Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eleruen]

fired unfairly from a 'reputable' hagwon, is there any chance of getting another job in Korea? Boss has given me two months to find another job (which is suprisingly generous), after that, I am out.

Boss is sticking to contract nor commiting any crimes but is a nutcase in other ways...so there is no way to prove that I am being treated unfairly

His grounds are:

claiming that I complain more than anyone else. In fact I complain less.

claiming I don't connect well with the kids. Most of my kids love me.

claims there is not much output from me. I have contributed resources and most of my students are getting high grades.

Gives me less preparation time than the other teachers.

Demands that teachers are not allowed to use any kind of negative reinforcement. I follow this because he is my boss, while the other teachers do not. However, he says I don't follow his instructions, therefore I am not supporting him in his 'vision' about his hagwon.

claims that I am too emotional. I am very calm in the classroom, and with my colleagues. but I have tolerated this confusion for so long that I spent 5 minutes crying in the office (my first time). The next day he fired me because of the above 'reasons'.
.

I have demonstrated with examples in a private meeting with him how his perception is not true. My colleagues also believe that it is not true.

How can I explain this to a new employer?

Thankyou,
confused.....

[rawiri]

How many months in are you, if its more than 8 then he's probably shafting you for your severence. Less than six and his reasons may be somewhat valid.

[eleruen]

i have been contracted since middle december, so it has been 5 1/2 months. The extra two months makes it 71/2 months.


I have experience in another hagwon where I was very successful...boss begged to have me back! but I wanted to move to and experience life in a big city, so i turned his offer down.

I find this all very shocking and confusing, and my colleagues do not understand his reasons. They say none of it is true.

I really do not know what to think.

[eleruen]

i forgot to mention that the hagwon has a good rep with parents, in general a bad rep with foreign staff. Each branch has a different wonjangnim, and a lot of them have made it to the hagwon blacklist. However, this is a new branch and he is a new wonjangnim....his sister is wonjangnim at another branch.

also i have heard from a male colleague that when he was helping his sister at the other branch, he did not get along very well with some of his female staff, one of which he dismissed under grounds that were equally grey.

[bellum99]

He is right to fire you. He doesn't want you to work for him and he is following the law. Seems fair to me. You get 2 months notice and he is being reasonable. I would not whine about it and just get another job. You could have had my first boss (SATAN) and watch him shaft you in every possible way for no reason.

[captain kirk]

Ask your boss, when employers call him for a reference, that you were on a six month contract and that he needed you to stay an extra six weeks. Or some seemingly reasonable 'looks good' excuse why you worked with him 7.5 months. Put it down as 'a six month contract' on your resume.

If you're female, and young, no matter what 'your story' (re; leaving at month 7.5) is you should have no problem getting another job with the letter of release. Young, female foreign teachers all look like Britney Spears to hagwon directors.

[rawiri]

Way to go bellum. share the love aye!

[tzechuk]

[bellum99]

Well, it seems to me that it is the bosses school and he can choose to do what he wants. YOU work for him, not the other way around. If he doesn't want you to work for him then it seems fair....doesn't it? If he tells you why and doesn't cheat you then it is right.
Of course the teacher isn't telling everything to us..no boss wants to lose money and time by hiring another teacher and giving the students a new teacher and have to talk to all the mothers again. At least the OP will get a notice, money and a release letter. This all seems fair to me.
The boss is reasonable. There are many jobs and the OP will easily find a new job in two months and the OP will be fine.

[poet13]

bellum99...can you clarify? He is right, or it's his right? One way i agree with you, the other, I don't understand....

[seoulsista]

Whatever. All of that is neither here nor there. Why don't you just start applying for new jobs and not even mention this other place. Just tell them that you are here on a tourist visa and that you can begin working on June xx. You don't need to justify time on your resume in Korea.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Whatever you do, make sure you get a letter of release. You may also wish to have a Korean friend phone him saying that he / she's thinking about hiring you and would like a reference. That should give you a good idea of where you stand.

[buymybook]

[Homer]

Very tough to make a call on this one.


From the OP the boss seems reasonable and has given 2 months notice. He is respecting the contract (OPs words) and not cheating the OP.

Also there are always two sides to such stories and so far all we heard was that the boss was fair but nuts and assertions from the OP defending herself (normal but hardly an impartial source).

My advice: take advantage of the 2 months to scout out a job that suits you and then leave.

[Grotto]

Perhaps you should enlighten your boss as to the definition of "fired"

From your OP it sounds more like you are being laid off....get LOR in hand! Start looking for a new job and tell him you want your severance pro-rated.....IE 6 months worth(or 7.5 if you stay that long)

Myself personally: I wouldnt stick around where I wasnt wanted(or felt as you justifiably do)...I would get out of there asap!

Best of luck.