Job Discussion Forums

[bornslippy1981]

You can request all outstanding wages be paid within 7 days.

Refer them to article 23 of the Japanese Labour Standards Law if they give you any problems.

Also, request your final tax certificate be included with all severance documents.

[stillnosheep]

Join the Union. Look for a new job. (If interviewed for new job in another area of Japan you can always claim relocation as reason for job search, otherwise do as Glenski says).

If you are on a 3 hr total daily commute to a different school than the one you arranged to teach in with a manager who cries on the phone to Head Office (i.e. is weak and cannot stand up to HeadOffice) and then tries to bully you to get paperwork done to Head Office's schedule it really does sound like time to move on.

One last thought. If the problem is just the branch and manager, rather than the company, you could ask for a transfer, otherwise just walk (but get another job first which shouldn't be too difficult - most of the small chains and individual schools live by recruiting teachers who come over on a visa organised by one of th ebig 4 or 5 and wh0 subsequently walk.)

Either way leave while you're still sane enough to get another job.

[kylemory]

okay, i had problems with my last school and gave notice of three months that I wanted to cancel my contract, they got upset and said not to come in the next day!
I am in touch with a union, but I am also looking for jobs right now (mostly part time and privates, as I would like to become my own sponsor).. I have had two job interviews now, I explained the situation to them, and both interviewers had NO problem with it, and even sided with me! Since then, both jobs have offered me hours, so i really don't think it is that big a problem breaking your contract if you are seriously unhappy with the job.
Thats from my experience anyway.
Well, I'm off to another job interview now, so I'm hoping that this trend continues... I think any good company will understand that some other schools take advantage of their teachers and possibly even respect a teacher that doesnt stand for it.

[Glenski]

They had a problem with 3 MONTHS's notice!!!?? I hope you realize that if they told you not to come in, that they still owe you at least a month's salary.

[c-way]

I think the other posters have covered most of the bases.

I would just add that what you can do on your resume is list the time you worked for your company, but just be sure to list

'questionable business practices'

as your reason for leaving.
This helps you in a couple of ways I think.

1. It keeps the reason for leaving broad enough that if an interviewer wants more information, they will have to ask you directly, giving you a chance to explain in detail why you left.

2. Employers who engage in 'questionable business practices' will be made aware that you will not stick around at a company if they are not on the up and up. You might be passed up by some employers because of this, but there's a good chance that you don't want to work for them anyway.

I and many other posters have been through this and the most important things are to know your rights and demand that your rights be respected.

[Glenski]

c-way,
Do you really list the reason you left each job on your resume? I find that odd.

[canuck]

[Gordon]

[c-way]

Excuse me,

I stand corrected. I don't volunteer this information on my resume. But on certain applications, for the Peace Corps for example, where they specifically ask the reason you left a job, I list this.

I've been filling more of these forms out recently and mistook this for the more general resume.