Korean Job Discussion Forums

md · Joined: 25 Oct 2006

Hello Everyone,

I was just reading similar threads on this same subject. My boss and I have had a very up and down relationship since I came. Similar to others she can be sweet and then she can be terrible. I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her. It is coming near the end of my contract. I am supposed to be paid on the 20th and she hasn't paid me yet. I am also supposed to be paid one more pay by the 31st which is when we're done. Then I go home.

I'm not sure what to do if she doesn't pay me. I am planning on going back to Canada and am thinking it may be difficult to follow through with court etc there. Is there anything I can do to be prepared?

Thanks so much!
md

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

Why don't you try asking her about the pay that you should've been paid.

md · Joined: 25 Oct 2006

I have talked to her about it. She said first that the pay was a Saturday so that the stock markets weren't open so she couldn't transfer the money. On Monday she transfered 1/3 of it and then she said there was a problem. On Tuesday she said she got to busy. Today is Wednesday and I gave her my account number again so I am crossing my fingers.

The thing is she is just very unpredictable. I have a meeting with her tonight and I really can't tell if she is going to fire me or if she is going to be pleasant. Really it could go either way. Help!

Sometimes I am just not sure of where my power lies. If she does decide that she wants to fire me or not pay me I am not sure what to say to her to stop this from happening. So far I have tell all the other students and go to the labour board. I am not sure of the details of the labour board or if there are other avenues I could follow??

thanks!

English_Ocean · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:49 am Post subject:

I wish every teacher in Korea could go to your school and help you.
Since we can't and chances are she is bringing in a new teacher why don't you share the details. Name of school, and location. You could save some poor person from having to go through the same crap.

Make the call to the labor board. .. What is the number? 1350 press 7 for English?

English_Ocean · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:53 am Post subject:

BLACKLIST!!

http://www.aacircle.com.au/forums/esl-black-list/
http://www.hagwonchecklist.com/
http://www.geocities.com/hagwonblacklist/

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

The first step is to make sure that you are relaxed at all times. Sometimes hogwans don't have a lot of cash on hand. If your boss doesn't pay you, you can always get a tourist visa and come back to tell the next teacher foriegn teacher what happened to you. You always have the ability to blacklist that school.

Sometimes directors forget to pay their foriegn teacher even after 7 months however, many hogwan directors do not have any formal training in business management and spend their money unwisely. It may be that he/she just doesn't have the money right now and she/he is waiting to get a few checks from the parents. If that is the case then there is really nothing that you can do.

If you have a good relationship with your director then he or she will appreciate your flexibility. If they have really screwed you in the past then staying at your job was risky and there should have been an expectation that the behavior would continue.

My suggestion is to just relax and wait to see what happens. There are plenty of hogwan jobs available and if you get screwed you can always get another job teaching somewhere. Limit your budget so that you aren't wasting any money.

Keep us updated as to what happens. I hope everything works out.

maddog · Joined: 08 Dec 2005 Location: Daegu

I don't understand this post.

You gave your boss you account number again?!?! When? How long have you been there?

Your boss may fire you?!?!?! 6 days before your contract expires? On what grounds?

Are you legal? Have you served a year? Does she owe you a flight home?

4 months left · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I believe you can't be fired in your 11 month. Tell her you want the money now, you give a Korean an inch they will take a mile, don't let keep going on. Just tell her ''labor board' if the problem is not solved, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

lover.asian · Joined: 30 Jan 2006

md · Joined: 25 Oct 2006

wow, thanks for all the suggestions and support!

I know what you mean by give an inch take a mile. I agreed to extend my contract for a two weeks. Then she asked me to extend for another week. She asked in a rush. I didn't get a chance to answer. Next time we talked she said I had agreed and threatened me with suing, loss of plane ticket etc if I did not follow a verbal agreement (which I didn't give) to stay a week longer.

To avoid the hastle I agreed to the extra week under terms we would sign a contract on it. She really freaked at this but finally agreed.

From this point our relationship is pretty fragile. She'll go from freaking out to being pleasent as pie. Really unpredicatable! Sometimes I have no idea how to read her.

I am legal but have only been here for five months. It was a short contract for less money. I do have a secured flight back home thank god!!

She did pay me another third of my pay yesterday. She said she would keep the rest until she finds out the gas bill. I guess I will hope from this point about that....

Sometimes she is so strange. Depending on how she feels about me depends on what she will deduct from my pay including taxes, gas and other utilities. considering we have never really had a good relationship I'll be lucky to go home with much!! It is in my contract I pay utilties.

I'll keep you updated on any developments. Thanks for any comments!

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

poet13 · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 2:59 am Post subject:

I think you're in the process of being screwed. You need to sort it, bluntly. Find out exactly where she stands. If your money is overdue, demand it. She threatened to sue you. Threaten to call the labor board....AND the tax office. Do you have NATIONAL medical insurance? No? Tell them you will call them too. Pension? Are you really paying? If you are, you should have recieved about eight months ago, a fancy piece of paper that shows you are registered. You have tools/weapons...now all you need is sack. I don't mean that in a bad way, but you just have to stand up and say enough.

Sash · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Location: farmland

I really sympathize with you.
Your boss is taking advantage of your situation.
I don't even think she can sue because of some verbal agreement(?)

Tell her you're not going home until you're paid. AND you are not going to keep working until you get what you're owed.

You should let us know the name of your school and location!

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

Why you let her jerk you around like that?? Stop teaching until payee.

English_Ocean · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:53 am Post subject:

Dam MD, I think you are battle weary! She's playing you and it suxs.
Does she jump on the phone when you walk into the office? Is she there when you arrive but vanishes when you walk out the the classroom? It's a bloody game, a childess, immature bloody game, and it will sap the energy right out of you. Your a mature, educated, responsible adult.
How much is your gas bill usually? Take the statements with you and tell her you want the rest of your pay minus the average of the gas bill. You got your ticket, she knows your leaving on a certain date. You need to find the number for the airline company and keep it incase you need to reschedule your flight out until you get your money. It only costs ten extra to change the flyout date.
Write down all the numbers you might need and keep them on you. You also might want to keep the foreign police number 051-851-5801 or 5904.
She has no rights to withhold your pay. She's afraid your going to leave as soon as you get it. Try talking some sense into her. Tell her to pay up or your going on vacation. If she fires you then make the calls. Also, do you have a place to hold up? Be sure and call to confirm you ticket out.