Job Discussion Forums

Sutherland · Joined: 24 Feb 2010 Posts: 19

I teach in a small town at a small town in which I'm the only teacher. Just me and my boss, an older Japanese man. He's pretty sexist, which is par for the course in Asia from my experience, but he's a bit more so than usual. He has mentioned that I'm attractive in a matter-of-fact way on several ocassions, and once while we were watching TV he was slavering over these young girls and said how they were dangerous for men. He has told me inappropriate Japanese words also, and has managed to steer the conversation in fairly inappropriate directions a few other times. Basically I'm uncomfortable now but I can live with it. But I'm wondering how to protect myself if he should get any more inappropriate-- like I get the feeling he could be attracted to me. Dunno. I don't want to wrap myself up in an unsympathetic court system. If worse comes to worse, should I just tell him to let me out of the contract or I'll go to the proper authorities? Or what? Any help would be appreciated.

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

Can we know just what you were doing watching TV with the boss? Sounds strange.

Sutherland · Joined: 24 Feb 2010 Posts: 19

There's a TV in the office. It was the basis of a Japanese lesson. I'm a bit afraid of him reading the forum and using the details to figure out it's me so I don't want to get into too much detail about every situation.

dove · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Posts: 271 Location: USA/Japan

I definitely wouldn't take any sort of Japanese lesson with him. He is your boss so you have to work with him. Just work. Keep your distance. Keep everything strictly business. You might come across as cold. Too bad. You are there to do your job. If he continues with the harassment, I would quit. I don't know if I could go through with any legal action based on what you have described right now (even though it is harassment). Your boss would most certainly play the cultural misunderstanding card....foreigners have a hard time winning when that hand is dealt.

flyer · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 539 Location: Sapporo Japan

yes, it must be difficult for you. Its very hard for anyone on the outside to give you any clear advice as there are so many things we don't know.

But, suffice as to say, make some boundary lines and stand up for yourself. Don't let him or anyone else push you over those line (s).
After all, there are plently of other jobs out there,

good luck

Sutherland · Joined: 24 Feb 2010 Posts: 19

Hey,

thanks for the advice, and that is basically what I'm planning on doing right now. But I'm also looking for worse-comes-to-worse advice. Ideally I want to finish my year-long contract. But if he hits on me, what should I do? Is there a union or a group that represents foreign worker's interests? It's not that I would even take it to court, but if I do have to quit, I don't want him threatening to hurt my standing in my country, and I'd like to be able to know who to turn to, as opposed to being blindsided.

If one quits before a year-long contract, how do you handle it? I know it's the foreigner who holds the Visa, but how do you go about getting another job with that Visa? How do you work it out with your current employer?

On another note, is this kind of behavior normal? I guess only female people on this forum would know. Would it be a good idea to leave now or does it sound like a low-grade kind of thing that isn't likely to escalate? My instinct is what's going on is just basic sexism and I've got to play one-of-the-boys and shrug it off and put up walls or whatever, but I'd like to know if anyone has had similar experiences and what had proven effective in those experiences.

lisa111082 · Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 9:42 am Post subject:

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

fox1 · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 268

fox1 · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 268

with regards to making possible claims IF something happens, my thoughts: This is Japan. COMPLETELY different country, in many ways 50 years behind in terms of sexual equality and social justice. don't waste your time with this system. IF it gets that bad, take your employability elsewhere and don't bother with lawsuits etc. He won't learn, the system won't learn.

Sutherland · Joined: 24 Feb 2010 Posts: 19

fox1

This is my first time teaching in Japan. A similar situation happened to me in South Korea-- I mean, I'm getting a bit fucking sick of Asia in general to be honest. Anyways, I left South Korea with no notice after the foreign teacher director drunkenly tried to kiss me, because, well, you know how it's set up there. If you give notice they take your plane ticket money back and all the housing they've paid for and the other half of your health insurance they've fronted. I figured I didn't want to get entangled in the court systems there since I met a guy who was taking his employers to court and it seemed completely unworth it. So I left with no notice, and a letter stating the case to my director. I can't work in South Korea now since they've blacklisted me with the Visa bureau. That is how you can have your standing in a country hurt.

Why not leave? Because I would like to stay out my freaking year. I mean, everything else here is fine. If I move how am I guaranteed that this isn't going to happen a third time? How do I explain this to my next employer? Or that some other thing could happen? Should I find a female employer? There are no guarantees. If I leave now I feel like I'm going to be hopping from employer to employer, I mean granted it would be bad luck but this is the second job in a row. Seriously, thanks for all the advice and I mean it, and it is good to hear that these are warning signs because I stayed too long in the other situation, but everyone reading this with a dick, look down and thank your little friend profusely for making a life in Asia relatively uncomplicated.

Sutherland · Joined: 24 Feb 2010 Posts: 19

Double-posted, sorry.

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

fox1 · Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Posts: 268

i'm sorry to hear that. I'm also sorry i can't reply more thoroughly. I have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow. Some things that got me thinking.

Concerning blacklists, Korea is reaaally different from Japan. In Japan, there is more a semblance of law and order for want of a better term. No, he can't put you on any blacklist (for standing up to him, by the way, for the record). There are good employers and bad ones in Japan, like everywhere. (There are a few gaijin employers too, men and women). But basically, if you quit (and I'm not saying one way or the other), more power to you and you're a free agent and you'll get a new job with an employer who meets YOUR standards and requirements in a flash. By the way, Japan is like half the US in population with an inordinate number of schools and just a handful of foreigners spread out really.. an easy job market if you think laterally about applications.

So, he has no power to do a thing. In fact, he has obligations.. to pay you what you are owed.

Randomly, I do think that tons more of what we'd classify sexual harrassment goes on here all the time for Japanese women and gaijin women. It just happens at a much greater level, mostly without any further action. I guess it also happens often in the West too without further action. That's just an aside.

"How do I explain this to my next employer?" I'm not sure. Explain the whole thing or euphemistically describe that you felt the boss was "unfair" or something or make up another reason. Either way, the circumstances will be important to some employers, less so for others. It is what it is. I'm not sure what I'd do, other than to say it might reduce your chances of getting a good job but you STILL have huge options of getting a suitable job! (like, thinking outside the box; approaching boards of ed. directly by mail or email, applying anywhere and everywhere, etc etc..).

Korea is a wonderful, wonderful country but I would never want to work there. Everything about the set-up there says "no, thanks" to me.

Well, I'm a guy and my work experience in Japan has been pretty mixed. Having done convo classes (god, way too many), baby class, ele school, JH, high and so on...mmmmm, the most stress-free and rewarding and fun in terms of feeling a part of things and living the culture... hands down elementary schools. You are your own boss in many ways, you don't have that just nasty junior high English structure to deal with (let's see everyone.. can we speak three words of English in class today) and the teachers are nice and genuinely care for the kids (who are cute as!). Good luck. sorry for my rambling.

By the way, just on the legal changes, OK, but I still say in many ways, in the real world, they are 50 years backwards in equality. eg, the cops laughing. I observed more equality between the sexes in China but this is another topic.