Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gideon]

I'm a teacher from Canada, currently finishing up my 2nd year contract (ending this month) with a university. My university has decided not to renew my contract next year for reasons they havnt given me other than "we just want to hire some new teachers". Anyway the reason why they didnt renew my contract for another year isnt important.

This i don't understand -- > My boss has asked me for a LETTER OF RESIGNATION before the end of my contract <feb 28>. I said why do u need a letter of resignation? I am not the one who ended my employment with the university, but rather you guys didnt want to renew my 3rd year contract.

My boss said in order for you to recieve your pension (apparently the pension plan is not national but from a private company) you must give us a letter of resignation.

This sounds very strange to me as to why they would need such a letter.


Anyone want to take a stab at this one????

[J.B. Clamence]

I remember when I left my last job (also a university with a private pension), I had to submit a form near the end of my last year officially stating that I would be ending my employment on such-and-such a date and thus my pension should be refunded. It's not really a "letter of resignation." Those were just a poor choice of words on the part of your boss.

[Big Mac]

What a load of crap. They don't need a letter of resignation at the pension office. They need to inform the pension office when your end date is, but that's it.

That's why you can't apply for a refund until after you're done your job.

I would be careful with this guy. There's some other reason he's asking you to do this. He's not being straight up with you.

[joe_doufu]

I would go above his head. One way to do this may be to find where the job is advertised and submit an official application. That way the HR department of the university (or whatever) will have to review it and will ask questions. He probably doesn't like you, wants you to leave, but hasn't got a strong enough reason to explain to HR why they shouldn't re-hire you.

[Homer]

Mac...

[jacl]

I don't see how a letter of resignation has anything to do with pension. Anyway, your contract ends at the end of the contract. End of story. Give it to them on Korean time (i.e. never). Maybe look into to clauses. If you resign, I hope that doesn't affect you getting your contributions back. Maybe if you resign, they get their contributions back, and you get yours, instead of you getting yours and theirs. Why would they bother with this?

Could also be nothing. Maybe it makes them look better.

[Gideon]

Yes this does sound strange.. although it could have been a poor choice of words on his part.. but i doubt it. Most teachers dont believe half the words they say. And they are terrible about keeping promises.

So I will ask them tomorrow again. As mentioned in the previous posts that perhaps they want this letter so they can get their contributions back.. and i get mine..

i'll keep you all informed!

[Jenrose]

I'm dealing with this now, too. I called the pension office to find out what I needed, and they informed me that I couldn't apply for my pension until my boss had filled out the paperwork for my resignation! So, my boss said he couldn't do that until I got paid this Friday so that I would get all the pension that is owed to me. So, now I wait. He will hopefully declare my resignation on Friday, and I will be a the pension office on Monday morning. I asked him to pay me early just for the sake of giving me more time to make sure my pension was in order, but no.. he couldn't do that. So, now I have Monday and Tuesday to get it done, and that stresses me out, because I don't often have much luck with things working right here.

[The Bobster]

Sounds like you were working at the same uni for a couple of years, and that is when they have to start thinking about giving you tenure rights such as are normal for Korean instructors. Thus, they want to get a batch of new ones, because they don't want to have waygook teachers involved in the same seniority system koreans enjoy. They have no reason to let you go, so they ask you to write a resignation letter.

I'm talking out of my hat, just based on conversations with friends who have taught at unis here. I have no firsthand experience of any of this.

There might be something to the pension talk, but offhand it sounds like smoke. I'll watch this thread to see if someone more knowledgeable than me comes by.

[Gideon]

Ok people.. I got my friend to call the "private pension office" and she asked if i need to give my uni a resignation letter. The answer is NO NO NO NO.. I by no means have to give them that letter. Its just smoke.. I think that my boss just wanted it for their benefit. Most of the other teachers were more than happy to hand theirs over. See thats the problem, they dont ask just do what they are told.

Anyway, because i asked i was told its for the pension.. BULL&^%. Just a bunch of smoke. This uni is one of the worst places i've worked. Not because of the students, or the teachers i work with, but from all the administration. They lie all the time and dont keep their promise. I know this can be gerneral korean practice, but still. I am tired of being treated like a second class citizen.

I am glad to be leaving this place because i've found a far better job with double the pay and then some.

For all those out there who were asked or will be asked to submit a letter of resignation the answer is NO!! NO !!.