Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pgplummer]

Greetings all.

For all you experts out there. Can you look over this contract for me and let me know if anything is missing or to Vague. Comment an things that are maybe too excessive or need more clarification.

Thanks



PERIOD OF EMPOLYMENT

______________ agrees to teach English for ______________ at ___________ from ____________ to ____________.

Salary & Overtime

A salary of 2,300,000 won will be paid per month for teaching eight (8) fifty-minute classes per day, four (4) times per week. Any classes in excess of thirty (30) per week will be considered overtime! Overtime will be paid out at the rate of 25,000 won per fifty (50) minute class. A teaching hour is hereby determined to be fifty (50) minutes.

Salary will be paid on the 5th day of the month or before, if the 5th day falls on a holiday or weekend. Pro-rated pay in the first month will be paid on the 5th day of the first working pay period month at a rate of 19,500 won per fifty (50) minute class taught.

I _______________agree to teach eight (8) fifty-minute classes between the hours of 2:00pm -8:30pm from Mon to Thur. The teacher will be allowed a dinner break from 5:00 to 5:30PM. I will arrive at the school thirty (30) minutes prior to my first class in order to prepare for my classes.

Conditions of Employment

The teacher will not work any split shifts and / or weekends. Weekends being Saturday or Sunday.

The teacher will teach conversational English to all classes as assigned by the institution. The teacher can refuse additional teaching hours that are over the thirty (30) contracted herein per week. In the event additional teaching hours are required, a written consent must be signed by the teacher permitting the additional work hours.

Any out of the classroom activities must be discussed and accepted by both parties to this contract. This shall include field trips, museum visits, student concerts. ETC

All other teacher attended workshops must be disclosed in advance to the teacher to ensure proper preparation on the teacher�s part.

All teaching materials will be provided to the teacher by the language institute. The teacher can recommend and supplement teaching materials if approved by the school beforehand. All materials provided by the school will be returned to the school once the teacher is done with them.

Clothing Attire

The teacher will wear acceptable clothing attire. Casual clothing is acceptable providing it is clean and not torn excessively. The institution is teaching the language and culture of other countries and the students must recognize the differences. Business casual attire will be acceptable at certain functions. (Business Casual = dress pants and either golf shirt or open collared button down shirt, ETC.)
(Casual attire = jeans, khakis, walking shorts, track pants, T-shirts, golf shirts, sweat shirts, ETC)

Deductions: Medical Insurance

Health care provided by NHIC will be deducted in the amount of 2.24% matched by an equal amount by the employer.

Tax

Taxes will be deducted in the amount of 49,330 won per month. In the event the employee works overtime this rate will be adjusted according to the national tax service "monthly withholding tax".

Transportation

Prepaid open ended round trip economy airfare will be provided from the nearest international airport to the employee�s home to the closest airport to the English institute in Korea or prepaid one way ticket of the same criteria. At the end of the contract the employee has an option to a return ticket of the same criteria or accepts 80% cash value in lui of a ticket. In the event the employee needs to do a visa run to Japan the employer will cover all costs associated with the visa run (accommodations, travel, meals). In any event the employer will pay any costs associated with acquiring the visa.





Dismissal or Voluntary resignation

The Employer will have the right to dismiss the teacher in case of neglecting his/her duties under this Agreement. This including but not limited to, frequent absences from the place of Employment without the approval of the Academic Supervisor. Also, of receiving a reprimand letter twice or manifesting inability to perform the duties stated under this Agreement. Prior to any such dismissal, the teacher will be warned of dissatisfaction with performance and will be afforded at least twenty (20) working days in which to remedy the same. Criminal or other conduct that has been clearly substantiated inside or outside the place of Employment, and that would in the opinion of the Academic Supervisor and the Employer be cause for immediate dismissal will result in dismissal with on warning nor time for remedy being allotted. In addition, it will also cause to be dismissed in that case of seriously jeopardizes any student or staff person, or the reputation of the

If for any other reason either party wishes to terminate the contract thirty (30) days notice will be given.

Vacation & Holidays & Sick Time

The teacher will receive two (2), one (1) week vacations during the one year contract. One (1) week during the summer session and one (1) week during the winter session. This is a total of eight (8) days of paid vacation, as the days must be on a Monday to Thursday as the teacher has Friday to Sunday off already.

The employee is entitled to eight (8) sick days per year. A doctors note will be required if the employee misses two or more days consecutively. If the employee does not use all of his sick leave he will be rewarded at the end of the contract at the rate of 80,000 won per day of unused sick leave.

Housing

The school shall provide furnished non-shared living accommodations, a two -bedroom apartment or flat. Furnishings provided by the Employer include; (2) blankets, (2) pillows, television with video player or dvd player, toaster, queen sized bed, kitchen table w/ chairs, two-burner gas hot plate, refrigerator, wardrobe, Cellular telephone, washing machine, air conditioner, floor fan, all cooking utensils and eating utensils, sofa and internet access. Selection of apartments will be made mutually by the Employer and the teacher. In the case that the institution already has the apartment, digital pictures will be forwarded to the teacher to ensure it is acceptable.
The cost of monthly service, utility, and telephone charges for the accommodation provided will be paid by the teacher.

Severance

At the end of the contract the employee will receive a payment equal to a months salary. 2,300,000 won



GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION
This Agreement will be governed by the appropriate laws of the Republic of Korea.
The following Employment Agreement is made between the following two parties.

___________________________
Employer __________________________
Teacher
___________________________
Date ___________________________
Date




Thanks

Patrick in Canada

[MinneasotaGirl]

I have been searching for job positions in Korea for about 2 months, have been offered MANY contracts, but I have never seen one this good. What school offered you this contract?

My boyfriend and I are interested in applying, if they have other positions open. Also, what city is the job in?

Leah

[melvaughn]

I'm far from an expert but I've never read of a supervisor forwarding pictures of the two bedroom apatments with Queen size beds to ensure the teacher is satisified. This sounds more like a holiday than a job especially with the three day weekends. I'd also like to know what school this is?

[ttompatz]

Me thinks this is a nice attempt by a newbie to create a contract that he wishes he would be offered.

Knowing the value and cost of a 2 bedroom apartment (never heard of it refered to by a Korean in korea that way) it wouldn't be offered or at least not offered that way.

The language and tone clearly suggest that it was NOT written in Korea and the lack of a section that outlines all the extra fuzzy stuff that teachers do as part of the job... it was NOT written by anyone with experience in a western educational environment and experience in contractual matters.

Good luck there newbie.... nice, wishful thinking.




.

[jacl]

Sorry, but you can't teach 8 hours in 6 hours, Houdini.

[VanIslander]

I recently started a three-day weekend, Mon-Thurs shift job. They are out there.

[pgplummer]

For those of you that have looked over the contract. I rewrote the offered one in full with my changes.
1) It is a Monday to Thursday Job
2) It does come with a 2 bedroom non sharing apartment.
3) It is on Jeju Island.
4) I made the changes for the sick days from 5 to 8
5) I made a change of vacation days to be more specific for timing.
6) I raised the money by 200000.
7)I made the mistake in retyping of it being 2:00 - 8:30 it should be 1:00 to 8:50.
8) I added the clauses and clarification to make sure all is understood. for example the dress code & the no split shifts etc.
9) I specified the amount of money or percentage as calculated according to Korean tax laws and health care.
10) I specified more specific travel arrangements to be sure I fly to and from as close as possable.
11) I always ask for photos of the apartment if they already have one or I ask to be included in choosing one that I like.
12) I always specify in my contract as to what must be in the apartment when I arrive.


Afterall, This is a contract that has not been signed yet and not negotiated fully yet. I have served 4 contracts in Korea and aside from my first one
( My stupidity of not knowing better ) I have always written my own contract and been paid without problem. They sign my contract with both our revisions and stick to it. So if you though I was green or dreaming up a sweet deal of a contract, then you are mistaken. I just posted it here in case I have forgotten anything or wording needs to be corrected somewhere or more clarification is needed in a certain area.

Thanks to everyone that gave constructive feedback.

Keep the faith and don't overdose on SOJU.

환호 ( CHEERS )

[The Lemon]

[pgplummer]

Thanks lemon. I hope that this is close to what is agreed upon to.

Other then a few changes to make this contract more specific to the job, this contract is very very similar to the contract I finished in March. With how desperate some GOOD schools are to find reliable teachers vs some that are just going through some of the motions, they are happy to have a friendly negotiation and comprimise to get a better teacher.

This is not always the case as most hogwans are run like a business and the less money and demands the better for the bottom line. The more reputable hogwans or schools know that it is smarter to give up a bit of money to ensure the students are happy and the parents continue to pay. In the long run it saves them money as they don't deal with midnight runners or high turnover.

More feedback is welcomed to make the above contract more pleasing to future directors.

CHEERS

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ttompatz]

[pgplummer]

Yes , even the original posting stated it was a 2 bedroom non shared apartment.

[jacl]

Can't teach 8 hours from 1 to 8:50 either. The contract states that you have a half hour dinner break.

C'mon. Your gigs up.

[poet13]

I have a four bedroom, two bath, balconies on two sides. In the summer, I grow tomatoes, peppers, rosemary, etc. Yes, I am alone, and no, no one else will come along until I leave. The enrollment isnt high enough.

[pgplummer]

Jacl

If you add the contract hours up 4 x 8 is 32. If the director does not want overtime then the 4 x 30 minutes for dinner saves him from overtime. Any additional hours as stated in the contract must be agreed to by me. This meaning if the hours start earlier or go till later can be adjusted to accomodate. As long as I am treated fairly, I have never refused extra hours that were within reason.