Job Discussion Forums

Cshannon · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 114

Hey everyone, this is my first post. I'm a 21-year old Canadian guy, planning to go to Japan this January. I have only 3 years of my BA finished (hence I'm not finished yet) but I have nevertheless taken this year off to go to Japan. I will have a working holiday visa, and a TEFL diploma, but not much else (I have lots of experience teaching Koreans and Japanese here in Vancouver though).
I have applied at NOVA, and they called me back wanting an interview etc. I don't have $4000 dollar to wing it for a month, so I'm just wondering if it's possible to start with NOVA (get a place to stay and an income etc.) until I get oriented with Japan, and then possibly find another job after a few months. Is this an option? I've heard NOVA can be a drag after awhile (long hours), but they seem to set employees up (especially relatively unqualified ones like me) pretty well at the start. I just want to know if they can sue me or something if I basically use them for a a few months as a means to set myself up and find a better job. Is it easy to escape once you've started? How easy would it be to find another 'non-Big-4' job without a BA? (for what it's worth I think I'm a really good teacher, BA or no...)
Kindly let me know what you think. Thanks a lot!

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

GreenDestiny · Joined: 27 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: International

If one decides to leave a school (e.g. NOVA) before the one year contract is finished, I assume your future employer would be cautious in hiring you.

Am I correct? How would one explain to a potential employer the reasons behind not fulfilling a contract?

All the best,
GreenDestiny

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. -Bertrand Russell

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

GreenDestiny · Joined: 27 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: International

Thanks Paul. I'm trying to cover as many topics as humanly possible before flying to Japan. My question is not based on intention, but rather an attempt to cover 'all the bases' in terms of questions regarding ELT in Japan.

Cool

All the best,
GreenDestiny

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Neddy · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 4

"If you are a Filipino working in a factory, you will work 12-14 hour days, work six days a week, no holidays, no bonus, no insurance. They get dormitoryand meal fees taken out of their meager salaries. Thats what i call slavery. NOVA teachers have it easy by comparison." (PaulH)

What nonsense! Of what validity is it to compare Nova to a Filipino factory and claim that Nova teachers have it easy?

How about a comparison to a Japanese company? How about a comparison to a Japanese, language school that you've already mentioned? ECC gives more holidays; doesn't drug test employees; has less contact (and working) hours; provides legal, mandatory medical checks that Nova doesn't; gives paid national holidays...

"Finally , if you quit NOVA and work somewhere else, you will find the schools you work at are exactly the same in conditions and hours as the one you left, there are no 'better' schools to work at except for high schools and universities which require a higher degree perhaps and proper teaching experience. I might add that schools like ECC will not hire you if you quit a one year contract so you have to find a school that hires teachers on a working holiday visa and has quit their previous job. " (PaulH)

Wow! A blanket statement that it absolutely incorrect. I left Nova and found a school that paid more, gave more holidays, and had less working hours. This school also didn't conduct drug tests or have a no socialisation policy.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Neddy · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 4

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

OP: Nova cannot sue you for leaving (you would be a salaried employee, not indentured labour!) but you will find it difficult to find work without a proper 'Specialist in Humanities and International Relations' work visa, which requires that you have completed a BA or Bsc. (the Japanese Govt. will want to see your BA cert).

If you complete your studies and then come over with Nova or whoever you are free to look for another employer. many schools operate by hiring teachers who are already in Japan and who have previously worked for one of the big four or five chains - especially when they need to hire in a hurry. You would of course have to give a reasopn for changing jobs - that you didn't like your location; didn't enjoy being part of such a large organisation etc; Wishing to change location seems to be a popular and uncontroversial reason given by many job-changers.

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Iwantmyrightsnow · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 202

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Question: I was fired over a dispute about working conditions. Although I have not agreed with being dismissed this way, my employer also told me to move out of the apartment provided by the company, as required by the contract. Do I have to leave the apartment now ? If so, I will have to find another place. What should I do ?
Answer: When an apartment is contracted by a company, the civil laws are applied differently depending on whether it is provided free or is leased.
Normally, the former cases is covered by the provisions in Article 593 of Civil Law, and the latter by Article 601 of the Civil Law. However, if the rent is extremely low, there will be some question as to whether the latter case applies.
If you have a rent-free apartment, you are required under the terms of worker-as-tenant to give up the apartment on the day specified in the contract (Article 597,Civil Law).
The employer has demanded that you move out of the apartment at the time of your dismissal. If you do not comply with that demand, your employer could possibly take to matter to court.
On the other hand, a lease contract with a company is governed by Article 28 of the Land and Building Act. According to the act, in order to end a lease relationship, an employer as a landlord is required to give notice to an employee, with a justifiable reason. When the lease has a specified period, the landlord should give advance notice of 6 months to one year and should clearly tell the employee that he/she does not intend to renew the lease contract.

Also, with a lease that has no specified duration, advance notice to vacate the property of at least 6 months is required. Therefore, even if it is stated in a contract that the employee shall move out immediately upon dismissal, such requirement is totally contrary to the Land and Building Act (Article 30, Land and Building Act, or Article 6, former Land and Building Act). The landlord can never make a tenant leave by force. In the case of a company house, the argument often turns on whether it is provided free or is leased. The court rules that each case should be carefully considered under its own merits. Since the situation that arise are not always typical, the right decision is not easily reached. Therefore, it is recommended that further discussion is needed between you and your employer and that your landlord should wait until you find another place to live.