Korean Job Discussion Forums

Flossie · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:43 pm Post subject: Red letter days

Had an interesting discussion at work today about public holidays. My normal working days include Sat, Sun and Mon which were public holidays last month for Chuseok. When calculating my pay for last month they said I hadn't worked for those three days so took that number of hours off my total for the month. Then they added in the extra overtime I had done on other days and the total was (totally coincidentally) the same as my regular salary. So I was just paid the regular amount. I asked why I hadn't been paid for the public holidays and they said that according to company policy I am paid per hour worked not per day or on a monthly salary. So because of that they dont need to pay me public holidays.

I told them that my understanding was that it was law to pay but they just said, they didn't know if it was law or not, just that it wasn't company policy to pay foreigners public holidays.

I checked the labor website but couldn't find what I wanted. I found a link but it didn't open.

Does anyone have any official guidelines to cover this kind of thing?

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

Sorry, I don't have a link or anything, just some experience. Take a look at your contract. Most places I've worked have never paid any extra for holidays...they always tried their best to make sure the 120 hours were worked one way or another. The holidays may be days off or maybe a nice three- or four-day weekend or a nice break during the week, but you still have to do the 120. At least that's been my experience. Usually it's hours worked. They usu still pay you the monthly salary according to contract if your hours fall below 120, but they'll almost never pay you overtime unless you actually do overtime hours.

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

Public schools pay for holidays.

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

I get the same pay every month regardless of how many public holidays there are and what ever days they fall on. I never work overtime so that doesnt come into consideration.

Flossie · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:56 pm Post subject:

I think my contract is the thing causing confusion. It says I have to work 30 hours a week but then it outlines specifically four hours during week days and 15 hours 40 minutes during weekends. (and, yes, I know it adds up to more than 30 hours a week Sad

)

Because I work six days a week there isn't an opportunity to make up the classes. Either the classes are scheduled at that particular time or they are not there at all. There is no space for rescheduling.

However in addition to teaching (which is what the contract is for) I also do other work which is classed as overtime according to my contract because it is not teaching work. This I get a set hourly rate for.

This was never a problem before during other months but it just suddenly became a problem this month because my overtime hours were extremely high and he didn't want to pay, despite the fact that he had a daily update on how many hours I was doing and the work was a special project of his.

Anyway, needless to say, I'm trying to recoup the money he decided he didn't owe me (it's quite substantial being half a million won)

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

My contract specified that I was to be salaried and not paid according to hours worked (unless I taught in excess of 21 classes in a particular week, in which case overtime was paid). So public holidays, exam days, sports days etc. didn't affect my pay. Everyone in the Wisconsin program has the same contract, and I thought it would be standard everywhere.