Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jeefunk22]

I have been working with several recruiting agencies, one of which referred me to XXXX school in Bundang. It seems like a good gig and I would want to work at the location, except that they won't make ANY changes to the contract.

I asked mostly for simple things - it says that they pay health insurance, and pension, but the clauses are sort of vague in their wording. I just asked for them to quote specific amounts, and to include mention of paying income tax.

Also, my main problem with the contract was a clause which states, roughly,
"If the employee fails to work all of the regularly scheduled hours due to tardiness, absence, etc., the monthly rate will be calculated using the daily rate or hourly rate. Daily rate = Monthly salary / 30; Hourly rate = Daily rate / 6."
So if my normal salary is 2.2 million... wouldn't this basically allow them to pay me 1.45 million for a month if, let's say, I missed one hour due to tardiness or emergency and only worked 119? This is an unfair calculation, and I pointed it out to them and asked them (well, via the recruiter) to change it.

The recruiter keeps telling me things like
SUCH-AND-SUCH SCHOOL EMPLOYS DOZENS OF TEACHERS, IF WE CHANGE THE CLAUSES IN YOUR CONTRACT THEY WILL CONSIDER IT UNFAIR
or
YOU SHOULD HAVE MORE TRUST IN THE SCHOOL.
Or she just "explains" to me that they don't really do things the way the contract sounds, it really means [insert other explanation here]. The people I am speaking with seem nice but they don't seem to get that their explanation is not enough for me... if I am signing a year of my life and moving across the world to work for them, they have to put that explanation in writing!

Is there a better way to approach these things?

[ttompatz]

[Grotto]

[jeefunk22]

[Grotto]

ahhh

my bad...I didnt catch that

Yeah, that comment by the recruiter saying they cant change the contract for you.....I would ask why not? Its a simple thing to change it! Just because the other FT's didnt do their homework and demand changes where appropriate doesnt mean you have to suffer for their stupidity!

[alabamaman]

[alabamaman]

Employes place emphasis on being a team, creating a harmonious environment , and being able to trust each other. Employers feel you should be able to trust them, and don't feel the contract changes are needed. Recruiters will tell you that you should be able to trust your employer, and the contractual changes aren't needed. Don't ever listen to any recruiter who says this! You always want everything written in your contract prior to stepping foot in Korea.

Duff Recruiting
http://www.duffrecruiting.com/english/index.php
A4 English
http://www.eze365.com/english/faq.htm
Footprints
http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/
ATC
Worknplay
http://www.worknplay.co.kr/recruiting/jobseekers.htm

[dimnd]

You say a school wants me to come asap. What about my visa?



When a school needs a teacher right away they are flown over and begin teaching right away. At the same time the documents are sent to immigration upon arrival. It��s possible to teach while waiting for a visa to be processed as long as the application has already been submitted. Once the visa is ready you will be sent to Osaka, Japan, for a one-day visa run. For more information than you��ve ever wanted to know on the visa run to Osaka, check out this link:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=19702

[Grotto]

[mumblebee]

You won't find a school that is willing to specify taxation/pension deduction amounts, as this is subject to change; both amounts were raised during my time here, due to government mandate and the fact that I got a raise.

Use common sense...I am finding that a lot of people we interview at our school are becoming quite paranoid about 'getting screwed', and this paranoia does not make a candidate a very attractive hire. Do your research, and unless you have any good evidence against the school, why not assume that there is good faith, and trust that your own maturity, professionalism and good judgement will be able to resolve MOST problems? As others have pointed out, the contract is not as important as the experience of others at the school. I wouldn't change anything in our contract for a new hire; why should we do that when we have so many teachers that work under it with no problems whatsoever?

[Grotto]

[some waygug-in]

[mumblebee]

Of course we allow people to contact current and past teachers. I am not refering to contracts with illegal clauses, but ones where there is no problem but a candidate's fearful interpretation.

As for coming around the world, and the associated risks...hiring someone from around the world is a risk too. Many schools do their best to screen candidates, but still end up with a wacky (or just incompetent) teacher. It is unrealistic to expect that this kind of arrangement is 'risk free' for anyone.

Personally, I would be very wary of any established school that said they were willing to change a contract at a prospective teacher's whim; that could be a sign that the school will do whatever it takes to get someone over here, with no intent of actually following it.

Bottom line, don't turn down what seems like a good gig, just because they refuse to change the wording of a basically decent contract. If you think the contract is really that bad, just don't sign with them. If you want a custom contract, go with a smaller school, and take a different set of risks.

[huffdaddy]

[laogaiguk]