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Iwantmyrightsnow
Joined: 12 Feb 2004
Posts: 202
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 Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject: Nova's lies and deceit |
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This is for those who don't subscribe to yahoo groups about Nova. You should be aware of their underhanded and illegal tactics.
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Not just an acusation but truth Nedy. Nova choose to play mind games
witha 50 year old with heart problems. Heart problems that were not
covered by his JMA policy because the problem went on for more than
6 months. At his contract renewal after demanding shakai hoken, Nova
reduced his salary by the same amount as the premiums. TOTALLY
ILLEGAL but their bullying tactics were enough to force a vulnerable
person to leave Japan but it was a case that was totally winnable.
Tony et al (or was it Fleming or that kite flier Fackler or Fuckler
whatever his name is) got his rocks off about bullying someone
obviously in ill health. If they had an ounce of moral fibre they
would be dam ashamed, or if there was a good they would rot in
fucking hell.
--- In [email protected], Arthur 'Neddy' Smith
<arthurneddysmith@y...> wrote:
> That made perfect sense to me, Julia. Well done!
>
> There is also the problem, at particularly notorious
> companies, where people who "opt" to take shakai hoken
> then have their contracts non-renewed as management
> now considers them "expensive employees". By violating
> shakai hoken laws and making instructors choose shakai
> hoken, Nova is making certain instructors stand out
> from the rest economically.
>
> There was recently an accusation leveled at Nova that
> after an instructor "chose" shakai hoken, his next
> contract's salary was reduced by the exact amount Nova
> was required to pay for shakai hoken. Nova denied that
> this ever happened.
>
> --- encarnacionjulia <encarnacionjulia@y...>
> wrote: |
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Sadken
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 341
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry, what is "shakai hoken"? |
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Iwantmyrightsnow
Joined: 12 Feb 2004
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Sadken wrote: |
| Sorry, what is "shakai hoken"? |
employe's health and pension insurance - 50% of what must be paid by the employer. And what companies are legaly obliged to enroll all employees in if they are full-time or work "about" 3/4 of a fullt0-imers hours.
If your company doesn't enroll you it is likely they are breaking the law and deprving you of vital health care coverage.
see www.generalunion.org for more information |
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TokyoLiz
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1548
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 12:15 pm Post subject: Bump |
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| Bump |
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inkansai
Joined: 18 Jan 2005
Posts: 39
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| Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| it's about time they started doing the right thing. I want shakai hoken and i want it now! |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:51 am Post subject: Credibility... |
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I completely support the rights of English teachers, and I am very much pro-union, but this post does not help anyone.... These claims may indeed be true and I would like to believe that they are, but unfortunately I cannot pass this info along to anyone who asks me about Nova because all of it is akin to gossip...
Don't take my post the wrong way. I'm on your side but please provide more info than just hearsay and rumor. Also, a bit more background info should be given. I had a hard time understanding what was going on here and why. The anger of the original message didn't make it easier either...
| Iwantmyrightsnow wrote: |
Not just an acusation but truth Nedy. Nova choose to play mind games
witha 50 year old with heart problems. |
A pure judgment call. Who did this happen to? Does this 50-yr. old have a name? (I don't necessarily expect a real name online), but at least initials or a pseudonym if the person who this happened to doesn't want to come forward. Any chance of getting him to relay his experience directly? Anyone have his e-mail address or anything? Also, WHEN did this happen, and WHICH branch of NOVA was it? WHO were the admin staff involved?
| Iwantmyrightsnow wrote: |
Heart problems that were not covered by his JMA policy because
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What's a JMA policy? What does JMA stand for?
| Iwantmyrightsnow wrote: |
Tony et al (or was it Fleming or that kite flier Fackler or *beep*
whatever his name is) got his rocks off about bullying someone
obviously in ill health. If they had an ounce of moral fibre they
would be dam ashamed, or if there was a good they would rot in
*beep* hell.
|
I completely understand the anger and frustration here... But the name-calling doesn't strengthen the argument. To say that someone got personal enjoyment out of doing this to someone is a bit strong... (and libellous, should they read this and decide to act on it)...
| Iwantmyrightsnow wrote: |
> There was recently an accusation leveled at Nova that
> after an instructor "chose" shakai hoken, his next
> contract's salary was reduced by the exact amount Nova
> was required to pay for shakai hoken. Nova denied that
> this ever happened. |
Who made the accusation?
Is there any chance of someone providing a couple of NOVA pay stubs to substantiate this? It would help big-time to provide credibility.
Really, I'm not trying to be a d*ck here... But this could potentially help a lot of people if this were organized into a coherant, verifiable argument and provided a bit more info than an e-mail conversation between two people, one of whom is (probably justifiably) very angry about this... |
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worldwidealive
Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 84
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:09 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| But this could potentially help a lot of people if this were organized into a coherant, verifiable argument and provided a bit more info than an e-mail conversation between two people, one of whom is (probably justifiably) very angry about this... |
That is just the problem with many of the arguments about Nova. While many are certainly valid, they rarely are posted, or discussed, in a coherant manner. They tend to come from a handful of hotheads that rant and rave like a group of fools, often using profanity and nasty remarks. And they wonder why it is so hard to see change - you have to act professional to expect professional results.
WWA |
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neechan
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 6:49 am Post subject: |
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Unfortunately, the same thing is going on in various AEON groups as well. We keep hearing about how all of these companies are breaking the law (I haven't heard anything about GEOS yet but may..?) but there is never any solution to it or any verifiable evidence to go along with these accusations. And no one else seems to know much about it either.
So, as I'm sure someone already pointed out it seems like a good idea to just take this all on heresay rather than fact at this point. I have never heard any complaints from current teachers thusfar but if I did, I'd be sure to let others know.
The name-calling is definitely unnecessary. |
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Iwantmyrightsnow
Joined: 12 Feb 2004
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:46 am Post subject: Re: Credibility... |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
I completely support the rights of English teachers, and I am very much pro-union, but this post does not help anyone.... These claims may indeed be true and I would like to believe that they are, but unfortunately I cannot pass this info along to anyone who asks me about Nova because all of it is akin to gossip...
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I completely understand people's skepticism with these (my) kind of post but other than someone from a union posting a copy of the complaint file sometimes you have to give these things the benefit of the doubt.
I will stand by everyword I said and by the qualioty6 of information I usually provide I would hope that regular posters here would know the information is reliable. If I have doubts about what I am posting I will usually actually quantify what I am posting with this should be checked or I am not sure..........But at the end of the day you have to choose what to believe and I will stand by every post I have made here or in any other group...and I always use the same name! |
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Iwantmyrightsnow
Joined: 12 Feb 2004
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 11:50 am Post subject: |
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| neechan wrote: |
| Unfortunately, the same thing is going on in various AEON groups as well. We keep hearing about how all of these companies are breaking the law (I haven't heard anything about GEOS yet but may..?) but there is never any solution to it or any verifiable evidence to go along with these accusations. And no one else seems to know much about it either.. |
I have made this accusation in an AEON group......Perhaps I should provide the law number. Would that help? And by the way, yes GEOS is breaking the law in this regard too.
And the solution is to become part of a union to fight this kind of thing- and it is being won in some places.
and as always....if you are interested you should check www.generalunion.org where there is a comprehensive guide to the shakai hoken issue. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Iwantmyrightsnow wrote: |
I have made this accusation in an AEON group......Perhaps I should provide the law number. Would that help? |
Actually, it would... (If it's not too much trouble). Not only does it make you look good and professional, but it provides a reference point so that any sceptical "Joe" can look things up for themselves. It also helps protect you against accusations of slander or liebel.
Another thing that would work in your favor would be, if you can't provide any concrete facts, then at least strip away some of the "hotheaded" remarks and provide adequate background so people can feel like they are looking at something reasonably unbiased and not just another bitter English teacher's rant.
I know it's a pile of work and it's easier just to dump raw text but in the long run, it may be worth it. 
P.S. FWIW, often union membership is reserved only for those who work in or near large cities... (Unfortunately). When we were trying to organize and unionize (in my last job) we were refused membership from almost every union we approached (including the G.U. and its subsidiaries) because of their inability to support us being so far from Tokyo (or any other very large city). We were finally accepted by a union but before we had the chance to cross the "t"s and dot the "i"s (so to speak) most of us "revolutionary elements" quit or finished our contracts and moved on to much better work... |
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Iwantmyrightsnow
Joined: 12 Feb 2004
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
Actually, it would... (If it's not too much trouble). Not only does it make you look good and professional, but it provides a reference point so that any sceptical "Joe" can look things up for themselves. It also helps protect you against accusations of slander or liebel.
P.S. FWIW, often union membership is reserved only for those who work in or near large cities... (Unfortunately). When we were trying to organize and unionize (in my last job) we were refused membership from almost every union we approached (including the G.U. and its subsidiaries) because of their inability to support us being so far from Tokyo (or any other very large city). We were finally accepted by a union but before we had the chance to cross the "t"s and dot the "i"s (so to speak) most of us "revolutionary elements" quit or finished our contracts and moved on to much better work... |
Not particularly worried about accusations of slander, I have evidence of anything to back up anything I say. I wil post the laws but unforunately it is a right pain to do everytime....yes sometimes we do get hotheaded but that was actually originally posted somewhere else and was put here to start discussion which it has done. It was posted here after a 15 hour day and I was lax in couching it with netter language...apologies.
People like you in smaller cities are in a more difficult situation in regards to starting union branches.....Across Japan right now there are either sister unions or branches in Nagoya, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka. There is alsomovement in Hiroshima. Eevn though you can't necessarily get full "protection" in smaller cities I would urge people to join a union anyway. The work that all of these unions do actually benefit industry standards cross country and advice can be given how to deal with labour standards, small claims court etc. At a minimum go to www.generalunion.org and sign up for its new weekly e-news that is available for members and non-members alike. |
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Rice Paddy Daddy
Joined: 11 Jul 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2005 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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Use NOVA for a work permit.
Do not make NOVA your permanent source of work.
Ditch theese scummy people as soon as you possibly can. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 4:43 am Post subject: |
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That's fair enough... But it's really no solution. NOVA ain't gonna go out of business anytime soon, and neither will most of the large schools. On the contrary, pulling a mid-contract vanishing act really hurts your fellow teachers because it does not put ANY pressure on the company to change their standards or work ethics.
Places like NOVA could potentially be reasonably acceptable places to work for more people if enough teachers actually stuck things through and were able to fight to effect changes. I know a number of "Big eikaiwa school" teachers -- some who have been here 2, 3 or even more years. Are they crazy? Maybe. But a lower turnover rate can only be good for everyone in the long run.
I know one teacher in my city who was just recently cheated by the company for whom he was working. (Not one of the big 4)... His last day of work was the 10th of March. The company 1) deducted ALL the rent money for the month of March but told the teacher he should be out long before the end of the month... 2) didn't pay him for working from March 1st to March 10th for breaking contract (he gave more than 3 weeks notice).
My advice to him, (in response to getting cheated) was to tell the eikaiwa's kocho sensei that he would NOT move out until March 31st and watch them hit the roof! Knowing this company, I was pretty sure they would be trying to move a new teacher into the apartment at the expense of the old teacher.... Sure enough, that's exactly what happened. They started threatening the teacher and saying that he MUST vacate the apartment because he is no longer a company employee (even though he pays over 40,000 yen for rent)... I told him that was illegal and they could NOT evict him like that (they must give 6 months notice). Problem is, like almost EVERYONE else in his situation, he is leaving Japan before any resolution can come, and this company has absolutely no motivation to change their ways... They will just cheat the next teacher... And the next one... And so on.
They rely on four major factors.
1) Foreigners tend to be largely ignorant of Japanese civil (and criminal) law (labour law, building/tenant laws, immigration etc...)
2) Foreigners don't stay long enough to push any issues and disputes to resolution or conclusion. Lawsuits are very, very rare and the Labor Standards office is fairly toothless.
3) There is an industry-wide high turn-over rate that provides fresh generations of people who are ignorant of factors 1 and 2.
4) Few people are willing to make a stink or join a union or speak out for their own rights or the rights of others because they fear getting fired (and if they do, they fear having to return to their home country).
As long as these factors are in place, nothing will ever change. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:52 am Post subject: Re: Credibility... |
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| Iwantmyrightsnow wrote: |
| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
These claims may indeed be true and I would like to believe that they are, but unfortunately I cannot pass this info along to anyone who asks me about Nova because all of it is akin to gossip...
|
I completely understand people's skepticism with these (my) kind of post but other than someone from a union posting a copy of the complaint file sometimes you have to give these things the benefit of the doubt.
I will stand by everyword I said and by the qualioty6 of information I usually provide I would hope that regular posters here would know the information is reliable. |
The problem is that what you are doing is, as I understand Japanese defamation law and case law, illegal. Obviously, I'm not a lawyer (in any country) and I don't even play one on slashdot, but I'd be more careful of doing the same that has resulted in successfull litigation in the past in Japan. YMMV.
As I understand it, you either have to post the names and details or the company has a road to litigation against both you and the website. It doesn't matter that you reasonably think it is true. You are simply posting innuendo and rumour as it is. Include dates, places. Make it more like a real report that provides enough detail to suggest it's for real and yet protects the individuals involved. *That* would be far more credible IMO. As it is it reads like a petulant little rant.
Heck, if they had a decent lawyer and chose to argue it in the US (remember, NOVA exist as a legal entity in the US) even it being true wouldn't be a defence because they could argue that the post in and of itself was defamatory *because* it didn't include details. I'm sure eslcafe.com would be *real* happy about *that*. Not. |
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