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pinkgirl
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:53 pm Post subject: How to ? |
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Hi everyone. Here's the situation. I accepted an offer to teach at an eikaiwa. The company has already applied for the COE and I have already gotten the working visa to work in Japan. But I haven't signed the contract yet. The start date is April 10th, when I will be signing the contract. I am having second thoughts about going, and now, I don't know how I should inform them about this. I have already postponed my start date once. Now just 11 days before my start date... is it too late to tell them I can't go anymore?
Please advise. Thank you. |
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abufletcher
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:15 am Post subject: |
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First, ask yourself if these are just pre-departure jitters or whether you are getting some actual vibes that there might be something questionable about the situation.
Really examine why you are thinking of not going. Have you reconsidered the whole "EFL overseas" thing or is it something about just this job? |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:20 am Post subject: |
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| It is natural to feel nervous about going overseas to teach for the first time (or 5th). If you didn't have second thoughts than you probably aren't being honest with yourself. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:22 am Post subject: Re: How to ? |
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| pinkgirl wrote: |
Hi everyone. Here's the situation. I accepted an offer to teach at an eikaiwa. The company has already applied for the COE and I have already gotten the working visa to work in Japan. But I haven't signed the contract yet. The start date is April 10th, when I will be signing the contract. I am having second thoughts about going, and now, I don't know how I should inform them about this. I have already postponed my start date once. Now just 11 days before my start date... is it too late to tell them I can't go anymore?
Please advise. Thank you. |
How can you have a work visa before a COE? A COE simply informs you you qualify for a visa and you take that to the consulate and exchange it for a visa which is stamped in your passport.
You cant get a visa without COE.
If you havent signed a contract and dont have your visa, legally speaking you dont work for them yet and if you tell them you changed your mind there is very little they can do to make you come here. Have you already bought your plane ticket yet?
Sorry to be rude, but this sounds incredibly flakey and selfish. If you are overseas you should have had at least 2 months to make up your mind whether you actually want to come here or not, and have gone over the contract with a tooth comb.
Can I ask what exactly it is that is making you back out? Is it cold feet? Is it something in your work contract you are having second thoughts about? Before you sign any contract I would get it looked at to check there are no illegal clauses, and I will add that once you are in japan you are protected by japanese labor laws against illegal provisions in the contract. You do not just have to accept everything the employer puts in the contract and you can safely ignore invalid clauses.
Your employer may make noises about signing a written contract but it's not written in stone and he can not make you obey something that is illegal in the first place.
I'm not sure if thats the problem or just cold feet, but let me know exactly what the problem is here. 10 days before you start and you are going to inconvenience a helluva lot of people if they cant get a replacement in time. they may have even arranged accomodation for you, and put you on the schedule with students.
Everyone gets jitters in the beginning and that is all part of what the overseas experience is all about. Its a bit like getting married.
Last edited by PAULH on Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:29 am; edited 2 times in total |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:23 am Post subject: |
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Agreed. What are your reasons for changing your mind? (You don't have to say them here if you don't want to).
If you're only going with the intention of staying for a year, then it's not such a huge commitment. When we first came, I didn't even quit my job in Canada (I took 2 weeks leave of absense) and we had an open-ended return ticket just in case if things turned sour. In the end it was all OK though and we are glad we took the plunge. We are still here over 3 years later..  |
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pinkgirl
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:26 am Post subject: |
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I had the COE sent to me and I went to the consulate to get the visa. I don't have worries about the company or the contract.
The reason I can't go is because I really have too many ties here back home that I can't cut. I thought I can do it when I signed on. But I don't think I can go through with it.
I know this will inconvenience a lot of people... So I'm asking if there is a good way to tell them about my decision. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:42 am Post subject: |
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| pinkgirl wrote: |
I had the COE sent to me and I went to the consulate to get the visa. I don't have worries about the company or the contract.
The reason I can't go is because I really have too many ties here back home that I can't cut. I thought I can do it when I signed on. But I don't think I can go through with it.
I know this will inconvenience a lot of people... So I'm asking if there is a good way to tell them about my decision. |
You should have thought of that before you signed the contract and got a visa. If you cant cut your ties you shouldnt have gone so far as to get a visa. To my thinking its incredibly immature and irresponsible, but hey, its your life.
No there is no easy way to tell them. You are just going to have to bite the bullet and tell them.
No wonder employers here treat new employees like 12 year olds when there are people who bail out at the last minute because they get cold feet. If you dont have the maturity and decency to keep your promises and stand by your decisions what will it be like once you get here and start living here? I guess we will never know. |
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pinkgirl
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:47 am Post subject: |
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I guess there's no easy way to tell them. I'll have to call and tell them.
BTW, i haven't sign the contract yet.
~hai |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:51 am Post subject: |
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| pinkgirl wrote: |
I guess there's no easy way to tell them. I'll have to call and tell them.
BTW, i haven't sign the contract yet.
~hai |
Just out of curiousity what are the ties that are so important? you knew you would be going overseas after all.
can't break up with the boyfriend? |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:41 am Post subject: |
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| I'm with Paul here? I think it is very immature to back out now unless something major has just come up. At least be honest with your ex-almost-employer and tell them the truth. To be decent, I would offer to pay for some of the expenses that they incurred while they did all the paperwork for you. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:01 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| I'm with Paul here? I think it is very immature to back out now unless something major has just come up. At least be honest with your ex-almost-employer and tell them the truth. To be decent, I would offer to pay for some of the expenses that they incurred while they did all the paperwork for you. |
Things that in my opinion would count as acceptable excuses for not leaving straight away
Sudden death or illness of close relative
late in the term for pregnancy (can not fly in the 8th month or later)
contracted a communicable disease which could infect passengers and flight staff
You have been misiniformed about the nature of the job you are going to be doing.
Serious injury requiring hospitalisation or surgery
Problem with visa and/or reservation of airline ticket
Can not sell your house or car in time.
Godsakes girl, you havent even given Japan a chance yet.
Last edited by PAULH on Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:05 am Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| contracted a communicable disease which could infect passengers and flight staff |
Hey! Thanks, Paul!!! I'll be sure to use that one when it comes time to go to Canada to visit the in-laws.
"Aw, man.. Wouldn't ya know it.... I caught a cold and I don't want to infect the passengers and flight staff. We'll just have to try again next year."
Bloody brilliant!!!
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
| PAULH wrote: |
| contracted a communicable disease which could infect passengers and flight staff |
Hey! Thanks, Paul!!! I'll be sure to use that one when it comes time to go to Canada to visit the in-laws.
"Aw, man.. Wouldn't ya know it.... I caught a cold and I don't want to infect the passengers and flight staff. We'll just have to try again next year."
Bloody brilliant!!!
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Very funny, I was thinking of something like hepatitis B or the measles. You would be in no condition to fly anyway. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:12 am Post subject: |
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Pregnancy?  Luckily, most women get a few months notice on that one and get a bit of a heads up (or heads out) before the delivery date. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| Pregnancy? Luckily, most women get a few months notice on that one and get a bit of a heads up (or heads out) before the delivery date. |
Sure but you still get a few who decide to deliver their babies in seat 3C in economy class. |
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