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Ann in Japan · Joined: 06 Jul 2016 Posts: 5

I worked for this school for two months. The housing I was provided (that I paid rent on) was disgustingly dirty and full of the last teacher's trash, moldy food, wet towels, old shoes, etc. The school rents apartments and moves one teacher in as soon as one moves out, without checking or cleaning. The things my contract said I would be provided in my apartment (bed, dresser, sofa, etc.) were not in the apartment when I moved in. There was a flat dirty cushion in the apartment and the owner told me that was my bed at night and that I could fold it and call it a sofa during the day! I was charged for the utilities of the previous teacher who lived in the apartment. I was not paid on time or in the correct amount. The school was in chaos the entire time I was employed. When I was offered another position, I gave the notice required by my contract and moved on. I have not been paid for my final week and a half.

I want to warn any one else who is thinking of taking a job with gem school, don't do it!

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

That's awful.

How do you intend to recover the pay you say they owe you?

You say you paid the previous tenant's utility bill. Why did you pay it?

You say the conditions of the apartment were not as described. That's abusive to give you a dirty apartment.

Have you contacted the labour relations board in your area, or contacted a union?

http://generalunion.org/Joomla/

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/org/policy/central-labour.html

Ann in Japan · Joined: 06 Jul 2016 Posts: 5

I do intend to file a complaint with the labor office. I've heard they've had complaints filed against them before for not paying.

The utilities were deducted so I had no choice. I complained but to no avail. I was told that since she had gone back to the US, they couldn't collect from her. Also, this is the way they always do it - each tenant pays the previous month's untilities. It didn't matter that it was winter when she was in the apartment, so the bill was high, and I never used the air con and was very frugal.

Of all the things they did, moving me into that filthy apartment was the worst. Many other teachers at gem school had similar experiences. The school rents the apartments long term and just turns them over to the next teacher, as is. I felt like quitting when I was dumped off in the apartment, and looking back, I really should have. I took pictures of it all and showed it to the school owner and she said it won't take me long to clean it! It took all my free time for over two weeks.

It was chaos.

Rooster. · Joined: 13 Mar 2012 Posts: 247

I looked them up and even Glassdoor has something to say about them. That's impressive.

Ann in Japan · Joined: 06 Jul 2016 Posts: 5

They are so bad. I wish someone had warned me before I took the job. Maybe someone will read about my experience and think twice before getting into the job.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Ann, You mean they deducted the previous tenant's utility bill from your salary? Did you see the bill to confirm the total?

Did you pay all your bills before you moved on?

Rooster, I looked up Gem, and saw those Glassdoor reviews and some other bad reports.

Best of luck getting your salary out of them.

Ann in Japan · Joined: 06 Jul 2016 Posts: 5

Yes, they deducted the utilities. I didn't see the actual bill, but they told me the amount. I disputed it because the meter reading left in my door mail box for the month I had been there was a small fraction of what I had been charged. That's when they told me I was charged for the previous tenant. Yes, all of my bills were paid when I left.