POLY (Eunpyeong)

Think carefully before accepting a position here. My biggest advice is to get EVERYTHING important in writing and keep your own records.

Communication was one of the biggest problems during my time here. Important information was regularly communicated at the last minute, and there were occasions when staff were expected to already know about things that had not been clearly communicated beforehand. This included admin work, events, schedules, duties, and payment-related matters. Sometimes tasks would be given on the day they needed to be completed, with an expectation that they be finished immediately. Information also frequently passed through several people, which often felt like a game of broken telephone and made getting a clear or consistent answer unnecessarily difficult.

CHECK YOUR PAY EVERY MONTH. While I personally did not experience inconsistent monthly salary payments, [redacted] For that reason, I strongly recommend checking every payslip carefully and keeping your own records. I would also recommend documenting any additional work you complete and getting any discussions about additional compensation in writing. Do not rely solely on verbal agreements when money is involved.

I would also strongly recommend asking about all possible costs associated with leaving the school and the provided housing before signing your contract. In my experience, additional costs were brought up toward the end of my employment that had not been clearly explained to me beforehand. Ask detailed questions about move-out procedures, cleaning, repairs, utilities, housing-related expenses, administrative costs, and anything else you could potentially be responsible for when leaving. Get the answers in writing so you know exactly what to expect at the end of your employment.

Do not assume that a scheduled break will necessarily mean a full, uninterrupted break every day. In my experience, events, cleaning, duties, and other responsibilities sometimes took place during scheduled break or lunch periods. This meant that the time shown as a break on the schedule was not always completely free from work-related responsibilities.

There is also a considerable amount of administrative and additional work outside of teaching. Some of this work was communicated with very little notice, which made the workload more stressful than it needed to be. Better organization and clearer communication would have made a significant difference to my experience working here.

Before accepting a position, ask detailed questions about vacation days, housing, move-out procedures, additional duties, weekend work, compensation for additional work, break times, schedules, and any expenses you may be responsible for at the end of your contract. Most importantly, get the answers in writing and keep copies for yourself.

These are only some of the issues that affected my overall experience working here. If you choose to accept a position, I strongly recommend documenting important conversations, saving messages, keeping your own records, checking your payslips, and making sure that agreements involving money, duties, vacation, housing, and working conditions are clearly documented.

I would not rely on verbal assurances. Ask questions, read everything carefully, and keep your own paper trail.