Korean Job Discussion Forums

[snehulak]

You know, I thought I was immune to this kind of shit working in a public school, but how wrong I was. Here I am with only two weeks to go on my contract, and the local office of education is trying to pull a fast one on me. Here are the facts:

When I began my contract last September, I was told by my supervisor that I was only responsible for paying the gas bill in my apartment, nothing more.

Last winter, I repeatedly had problems with my boiler and the gas supply, so at least three days a week I was left without gas. This went on for three months. I told my supervisor in January that I would buy an electric heater to use when the gas was out. He said ok.

Today I went into the office to do the paperwork for airfare reimbursement, when my supervisor gave me a bill for electricity that amounted to over 400,000 won for the year. He said I am responsible for paying it and that he knew nothing of my problems with heat last winter.

I argued that I was told in September that I was only responsible for the gas bill, so he pulled out the contract and laid it before me, pointing out the clause that states that the employee pays for all expenses related to the apartment. I then asked him why I am just now getting an electricity bill, and he just shrugged it off.

Do you think the labor board could help with this one? I haven�t threatened them with this action because I wanted to keep things civil. If they insist on deducting this amount from my pay, I will have to do something. I�m thinking of doing one of the following:

Refusing to teach the remaining 8 days until my contract expires on August 31st.

File a formal complaint with the labor board (or both).


What do you think?
Thanks for your help with this.

[poet13]

I hate to say it, cause it really sounds like they are pulling a fast one on you, but I think you're probably out of luck. As long as the school can point to contract, I would guess that Labor would support them.
You took them at their word and they went back to the contract.
I am posting a new thread in a few minutes entitled GG related to exactly this scenario. Verbal agreement vs Contract.

[Junior]

Its probably a miscommunication. Does your supervisor speak good english? "Gas" in korean covers a whole range of energy forms.

its normal to pay for all bills connected to your appt.

[snehulak]

No, it's wasn't miscommunication. My coteacher and supervisor both speak very good English. There is a little more involved with this. There is another EPIK teacher living just down the hall in my building who had the same problems as I last winter. She was also told that we didn't have to pay for electricity because our apartments were very small and old, and located way outside of town. It was kind of a 'good faith' agreement.

Also, the first time the supervisor showed me the bill this morning, it had the amounts for both teachers. It was broken down by months, with the totals at the bottom. They amounts were identical for both of us. I asked how this was possible, and again only got the shoulder shrug. I asked for the original bill from the electric company, and after much running around and hushed talking, they showed me the originals, plus a new form similar to the first one, only this time my total was 400,000 and my coworker's was only 11,000. WTF! The original bill showed her not using any electricity for a 6-month period and only marginal usage the other months. My monthly charges were at least 30,000 won, even when I wasn't using the heater, when it went up to around 80,000 per month. Apparently, they averaged out the monthly amounts because there was obviously a problem with the bill from the electric company.

This brings me to my next question. What do you think I should be paying per month in electricity for a 6-pyeong apt? 30,000 seems way too high.

Sorry for the long-winded post.

[dulouz]

The apt residents are typically required to pay the bills. I'd be suspicious if it was the other way around. I do agree however, that public schools aren't perfect as they are so often made out to be.

[Junior]

[Richard Krainium]

Good for you for sticking up for yourself. However, electricity / gas are often used interchangeably for utilities here.

A 6 pyeong apt (box) should have an average electricity bill of around 8-12 thousand a month in summer and double that for winter. Spring and Fall in between if you have floor heating and an electric water heater, which you do.

Your best bet is to keep the heat on them for lowering the bill. Pun intended!

[Return Jones]

Offer to split the bill 50/50. Sometimes this sort of thing happens. I'm not sticking up for the school breaking its promise, but in Korea the reality is that things change and promises are gestures of intention only. There isn't a single teacher in Korea who hasn't had a promise broken - whether it be through intentional deception or due to a change in circumstances. Sucks, but we aren't back home where a person's word in such situations may actually be meaningful and carry integrity.

[VanIslander]

cunning

[Grotto]

whenever you get a promise get it in writing