Job Discussion Forums

elliewelliesj · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 65

how does your school handle it? just wanted to get a general idea of different policys. Do they deduct pay? how much? I am not opposed to no sick pay - i understand...but just curious to how good or bad my deal is!

Wasabi Bomb · Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 33 Location: Osaka, Japan

I can speak about ECC and NOVA. They do not offer you sick days. If you miss a day, they divide your monthly pay by the number of work days that month and deduct that amount from your paycheck. Alternatively you can probably use a paid vacation day if you don't want your pay to be docked. I think that's fairly standard at eikaiwa schools.

It sucks, but that's how it is. I have never called in sick to ECC though. It's not really strenuous enough that you can't work a 6 hour shift when you feel crappy.

humancartography · Joined: 14 May 2006 Posts: 16

The same goes for AEON. And if you happen to take a sick day during a shorter working month, prepare for a substantial decrease in your salary for that month.

I don't know if this is the same for all eikaiwa schools (I can only speak from my experience at AEON), but if you plan on using one of your paid vacation days to cover a sick day, you should let them know when you call in sick. Otherwise, they will automatically deduct the money from your paycheque, and there's really nothing you can do about it.

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

Most places will not offer official sick pay. You have to use the paid vacation days you have. Most Japanese will continue going into the office until they are nearly at death's door, and it is also expected of us.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

If I'm sick I can make up the missed classes.

elliewelliesj · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 65

Yeah I never expected sick pay - thats fine... was self employed before i came here so am pretty used to that... but it seems that it isnt totally proportional to my monthy salary...
I earn 250,000 yen a month. Last month was sick one day - got 11,600 deducted. They couldnt get a substitute teacher, so i also had to make up all the classes for the next 4 weeks...

Its no big deal, but wondered what is the norm...

Thanks

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Someone I know very well was fired for being sick just ONCE last year... It would have been a problem, but there was no need to involve the union or labour standards (for two reasons). 1. The company DID provide a severance package (and a mighty handsome one at that) and 2. it's better to have left such a company and work for one that won't can you the minute you get a sore throat and cold. Rolling Eyes

okyokotokyo · Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 10

I haven't started working yet, but I just signed the contract for a job that promises me ten paid sick days a year (one sick day a month for the ten months of the contract). If I don't use them, they carry over to the next year. It seems like a pretty good deal, but it is an international school and I think they follow a more Western standard (summers are off along with three weeks for Christmas and two weeks for spring, but no Golden Week holiday).

Eva Pilot · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject:

I don't get sick, and if on the odd occasion I do feel under the weather, I go to work anyway.

I'm not here to be a slacker.

anne_o · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 172 Location: Tokyo

I really don't think not going to work when your're sick makes you a slacker. This idea of going to work sick because that's what the Japanese do does not fly with me. There is no reason to possibly expose others to what you might have, sorry. I take my health, my body and my well being very seriously, and no one should push themselves to work when their body needs a rest. Hve you seen the bags under the men's eyes here? They go to work sick everyday in my opinion. There are some things you must compromise in your life when living abroad, health is not one of them!

Eva Pilot · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject:

Gypsy Rose Kim · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 151

Ha, ha. Yeah. I don't mind punishing myself a bit by going in to work sick, but it's the indignity of it all that bothers me. Puffy face, runny nose, sneezing, droopy eyes. Ugh! I feel so self-conscious taking the train and going into work when I look icky. And I always worry that I smell sick, too. YUCK!!!

I think it's ridiculous, but we all deal with it. Just go into work. We can't change their counterproductive notions on this issue.

User N. Ame · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 222 Location: Kanto

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

doesn't make you a slacker. Staying home and pretending you're sick does.

The poor idea of working when really unwell, ie with a fever or something very contagious, must be why we have such virulent flus in Asia (that plus all the people in a small place).

Everybody gets some vacation days depending on the number of years they have worked and if they are full or part-time. There's a schedule. I don't have the url but it's at the General Union website. Maybe someone else will supply it.

Take a look and see what you are entitled to, and then ask for it. Chances are you won't really be using them for vacation days anyway.

anne_o · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 172 Location: Tokyo