Korean Job Discussion Forums

[captain kirk]

This is kind of a stupid story, and ridiculous. But it could be a kind of warning to someone perhaps.
I went on vacation back to Canada and there was a job lined up from there, and I came back to Korea into that job. First off there was a witholding of pay as a way to deter runners. I objected to that policy after having worked a month. We had words/raised voices. But he paid me in full. The witholding of pay like that is illegal and up to the teacher to accept or refuse. So I refused.

The boss, when we had words over this, surprised me by being a real jerk on a power trip, but what else is new in Korea, right? He said all the previous teachers haven't objected to witheld pay; what makes you so special?

To me this wasn't a big deal, but it seemed so to him. Especially when I'd said that witholding pay is 'illegal'. He seemed to regard this as a most impertinent thing to say.

Well I asked for advances of pay quite often, like three times in two months. And one night he said no and walked away. After actually scolding me about being a spendthrift and what did I do with the last advance he gave me? He was standing and literally talking down to me at this point.

I don't want to come across as a 'prima donna' here. There may be those of the suck it up and take it school or just plain harrassing hecklers who'd say, 'this is Korea'. Or, didn't you know that tons of bosses are on power trips?

But I just couldn't, at the time, deal with this idiot scolding me about how I spend my money, and refusing to give a pay advance. I'd been to Japan for the visa run the month before and was locked into the one year E2 with this guy. You know how much of a lockdown a contract is. And here is this little prince being a real ass, pouring it down like rain.

So we argued. The next day he said that I'd said, 'I quit'. And he had a friend of his who 'heard this' (which is a lie). So it comes round to me being fired, basically.

I've heard that these prince bosses do stupid things. How stupid is that? Sending me to Japan, getting the visa finalized/locked down, then coming across like a real jerk? And I'm supposed to let him walk away after having been scolded about 'not being careful with money', forget about it, and work out the next ten months after being humiliated in this way?

Yeah, humiliated. What kind of a dipstick 'adult' scolds another adult? Maybe, as a westerner, I've more exposure non-feudal ways but come on!

It wasn't that he wanted to fire me, either. And this was some sort of excuse he was waiting for. It was just the boss being a fool on the road who shouldn't be driving/on the road. A road hazard.

Stupid story, like I said, of a dumbass boss. The moral; 'If you kowtow, you might not get screwed. If you don't take any crap, you'll get screwed'.

Pamper your infantile boss, then

[gmat]

Please don't take offense CK: but why on earth would you need multiple advances from your boss? I know you are not a recent grad

[trevorcollins]

[captain kirk]

To piss him off.

Whatever about the money. I sent stuff home to keep it out of reach. And at the last job, last year, asked for advances all the time. Who cares? They didn't mind at the last job, it's my money anyway, so no problem. Well, with this guy, it was an opportunity to scold me. I mean, WTF.

Anyway, it's a stupid story, ridiculous, and the boss is a jackass. I'll be on the lookout for more little prince bosses as I now peddle my ass about town bowing and scraping for another job .

Yes, he's giving me a LOR. Such a prince. Stupid fool.

I like my paragraphs! There's nothing wrong with them, dammit. Go pick on yer own grammar.

[the eye]

haha! sorry to laugh, but what trevor said about your sparkling new paragraphs was also what i was thinking! it's about time you bought some, captain.

sorry to hear about your sit-u-a-tion, though.
on the bright side, maybe it's a sign to get deeper into your craftmanship with those boomerangs.! it's spring, and the one's you made for me are really enjoying it. i could handle your daegu distribution, maybe

no, seriously...i suffered the same end last year when i secured a job from outside the country. after some experience, one would think that one knows the tell tale signs of imminent danger.
not so in this industry.

if you considered relocating to daegu, i can set you up with at least 3 highly reputable academies... no royalty involved.
PM me.

[gmat]

CK: I am sorry about your situation, but glad to hear that you are not completely broke Sounds like this will work out for the best as you will not have to deal with this asshole for an entire year. Good luck.

[pet lover]

get a job where they pay you every two weeks and you won't need an advance all the time.

[margaret]

[animalbirdfish]

The boss sounds like a grade-A jerk, but I have to question the pay advances, too. It's a personal thing, but I don't like being beholden to bosses. I want what's in the contract and I expect them to give me what's in it - no more, no less. Otherwise, in Korea, it seems to become a scorecard of who did what for whom and why that person should be grateful.

All that said, I sympathize with you on the boss lying about what the you said. I've had it happen to me as well. Maddening.

[quadra87]

edit

[eamo]

Sorry to hear that Captain.

A lot of Korean bosses will not accept anyone standing up to them. He was sore about you refusing the illegal with-holding of pay thing. I suspect it wasn't really about the advances at all. In his little Wonjeongnim mind he lost face about that. Little Hitlers can't look at someone who put them in their place.

[canuckistan]

What kind of boss you get is a crap shoot here; yours sounds like one of the bad kind with power issues. He's an idiot if you've got a good track record in finishing contracts for reasonable and unbankrupt schools.

[captain kirk]

Thanks, friends.

And may ye all be warned

[rapier]

I never ask for advances if I can possibly help it. The boss will assume that you are desperate for cash and have a power trip.

Its sounds unfortunate..bad luck..Whats your next move Captain? I assume a letter of release is No. 1 priority.
Otherwise, I hear teaching in the west bank makes for a stimulating change (seriously).

[hellofaniceguy]