Job Discussion Forums

RMoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 5

I've got an interview with Westgate in a few weeks and am wondering if anyone could give me their opinion on what it's like to work for them. I've checked the website and seen a few references to them here but is there anyone with direct experience working for them out there? I worked for Nova for a year and had a decent experience with them. Also, any interview tips?

Thanks!

Sunpower · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 256 Location: Taipei, TAIWAN

Looks like the 3 month contracts are the way to go with Westgate.
Here's something from the Job Info Journal:

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

I would pay more attention to the first link the previous poster includes in their mail.

I will also add some other info I've come accross from a former Westgate employee, whom I met and worked with, and a little research.

They no longer pay airfare from your country of origin. Apparently some teacher, who had been tyeaching in another asian country, used this offer to come to Japan, spend a few days in the country, using a Westgate apartment and then flew home. Good for them. "Sticken it to the man."

Also they seem to want you to share accomodation with 2 or 3 roomates if it's an off campus apartment. I wonder what the rent is? I doubt it's cheap. They're probably proffiting of inflated rents., a common eikaiwa scam, from people who are new to Japan and thus don't know any better.

Also what the hell is a 3 month contract for a full time job? 1 year is standard. I've seen PT contracts for a few mopnths but they have little legal force as the teachers, in this companies case, walked away when they wanted to. That's rediculous! The oppurtunites for threats and abuse, from managment, by using this short contract are multitude.

Also if youy read any job descriptions for Westgate positions they want you to teach English conversation something like 7 hours a day 5 days a week with extra duties for the big 250,000 yen. A paltry some for what's involved.

At least the large Eikaiwa's can be used for a visa and one year of stability until something better can be found. With Westgate, keeping former employees posts in mind, none of this seems to be the case. Bottom line, like Gabba, a place to be avoided!

Good luck! Laughing

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

G Cthulhu · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2003 2:20 am Post subject:

It's pretty simple: if you are full time then you either have a one year contract or you are on an indefinite contract. There is *no* middle ground under law. Case law in Japan is very clear on this.

Westgate, by offering a 3 month 'full time' contract are breaking the law. EOFS.

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

Very interesting, Cthulhu!

Can you cite a source of info on this that I can read for myself? My copy of Labour Standards doesn't seem to say that. Thanks in advance.

ajarn · Joined: 15 Mar 2003 Posts: 53

As a current employee of Westgate I think much of what Mike L had to say is misinformed to say the least.

RMoss · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 5

Airfare is one of the main reasons this is appealing to me since I'm back in the US right now. I'll make it a point to ask about this in my interview.

Ajarn, what can you tell me about your accomodations, teaching conditions, where they placed you, etc.? Do you have any tips that could help me in the interview?

Thanks for everyone's help!!!!

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

First: the airfare issue

I had heard that the airfare thing was out from an ex-Westgate employee. I will gladly retract that statement. However, if you have any disputes with management they can hold it over you. You have a plane ticket but not all the cash until it is time to leave. They are holding all the cards with your 3-month contract.

They do have a history of being a little over-handed. Please read the post and the thread. There were numerous like it between 2000 and 2001 on Dave's. Unfortunately,they can't keep them all for posterity.

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1008125056-18726.txt

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=721

Extra fees for cleaning apartments? Curfews for adults?

Management sounds wonderful!

Second: the working conditions

If you add up the extra events, prep time and "extra duties" that are required then 7 hours a day in total is not out of the question. I based this on the sample schedule on the website.

http://www.westgate.co.jp/

"You will teach a maximum of 7 classes per day, which could have up to three lesson plans. Besides these 5-7 classes, you will also have up to three preparation periods and one period for break.
The rest of your day will be spent with students for "English Challenge" (a type of conversation lounge), lunch."

Does this mean after 5-7 classes, plus preparation with possibly 3 separate lesson plans, you still would not be done for the day?

ajarn, here is a quote from you about my Westgate assumptions:

"What a load of s##t. I work 5 days a week and a cushy 4 hours a day teaching time. That's 20 hours a week and the pay is 275,0000 yen per month."

What about all the extra work mentioned on the website? Are you somehow spared? If so well done.

I have also made my assumptions, about conditions at Westgate, based on my own contract working for a dispatching company (Haken Gaishia ) very similar to Westgate:

5 X 50 min classes, 3 days a week.
4.5 hours, 2 days a week in the office.
Salary 288,000 a month.
2 months paid vacation a year.
*Flexible management that provides subs when you are sick.
*Lot's of energy for extra private work.

This is standard in the dispatching business. The Westgate conditions, from the website, look long to say the least for the pay on offer.

Third: 3-month contract

This is my main issue with Westgate. It's legal but read this link about non contract renewal.

http://www.generalunion.org/

Not a desirable position to be in. Many companies use renewal time for some kind of leverage but for most of us it only comes once a year.

What will you do between contracts?

Not many jobs from late July to mid August if you want to get another job.

Even if you stay with the company will they pay you in August?

If Westgate is such a wonderful employer than why do think they have to recruit overseas?

Nobody here will work for them, let alone sign a 3-month contract.

Regardless, why don't you take it to Gaijinpot? Ask about the contract. The apartment and, of course, their reputation.

Good luck, keep us informed.

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meteoreo · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Oregon

How is a dispatch place different than a language school?

hagakuri · Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 5:55 pm Post subject: I think...

I would deduce the `stick it to them` comments are not baised on some sinister notion, but rather on the fact that corporations have long abused their employees. So, when an employee gets the better of the corporation... all the little guys like us give a big CHEER.

Obviously, this type of abuse closes some of the doors of opportunities, but you still gotta love it. I would like to read some day of an employee that somehow was able to get a few hundred thousand yen from the likes of GEOS and Nova and ECC et al. No I am not encouraging... just cheering for the underdog. Everyone does right?!?!?

Never take things so seriously in life. And take things 20% less seriously on topic boards. Oh, to the reader, take this posting... uhm... about 62% less seriously.

Always have a better day. Wink

Sunpower · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 256 Location: Taipei, TAIWAN

Hagakuri:

I completely agree with what you're getting at.

Mike's comments about, 'sticking it to the man' were kind of funny I thought but I also think that I understand what he's driving at.

These businesses are ruthless in their treatment of local staff and teachers and often aren't up front with the students.

I don't have any sympathy for BIG chain schools in Japan, like NOVA, when a teacher tries to get the better deal by using them.

I've also told people to use the BIG chain schools, like NOVA, for everything they can (a work visa mostly). Like I said, I've seen how the BIG schools have used local staff, teachers and students.

The BIG chain schools in Japan are pretty slimy and unethical in terms of how they treat staff, students and teachers.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Fri May 02, 2003 6:43 am Post subject:

G Cthulhu · Posted: Fri May 02, 2003 6:51 am Post subject:

Actually, I've just realised that what they're likely to be doing is claiming that the position (by only counting actual contact hours as work hours) is part-time, in which case a three month contract *would* be legal.

That would make life trickier if a person ever took them to court - you'd have to prove you were actually a full time employee.

ajarn · Joined: 15 Mar 2003 Posts: 53

First: the airfare issue