Job Discussion Forums

jillybean · Joined: 01 Jul 2011 Posts: 32 Location: JAPAN

My contract states that I get 10 paid vacation days to be taken at my discretion. But...I'm the only teacher at the school. It seems ridiculous to close the school down for 2 weeks or hire a sub for 2 weeks. I feel guilty asking for the vacation days. I haven't brought this up with my boss yet. I asked another EFL teacher friend about this and he said that as Japanese people do not really take vacations, either my boss doesn't really expect me to ask for the time off or she just wasn't really thinking clearly when she wrote up the contract, as contracts are more just like general outlines here than concrete terms.
I suppose I really need to discuss this with my boss but I thought about asking around on here first. So.......? Is it too much to ask that my contract be honored? Embarassed

don't know what to do.....

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Japanese people do take vacations, although some of them are pressured into not taking them or only taking one or two days at a time.

It's definitely not too much to ask that your contract be honoured; you are legally entitled to those days off. Japanese people tend not to take all their paid holidays at once, but there is no reason you shouldn't be able to.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Law says that after you work somewhere for 6 months, the employer must allow you 10 days of paid vacation. If your employer decides to give that to you sooner, it's his prerogative. Same if he wants to give >10 days.

As Apsara wrote, you may not be expected to take off the days. You might now even think you should! But just wait a while. And, if you have a family emergency or if you get sick, those are the days you use to take the time off.