Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bhendsbee]

I had to quit my job and return home in mid November because my father had passed away. I asked my school if I could go home and come back after Christmas to finish my contract and add an extra 1.5 months on the end to make it a full year. The owner of the school Park wouldnt allow me to go for that long, so I asked if I could get a release letter apon returning after Christmas to work at another school. He agreed under 2 conditions, the first if I wrote a letter to the parents telling them why I was leaving, the second if I had a doctors note faxed from home with my fathers diagnosis. Both these conditions were met and I went home. In early December I was contacted by the school and asked to come back and finish my contract as I had asked to do, but the catch would be that I would not receive a full end of contract severance. When asked why I wouldnt receive this I was told that many of my students changed schools when I went home so since the school lost money I would have to loose money. I said thanks but no thanks to this offer so I was told by Park that I wouldnt get a release letter. The exact quote from him was "If you won't work us you won't be able to work for anyone." In short I'm being blackmailed because my father passed away. Let me also add that the living conditions are horrible, 8 of the 10 english teachers live on the 4th floor of the school in office size apartments without windows, because Park is too cheap to pay for apartments for them. If there was a fire on the 4th floor during the night, none if these teachers would be able to get out of the building. I could go on but this I believe is enough. DO NOT WORK AT THIS SCHOOL!

[Crowzone]

Wait.. you still wanted your severance after not finishing your contract?

I don't see why you would expect that.. However -- it sure can be frustrating to deal with a family emergency and your boss made you jump through a lot of hoops which proves him to be an ass..

Still, I wouldn't have expected severance..

[Zoot]

[braunshade]

I have added that hogwon to my blacklist.

[Crowzone]

The part where I don't see that is that the owner agreed to giving him a letter of release -- which means he isn't completing his contract (otherwise he wouldn't need one) And his VISA obviously hasn't expired (or else again, he wouldn't need one) so yeah, I wouldn't expect severance if you're not staying for the entire duration of your contract.

[livinginkunsan]

For English teachers you comprehension skills are lacking. He worked x amount of time.. went home because of his father being ill. They want him to come back to work x months (the completion of his 12 month contract) yet do not want to pay severence because he didnt work the 12 months continuously because of his fathers illness.

[Crowzone]

I'm not saying it isn't an Ass thing to do, and that the director isn't a bad guy. I'm just saying that nothing in my time in Korea has taught me to expect otherwise..

Contract broken
Severance is part of a contractual obligation

Therefore no severance.

[polonius]

First, let me say I am sorry to hear about the loss of your father. Having been through that myself, I know what a crappy thing it is to go through. Then to have your boss treat you with such disregard sickens me.

On to your problem of being blacklisted. It may be so that he has put a flag by your name, but as we have seen many times, what one immigration office does, rarely gets told to another. I would suggest that you try and find a job in another area, that deals with a different immigration office, and try your luck. Your new employer will know prior to you coming to Korea whether or not you have been flagged.

Good luck.