Korean Job Discussion Forums

[skyhawk]

I received an offer from a uni that requires all holidays to be "made up" -- is this a standard practice? From what I can see on Dave's, the vast majority of positions do not mention any "making up" for holidays. What's the deal with this uni?

[Ya-ta Boy]

If they really mean making up national holidays, then no, it is not common. Some hakwons do it, but I've not heard of a university doing it. Is it possible they mean days missed in addition to national holidays?

[skyhawk]

Thanks for the reply. They were quite clear that this concerns the make up of national holidays. It is the Language Institute of a uni, so it is like a hagwon. Stiil, it appears that this practice is rare -- am I right?

[Karabeara]

I am sick of these hagwons trying to pass themselves off as the university. They are not. They are hagwons, no matter who runs them.

No, this is not common. I have been scanning job ads, making calls, and this is not common. Do not work there.

[Grotto]

If they want you to make up classes...make sure that the classes are made up during your regular hours and that they are overtime. As long as you dont have to give up a weekend or work for free I see no problem.

[merrilee]

My uni has us make up national holidays. It only takes 2-3 days the week before exams. No biggy.

My previous uni had the same policy.

edit: Definitely do not ask for overtime for make-ups, as you'll completely come across as difficult. I saw another uni contract that had a base salary, but if for some reason classes were cancelled causing you to work less than the normal hours, they would deduct from your base salary. Of course, that's ridiculous but no more so than asking for OT for make up classes.

[hellofaniceguy]

I'm confused....if it's a holiday....then why make it up? If you have to make it up....obviously then it's not a holiday. And if you do...it should be for extra pay.

[merrilee]

If it were impinging on your vacation time, that would be one thing. If, however, you have 3 months of vacation, and the make-up classes are not during vacation time... why ask for OT? It doesn't make sense.

I can't speak for others, but at my uni, the make-ups are the week before exams, when usually there would be no classes. For instance, this past week I had to teach make-ups Monday and Tuesday, but I had no classes Wednesday through Friday. Thus, I only taught 6 hours, when my base salary is based on 12.

Given the bad reputation Korean universities have, some of them are trying to counter that by implementing such measures as make-up classes. If some government or education board is reviewing the uni and finds that only 28 out of 30 class hours were actually taught, it apparently is frowned upon... and frowns mean less money for the school.

[canukteacher]

At my uni. we make up classes for national holidays. It's no big deal. There are a couple of reasons.......

University ranking : uni's that have fewer class hours get ranked lower.

Overtime: I get my overtime even when there is a holiday. Making up for the national holidays means less paperwork for the admin.

I wouldn't not take a job just because they want you to make up what probably amounts to a couple of hours.

CT

[Grotto]

Lets see.....national holidays are paid correct>?
If you make up the classes from the national holidays without getting paid for them then in effect you did not get paid for the holiday.

Why on earth would you work for free?

If you have a week where you have no classes and make up the classes at that time then no problem. If you have to teach a full week + make up classes then I would want overtime.

[fusionbarnone]

[Ya-ta Boy]