Head teacher cancels Buddha's Birthday!

[riyehn]

Just got told by my CT that I no longer get Tuesday off! Two weeks ago, she told me that I would be getting Tuesday and Thursday off next week. Tuesday because it's Buddha's Birthday, and Thursday for some other reason. Anyway, today she told me that I have to come in to work on Tuesday! There's some kind of student trip next week but I don't know how that would affect anything. Supposedly Thursday is still on as a holiday, but my parents are coming out next week and I specifically chose this week so as to be able to spend time with them.

Is it even legal what he's doing? I thought it was a holiday!

[Sprite06]

Tuesday is Buddha's birthday, a national holiday.  You don't have to go to school.
Thursday is Children's Day, also a national holiday.  You don't have to go to school.

[NMonk]

are you at a hakwon or a public school?

[shhowse]

are you at a hakwon or a public school?

Irrelevant. I believe every contract would say that you do not work on National Holidays.

[happySuwon]

not irrelevant ,dependent on Hakwon.My boyfriend works national holidays !!  :o

[Koradian]

not irrelevant ,dependent on Hakwon.My boyfriend works national holidays !!  :o

You are correct. I have some friends who work at the same hogwon and they have to work most national holidays. BUT, they are well compensated with ample vacation days.

[shhowse]

I would think that would be against labour law, so I'd look into it. That said, hagwons are shady and will use you in any evil way possible to make a buck.

To the OP, good luck! With your parents coming I think you should insist on sticking with the original plan that you had those days off. They can't rearrange their travel plans at this point.

[scottdk]

The way you have worded things sounds like you have a Tuesday and Thursday off in the same week.  If that is the case, the holidays are on separate weeks.  This Thursday is Children Day, May 5th.  Next Tuesday is Buddha's Birthday, May 10th.  These dates are the only ones you would for sure have off, any other days they may have told you there is not school and now are saying you have to come in, then you have to come in.  This is if you are in a public school.

If you are in a Hagwon it's up to them; they are private institutes.

[dolphingurl2022]

Yea unfortunately it's not in your contract not to work public holidays...however almost all places are 100% closed (all public schools included) so no matter what anyone says you don't have to go....may 5th is childrens day and may 10th is buddhas bday so if you're at a public school 100% u do not have to be there....private hagwons are different though because although most are closed they don't have to be so sometimes you might have to work

[hchbabyg84]

My Friend Works in a Hagwon and she was told she has to Work too. I believe you need to pick and choose which fights you want if you are planning on wanting any time off or to leave early then it may be worth working it. You will see your Parents Maybe get them to come in on that day to watch you?

I am not saying it is at all right or what you should and Shouldn't do i am Public and i get the holidays i know it is not the same contractually for both Hagwon and Public but it may be you get the other days off when the School Trip is on and then you may get 2 days off?????? Could be more beneficial to you. (That is what i mean by Pick and Choose your Fight)


Hope this makes  sense and Good Luck  xx xx

[danmuzicman]

Hagwon or public? Next Tuesday is Buddha's Birthday and Thursday is Children's day. Both are supposed to be official holidays. Did you get those days already approved by your head teacher in writing? You are entitled by contract (SMOE/EPIK/ GEPIK) to get public holidays off. Just be tactful about it. Kinda play dumb and ask if those are public holidays in Korea.
"Oh I thought those were public holidays thats why I asked for them off..."  If they still say no and you press the matter more and they still wont budge, contact your district coordinator if you work for a public school. I can't emphasize being tactful here in Korea. I have tried the brutish demanding way and it rarely works in addition to you having to turn around in a few days and them to fix your water heater when that breaks. Yeah Hagwons work on a different contract philosophy (or make it up as they go) they are also not required to follow the public school/ government workers laws as they are a private business and not a government agency. In most hagwons if you read the fine print (between the lines) contracts are a courtesy for the English teacher not a legal binding agreement. In public schools they tend to be more official but follow the Korean ideology of contracts.

[misskris]

Yes , it is a national holiday.

However, some hagwons still have to work!

Double check your contract to see if you are entitled to every national hioliday off.
I have had some friends in hagwons who even work Christmas Day :S

[glb0b]

If you are at public school you get public holidays off (as stated in your contract). This Thursday (May 5th) is Children's day and next Tuesday (May 10th) is Buddha's birthday. You don't have to come to school and this is stated clearly in the contract.

If you are at a hagwon and it doesn't say in your contract that you get all public holidays then probably you are out of luck. You could try reasoning with your school but that is all.

[NicholasCage]

if you're public school don't even think about coming in to school Tuesday.

[leporello]

no way... it's a national holiday... How can they take it off you? is it some specific program you have to do on that day, or you just have to come in and sit at your desk for 8 hours?

either way, thats pretty harsh..

[woman-king]

You need to whip out that contract and show him the part that says "does not work on Korean National Holidays."
(Emphasize the "Korean National" part).

[gilbert.a.h]

Tuesday is Buddha's birthday, a national holiday.  You don't have to go to school.
Thursday is Children's Day, also a national holiday.  You don't have to go to school.

If you have to go, you better get tons of overtime/holiday pay!!!!

[NMonk]

are you at a hakwon or a public school?

Irrelevant. I believe every contract would say that you do not work on National Holidays.

Not irrelevant at all as it affects what advice I was going to give the O.P. Wow, and you're a moderator????

O.P if you're at a hakwon it's quite common, but you should negotiate with them either over time pay or a different day off instead of this. If you're at a public school I would double check with another co-teacher that there hasn't been some confusion. If not and you really don't want to work it then contact your area supervisor person (I can't remember their exact title, but their should be a foreigner who offer advice in your area). If still no luch contact your regional office directly as it's clearly in your contract they you don't have to be there.

[confusedsafferinkorea]

What is wrong with these people?   ........ unbelievable.   :o :o :o :o :o  If you are at a public school just refuse to go and tell them they are in breach of contract and so will you be if you go and you won't do that.

This kind of thing gets up my nose, why is there always someone who tries their luck with NSET's?

Stand your ground.

[divesmike]

Whooa i would ot stad for that.. definatley go on your holiday, you do not hav to be at school on thursday or tuesday