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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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 Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| kah5217 wrote: |
| rxk22 wrote: |
| Here is a quick question, is the Interac unpaid training legal? |
My training was completely paid, around 8 bucks an hour (though it didn't include the "optional" night sessions and afterwork).
The mid-contract training days are usually during salary "work days", and are paid as well. |
Was that Interac? As I was with them, and all the training before school started was off the clock. We did not start getting paid, until we actually started teaching at school. Which makes me wonder, if that is legal. As we were allowed to not take the training, but come on, like we could turn it down, and still have a job next year. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| I asked the guys I talked to if their Interac training this year was paid and they said yes. |
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nightsintodreams
Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 558
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| Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 4:13 am Post subject: |
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I was not paid for my four days training, but they did put me up in a hotel and pay for breakfast each day. Whether legal or not, I didn't think it was unfair.
They also gave me a loan at 1% interest of over 200,000 yen, I felt very grateful for that at the time.
For all the bad said about Interac, my experience with them at least was positive overall. It was my way to get into Japan, gain teaching experience, learn Japanese, save money to travel around Asia and then move onto something better. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 6:35 am Post subject: |
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| nightsintodreams wrote: |
| It was my way to get into Japan, gain teaching experience, learn Japanese, save money to travel around Asia and then move onto something better. |
I would think that this would be the bottom line when one signs on with Interac (and the JET Programme for that matter).
It's good to hear that it all worked out for you and that you had a positive experience, nightsintodreams.
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
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kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012
Posts: 270
Location: Ibaraki
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| Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 9:41 am Post subject: |
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| nightsintodreams wrote: |
| I was not paid for my four days training, but they did put me up in a hotel and pay for breakfast each day. Whether legal or not, I didn't think it was unfair. |
It could be a result of recent changes. They're back in the Osaka market again, though they "warn" people who accept those placements that there will be extra charges for insurance (ie, they have to give shakai hoken to those employees). |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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| kah5217 wrote: |
| nightsintodreams wrote: |
| I was not paid for my four days training, but they did put me up in a hotel and pay for breakfast each day. Whether legal or not, I didn't think it was unfair. |
It could be a result of recent changes. They're back in the Osaka market again, though they "warn" people who accept those placements that there will be extra charges for insurance (ie, they have to give shakai hoken to those employees). |
Yeah wonder if Interac got in trouble for this.
I have heard that the BoE in Kansai is and has been a mess for a while. I wonder if this was a way of getting their ducks in a line.
As for unpaid training, I don't care that it was in a hotel, and that you get breakfast. I was out a plane ticket, and had to buy dinner. So it cost me to get trained in the end. All of which was pointless. On top of having to be in Japan for 3 weeks before I even started working. All of which cost me money. |
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rslrunner
Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Posts: 252
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| Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Solar Strength wrote: |
Apparently, as one of the new guys described it to me, it was run as a kind of boot camp style of induction / training.
Push people around a bit, demean them a little, shake their confidence and then see who sticks around. Those are the ones they want. |
That is a terrible way to treat people who are coming to the country to teach English.
Why does Interac treat its employees this way? Why do they believe a boot camp style induction would be a successful strategy in preparing their new hires to teach their methodology?
Are there cultural considerations that might justify or explain this state of affairs? |
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mitsui
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
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| Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:32 am Post subject: |
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Unpaid training with just one meeting per day must be paid.
I heard this from the Hachioji labor office.
My university used to start orientation back on March 18th so I called up the labor office and was given the facts. |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 1029
Location: BFE Inaka
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| Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 5:48 am Post subject: |
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| rslrunner wrote: |
That is a terrible way to treat people who are coming to the country to teach English.
Why does Interac treat its employees this way?
{snip}
Are there cultural considerations that might justify or explain this state of affairs? |
Why? Because they can. Not much one can do about it, aside from getting another job.
Cultural considerations? I am guessing economic considerations play a greater role here. Supply and demand have definitely shifted against us.
By the way, my training with Interac was not so strict or rough. Pretty standard presentation of company policies and lesson steps. They look for people who are eager to answer questions and repeat what the trainer said an hour ago. All in all, pretty good preparation for ALT work. Half joking. |
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kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012
Posts: 270
Location: Ibaraki
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| Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| No one in your group was screamed at like a ninny by the head trainer? Heck, there were men practically crying to mama at mine, he scared the crap out of them (freaked me out a little too, but I was lucky enough not to get picked). |
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milkman
Joined: 12 Jul 2013
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:25 am Post subject: |
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The "boot camp"-style training started like 2 or 3 years ago, I don't fully remember but it is a recent thing. People who say that they never experienced it likely worked before they implemented it.
From what I heard the first year they tried it was a complete disaster and they lost quite a few people, so I was really surprised to hear that they continue to do it. |
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steki47
Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 1029
Location: BFE Inaka
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| Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 11:23 am Post subject: |
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| kah5217 wrote: |
| No one in your group was screamed at like a ninny by the head trainer? Heck, there were men practically crying to mama at mine, he scared the crap out of them (freaked me out a little too, but I was lucky enough not to get picked). |
Jeez, what a horrible experience! No, I have never had any training session remotely resemble that in my ten years in Japan. Nova, 2 different ALT companies and a few dumpy little eikaiwas here and there.
The trainers were not always particularly friendly or cuddly, but they generally did their jobs in a professional manner. Robotic even, if I have to complain. |
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Solar Strength
Joined: 12 Jul 2005
Posts: 557
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| milkman wrote: |
The "boot camp"-style training started like 2 or 3 years ago, I don't fully remember but it is a recent thing. People who say that they never experienced it likely worked before they implemented it.
From what I heard the first year they tried it was a complete disaster and they lost quite a few people, so I was really surprised to hear that they continue to do it. |
Yeah, the group I spoke with said it was terrible. However, now that they are at their schools they are treated normally.
But to have people actually cry or to walk out during training is just complete stupidity. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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Did people actually walk off, as in quit? I know Interac has some standby people, but only so many. So I wonder if this bit them in the butt?
i don't dislike Interac, but they could try to be a better company in many ways. They aren't Heart/RCS, but you are comparing them to some pretty awful companies |
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kah5217
Joined: 29 Sep 2012
Posts: 270
Location: Ibaraki
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| Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| I did see one guy walk out of training, no idea if he left or just needed to cool down. |
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