As you know, a couple of weeks ago I had pink eye. The doctor told me to stay home for 2 weeks but I only took 3 days off work. Three days off of work followed an earlier sick day and one day off when I had to go to Daejon Immigration to deal with my F2 visa.
My work contract says I get five paid days off in the summer. It also states I get a X-amount cash bonus after successfully completing 6 months. The other week I was told that if I go visit my ill mother in Canada during my assigned vacation I won't get my due cash bonus. Apparently I'm being penalized for having taken off five days cause of sickness and immigration. Obviously I was shocked but after picking apart my contract word-for-word with my director, and coworker I was even more shocked. Shocked at the realization that the company is going against their very own contract. And despite the countless hours, countless emails, countless phone calls, and countless meetings, nothing but disappointment has come from all this, so today I sent this letter to those involved.
Dear [name],
As discussed, I have decided to leave [company's name], so this is my letter of resignation. Tuesday, June 26, 2011 will mark my last day working at the Bundang company].
I would like to add a personal thank you to not only my director at the Bundang [company] for being very supportive of me but also my co-teachers who I admire, my fellow foreign teacher who has been great generating ideas with, my fellow Bundang staff, and the children who made my job worth the effort. I am very sad to leave these people but due to the unfair and unjustifiable stance [company's name] took with regard to my sick days and pay, I no longer feel respected as a professional by this company.
I am leaving very disappointed at the situation but am sorry to my director, co-teachers, Bundang coworkers, and children who really made such an awesome working environment and experience for me. I know they will be affected by my leave just as I will be by the absence of them in my daily life.
Sincerely,
Amy B-Kim
Today they recieved this letter but next week they'll be dealing with the labor board knocking on their door. I didn't want it to come to this, I really did like my job, but what they're doing is totally unfair and despite what they say, the contract typed up by their very own hands protects me from nonscense like this.
QUESTION OF THE DAY...
Am I the only one who sees the irony of this all?
QUOTE OF THE DAY...
I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
-- Robert McCloskey
1 comment:
Wow, that sucks! I also think that it sucks that the labour board can't legally do anything about a situation if they still refuse to pay you, unless you are willing to take them to court which means you would have to pay for a lawyer. And let's face it, the Korean court system is not like it is in Canada and you fighting a big company most likely will result in a loss. It has nothing to do with you Amy, it's just the reality of the situation. I was placed in this same situation as an F-2 visa holder 2 years ago. I thought what they were doing to me was completely unfair (they broke my contract numerous time) and there was NOTHING I could do to fix it. Lawyers were involved, as was the labour board. It got messy and could have been very costly had I not refused to bow out. If you want to know more about it then feel free to email me.
Good luck with it all! You'll find a new job in no time, so walk away with your head held high! (It's moments like these when I don't miss Korea)
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