Job Discussion Forums

[mapraopenrai]

Anybody know how much money Japanese employers, namely public and private high schools, tend to give as gifts to their employees when they're married?

[Sweetsee]

Never heard of getting coin for tying the knot, having a baby yes.

[mapraopenrai]

Well, when I asked my boss about it he thought I would get paid more money per month, which would have been nice, but the office said it was a one time payment that kyoto schools usually give. He didn't say how much or if it would be approved for sure (my marriage was not done in Japan, so I don't have a Japanese marriage permit).

[Brooks]

I got money. My school was quite generous.
I got two envelopes. One from the president and one from the English teachers.

[mapraopenrai]

Brooks,
I don't know if my school would be generous or not. They claim to be having financial difficulties due to enrollment. I've had no bonus at all, and no raise short of a few odd yen in 4 years.
Can I ask how much the school itself gave? I don't expect anything from the other teachers because I didn't give a big announcement. Also, I remember giving 4000 yen to another teacher when she got married and got a thankyou gift from her in return. Honestly, I think the thank you-for-saying-you're-welcome-after-I-said-thank you-after-you-said-you're-welcome-gift giving custom in Japan is a little out of control.

[Glenski]

Worked for my boss for 3 years. Got married. No congratulations. No card. No gift. No mention whatsoever of it. Six months later when the contract ran out, I was without a job. Thanks for nothing.

[JimDunlop2]

Results may vary. So far, everyone I know who has gotten married while working in Japan (whether it was to a local or not) got a gift envelope of money from the teachers and staff where they worked. Amounts varied too, but seems that at least around THESE parts it's a common practice.

But again, there doesn't seem to be any kind of standard as to how much. I DO think that the traditional rule of odd-numbers and new, crisp bills applies though.

[southofreality]

I never received any money from anyone at my school when I got married.

However, when I got divorced, several teachers and the principal took me out and bought me dinner and drinks.

I guess I got something out of the whole deal.

[madeira]

Not a proper school, but GEOS head office gave me 10,000 yen. I was pretty surprised! They also give gifts for kids.

They apparently paid the tax on the gift, too.

Do regular schools in other countries give gifts for marriage/childbirth? I can't imagine it... I think the parents would be upset. Constant cutbacks for their kids' classes, presents for the teachers? Who they already think are underworked and overpaid?

[sethness]

In an old-style company, and if we're talking about a Japanese person who's getting married, the boss is invited to the (3,000,000 yen) wedding, and will probably give a cash gift of 15,000~$30,000 yen. The wedding souvenirs and dinner that the boss receives at the wedding are quite expensive, so this is not a real money-making deal.

Typically, I've heard that the newlyweds recoup about half the cost of the wedding through the wedding-gift $ they receive.

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The problem is, Japanese people don't apply the same rules to foreigners, so all bets are off....particularly if you don't have one of those life-savings-sucking disney-style weddings that the Japanese go in for, and if you don't invite the boss to that wedding.

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Consider that Japanese workers very often get mid-year and years-end bonuses from the employer. If you don't get one, then perhaps you should also expect that the boss won't make a big fuss about your wedding, either.

This would be especially true in the companies (like Nova) that use up foreign English teachers the way we use and discard Kleenex tissues.

ymmv.