanted ads. EFL LAW advertised, if I remember correctly, that they would stand behind, (offer free legal services, etc.) the employee for the duration of their contract if the person was hired through their site. They were basically putting their name behind the employers who advertised on their job site. I think they might have gotten burned or something by someone posting a job advertisement. Don't know, just conjecture on my part.

[Ilsanman]

[Real Reality]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I think for someone sitting at home in Hot Rocks, Australia or Weed Patch, Arkansas or anywhere else, this is a helpful warning--a good rule of thumb. Most of the abuses happen in the small mom and pop hakwons. For someone who is searching for a job with no real way of checking the history and working conditions of a place on the other side of the world, it is probably somewhat safer to work in a bigger operation.

EFL Law is coming from a wider perspective, having the advantage of experience across the spectrum of jobs. While it may not be fair to the decent small operations, it is reasonable advice. Let those little operations lobby their government to put some effective regulations on the industry so everyone has a decent work environment. Foreigners can't do it. The corrupt hakwon owners won't do it. That leaves the good employers to do it. Maybe this will help encourage the decent owners to put some pressure on where it will do some good for everyone.

[Derrek]

I think it's a good point. And one that should be read by those thinking of coming here.

The guy's not saying this out of malice for Korea -- he's simply stating the truth and not wanting to misguide anyone. Heck, I work for a private school with over 100 employees and THEY try to jerk me around on airfare, etc -- things blatently stated in my contract. I can't blame the entire school, however -- I've got my eyes on one guy who seems to be the source of such troubles. Then again, he is known to carry out orders directly from the Principal, so who knows?

Sometimes I wonder how many people have come and gone from this country -- leaving with a negative perception of the people and the way they do business.

I know I will certainly not respect them for the way they do it.

(cue the RR quote)

[Summer Wine]

Sometimes I wonder how many people have come and gone from this country -- leaving with a negative perception of the people and the way they do business.


Me, I was one. Though after you have time out, it doesn't seem so bad. Though you have to come back to a good school and I would never recomend coming here to anyone who is a friend, unless I was sure they could handle chaos incarnate rolled up in a contract unenforceable with a side helping of gravediggers luck.

[darbyjh]

My rule of thumb, like many, is to not work for an institute that has no history. Mom and Pop shops usually last one, maybe two years. Long enough to make a quick profit. They really don't care about what happens to their employees just as long as the students keep coming in.

I also know that some of the more famous institutions have their moments but are generally more reliable, even if they happen to be smaller, satellite schools.

I agree that it is a good warning for those who are coming for the first time.

On the other hand, my wife worked for a Mom and Pop operation and had no serious problems, with the exception of not getting paid on time (which happened because the owners took their families {inlaws on both sides} to Australia for vacation and couldn't make payroll). But to their credit, the next month they paid my wife the money they owed from the previous period and the current period plus a 200,000 bonus for putting up with their mistake. I have to mention that they were sincere Christians and owed up to their mistake.

However, I imagine that that is more of an exception than a rule.

As for me, I do big places. When we return to Korea next month (after 8 month holiday...no...I just couldn't hack it in America), I will work at a smaller institute but for the former director/president of my former hokwon who has opened his own institutes a couple of years ago. A short history, but I know him well, and, dare I say, trust him. He is also a sincere Christian.

Am I being a hypocrite? Aghhh! Anyway, the other option is a university. Friends work there and want us to come. I knew the dean of the school's English academy and we were friendly with the president but they left and I really don't know any Korean there except one professor. My friends who work there are kind of leary about the new dean and president but are choosing to remain to wait out transition and hope it goes smoothly. What to do!

Back to the thread again...good idea to be careful and you never can be too careful.

[seoulmon]

It takes so much energy to rip off employees. Don't they ever just give up?