Job Discussion Forums

[kendoman1]

Neither am I. I'm just stating their is nothing special or better being a JET ALT than a dispatch ALT.

They are both the same Job period, but I do think it's funny when people don't get their way, they start pitching a hissy fit and call people trolls. That's funny.

[fluffyhamster]

Re-read my post, kendo (I'm obviously in agreement that dispatch AETs often have to work as hard if not harder than JETs for doing what's invariably pretty similar duties). The point still remains however that JETs are better rewarded for their efforts (not that every JET necessarily deserves to be so) - I mean, there's the lump-sum refund thingy for a start (once they leave Japan). No way do dispatch AETs get enough to be paying into that system.

Hmm, 'hissy fits', you remind me of Vincent in Collateral.

[canuck]

[kendoman1]

When I worked as a dispatch ALT. I got two weeks off paid in March and two weeks off paid in December and three weeks off paid in summer plus National holidays and at that time got five personel days off also. So hows that up your arse Canuck.

Sure some JETS do work side jobs, but if their BOE or some rival reported guess what? That is another reason BOEs are whiching. No more headaches.

Jesus I wonder if some of you have ever really lived here and if you do. You need to get out of the boonies more often.

[TokyoLiz]

This is so tiring...Kendoman1, you don't need to be insulting. And you still don't have your facts straight.

On JET, I was asked by the BoE staff to teach an extra lesson in the evenings to adult students in the city. This was a legacy of previous ALTs, and I was compensated handsomely. Yes, CLAIR states that you can't work outside your contract, but there are exceptions.

JETs don't need extra work because they are compensated more than adequately. This is not a matter of BS, it's a matter of being paid a living wage.

You're making gross generalizations about dispatch companies. The big one, Interac, at one time required Chiba ALTs to sign a second contract which clawed back their August holiday. This contract stated they would be paid more than the prorated wage written in the initial contract for the month of August, which was originally described as time off. They weren't offering this as a choice, but a requirement.

Dispatch ALTs are paid various rates, sometimes adjusted for holidays, sometimes paid, sometimes unpaid for holidays. You can't make sweeping statements like that and expect no flak.

You appear to be trolling.

Troll alert....Moderator?!

[canuck]

Don't start picking fights me. It's too easy to make you look silly.

[fluffyhamster]

I was reading some of your earlier posts, kendo, in which you said you had worked for RCS (and that they tried to do you and others out of wages etc).

As far as I am aware, RCS does not at present pay a single yen for the August break, and I doubt if many of their AETs are whooping for joy to be getting as low as 230,000 yen (if that's what they in fact receive after all the dodgy deductions etc) for March and December.

To my mind, it would be better to be getting at least 260,000 yen, decent health insurance, accomodation set up and then perhaps provided free of charge or at heavily subsidized rates, get transportation more than fully repaid, be building up that lump sum repayment, and what's more have the option of taking PAID leave at pretty much any time, if all that was required in exchange was just having to be at a BOE during vacations. A more than fair trade, I'd say.

[cafebleu]

Elliott - from my experience there's no valid similarity to be made between 250,000 yen (before tax) in Japan and the Taiwanese salary you mentioned.

Just as in Korea you will save much more money because of the sheer low cost of essentials such as food and transportation as well as cheaper housing, the situation in Taiwan means that a salary of 250,000 yen to 200,000 yen in Taiwanese equivalent currency will go further. I've been to Taiwan a number of times (haven't lived there) and found most things much cheaper than in Japan.

Transportation is incredibly expensive in Japan though my home city of London has now surpassed Tokyo in subway prices (the famous London Underground which is having its costs hiked unbelievably). Bus ticket prices are unbelievable in Japan - in some parts you'll pay 1 pound, 50 pence British to go two short stops.

If your employer doesn't help you with housing, you can pay amounts as ludicrous and dishonest as 300,000 yen up-front to move in - before you've paid rent. Tokyo, however, is getting better in the housing sense - increasingly landlords are waiving some of these 'fees' which are nothing more than institutionalised cheating though the practice of grabbing money because they can is still part of many landlords' modus operandi.

What is your home country? Depending on it, you might find the Japanese national health insurance very expensive. It takes about 10 percent of your income yet you still have to cover 30 percent of medical costs yourself. The amount of money the Japanese National Health system charges would cover private hospitals and excellent healthcare in some countries but will give you an average service in Japan.

It's not unusual for some foreigners (depending where they come from) to complain that they pay more for health insurance in Japan than where they come from yet find the system just adequate and certainly not worth the costs.

Having said all that - yes, you might find 250,000 yen in salary before tax insufficient to really experience Tokyo and enjoy yourself if you want to save money. I knew people who returned home with little to no savings but said that it was worth it as they would never done the things they did in Japan and it would have been unbearably stressful having to always think of saving money.

And remember that Taiwan and Korea have the reputation of not being very interesting. I'm not saying that's true - I'm just repeating what some people who have lived in those countries have said. There is so much to do and see in Tokyo that you could never experience in Taiwan and Korea, much as I think their food is superior to that of Japan - more nourishing and far cheaper.

[kendoman1]

It's really strange when someone gets beat down on here. They start throwing up. I'm not an ALT and I make all this money. I think just another whinny little snot nose kid crying and looking for an hug from mommy. I'm sorry for you Canuck.

TokyoLiz talk about sweeping generalzations. Mine are no worse than yours. You also appear to be trolling.

Troll Alert.....Moderator!

[fluffyhamster]

Kendoman, you appear to have taken a few too many thwacks over the head from a shinai (or maybe a bokken/bokutou). I suggest a brain transplant ASAP - who knows, it might improve your kendo and even your English.

[TK4Lakers]

I'm currently working as a dispatch ALT, and just wanted to vote that I agree with everything everyone but kendoman1 has stated.

I don't want to repeat what many others have already typed, but it can probably be proved fact that BOE ALT's and direct hires are treated and compensated better than dispatch...

a) I pay 40,000/mo. rent, whereas nearby JET's I know pay only 10,000-20,000/mo.

b) Having a 3rd private dispatch company in between the ALT and BOE make things extremely difficult and inefficient. Lots of miscommunication, lots of strict cans and cant dos, and lots of confusion.

c) I work hard and try to be a good ALT. Even so, I feel my efforts are hardly recognized because Interac doesn't care. I feel like a number to them. Whereas, I'm sure if the BOE checked with my progress they'd be fairly pleased, but the BOE doesn't want anything to do with me-all business is through the dispatch. The schools I work for thank me everyday, whereas I usually always feel that my dispatch could care less.

Btw, dispatch = Interac.

[kendoman1]

Yes, You are correct a Direct hire or BOE ALT is sometimes a better position, but Jet ALTs or Dispatch ALTs are neither of these.

TK4Lakers, I would suggest that you make it clear to your school what the rules are from the beginning and you won't have these probelms.

fluffyhamster the kendo is fine, but it could come from the 50 or so international matches that I have every year.

[fluffyhamster]

Tell us about the kendo, kendoman, it would certainly make a change from hearing you bang on about AETs, and I could then thrill you all in return with quivering tales of my bare-toothed toilet-tube wrestling in "the cage".

[User N. Ame]

[Glenski]

kendoman wrote: