Korean Job Discussion Forums

Anicca · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Location: Jeju-Do, Korea

Hey guys,
Got a question for you: just started a new job and was told will be working 28.5 hrs a week. Sounded okay for 2.3 a month. Got my schedule, and I'm actually teaching 31 hrs a week. But when they figure it out, they figure 50 minutes is 50 minutes and not 1 hr. Well, do that with every class and 31 hours becomes 28.5.

I've never experienced this kind of reckoning system. What about you guys?

I demanded either a payraise or a reduction of hours.

Thanks!

icicle · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

jeffkim1972 · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Location: Mokpo

Any time you spend at your workplace should count as "time". If they can't give you work, then that's their problem.

However, these places have managers that don't understand standard business practices and just make up things such as these.

Other stupid things they think they can get away with are "14 vacation days", when it really includes 4 days of weekends, even though you have the weekend off anyway.

Much of Korea is about the outward appearance.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

At public high schools (I work at one) a 50 minute lesson is considered as one 'teaching hour'. At elementary schools a 40 minute lesson is. However, many private employers essentially pay by the minute when it comes to figuring out salary and overtime.

As someone said, check your contract. It probably says '30 teaching hours' which can be interpreted as 30 hours actually in the classroom, and it's hardly worth going to war over 1 extra hour if you really want 30 lessons to equal 30 hours.

Anicca · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Location: Jeju-Do, Korea

Yeah, the contract says, teaching hours not including breaks or other time spent at the job. So, they can pay by the minute.

It basically means I teach 31 hours a week but am getting paid for 28. Thankfully I have an F2, so I'll say Later after a month if they don't fix something.

FistFace · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:41 pm Post subject:

This 50 minutes = 50 minutes thing is something one needs to look for in a contract.

If it's there, simply don't sign it.

Don't forget to tell them why.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Even if my contract stated that, I'd still make them change it. My way or the highway. They choose.