Worked as a Santa, Told "Your Acting Was Awkward"... Received a Gift Voucher Instead of Daily Wage

Young Adult Takes on Santa Claus Part-Time Job for Christmas
Promised Hourly Wage of 11,500 Won
After Finishing the Job, Employer Cites "Awkward Performance" and Pays with a Hamburger Gift Voucher Instead of Cash

Illustration generated by AI. ChatGPT

A story has emerged about a person who worked a part-time job dressed as Santa Claus for Christmas but did not receive the promised daily wage because their performance was considered awkward. It is reported that the employer provided a hamburger gift voucher instead of payment.

On the 5th, a post titled "Review of a Santa Part-Time Job by an Unemployed Young Adult" was submitted to an online community. The whistleblower wrote, "I am someone who has been unemployed for a long time after graduating from college, and I wanted to try doing something, so I looked for a part-time job through Danggeun Market. Since there was a simple part-time position available on Christmas, I traveled over an hour by subway and performed as Santa for 30 minutes longer than the agreed time."

According to the work conditions shared by the whistleblower, the job involved wearing a Santa costume, taking photos with children, singing, and playing simple games. The hourly wage was set at 11,500 won, with same-day payment specified.

The whistleblower reiterated, "I am someone who has been unemployed for a long time after graduating from college, and I wanted to try doing something, so I looked for a part-time job through Danggeun Market. Since there was a simple part-time position available on Christmas, I traveled over an hour by subway and performed as Santa for 30 minutes longer than the agreed time."

They continued, "After the job was done, I was told, 'Thank you for your work, please leave your bank account number before you go,' so I naturally thought the payment would be sent the next day." However, what the whistleblower received the next day was not the daily wage, but a hamburger gift voucher worth only a few thousand won.

The employer told the whistleblower that the hamburger gift voucher was given instead of payment because the performance was awkward. The employer reportedly said, "I'm sorry, but I was actually hoping for someone taller, and your acting was quite awkward, so you didn't really seem like Santa. Still, since you worked hard, I gave you a hamburger gift voucher, and I thought that settled everything."

Conversation between the employer and the whistleblower. Screenshot from BobaeDream.

The whistleblower said, "I just thought it was an extra Christmas gift, but when the payment didn't come in even the next day, I asked about it and was told that the gift voucher was my daily wage. I feel wronged and upset-can I report this to the police?" seeking advice.

Netizens who saw the post reacted with disbelief, saying, "This is fraud, report it to the Ministry of Employment and Labor," and "Even if they weren't satisfied, they should still pay you-how can a gift voucher be considered payment?"