Job Discussion Forums

[Sody]

Well I need insight so I will try and give you as much background info as I can so you might be able to help me with my question.

I've been working in Japan for a children's English school, yes it is an eikawa. I've been working for this company for a little more than 1/2 a year. I have never been late for any of my classes until a few days ago when I came into the class 17 minutes late. The company has a policy that states you must be in the class 30 minutes before the start of the lesson. So basically I arrived 17 minutes late but 13 minutes before the start of class.

I was late because I did a really stupid thing. I was biking to the train station when from out of no where this old woman riding her bike pops out from around the corner and I accidentally hit her. In my defense she was on the wrong side of the road and I couldn't see her until the last second. Well when I hit her I made her fall off her bike and it happened so fast I screamed "damn it!" I scared the hell out of her! Anyhow, she was ok in a few minutes and so was I, but it scared the hell out of me and I felt really bad. I was really sorry about the whole incident and very upset. Not only was I racked with guilt but I was so upset I wanted to call the company and tell them I wasn't going to go into work that day. I decided not to and just went to work knowing I was going to be a few minutes late. Anyhow, the company requires that you submit a lateness form to the head office and I did apologize to them for being late although I didn't give them a reason for why I was late. I didn't want to and I didn't see the need to. I simply said I'm sorry and it's my fault, I was delayed.

Well I get a call a few days later from one of the managers of the company and I was told that if I come late again they will fire me. I was really shocked and a bit angry but I didn't say anything. I couldn't believe how strict such a policy was and I was sure that they were trying to single me out but later I was able to confirm that it was a policy that applies to all native teachers. I'm really shocked and quite disturbed by this, I did apologize and from where I come from (Canada) that is usually enough. Am I missing something here? I am usually never late for anything and it bothers me that they would do this. I have always tried to be a good employee and I work hard for this company and they pull this cr*p on me!

I would appreciate any feedback you have to enlighten me but I guess what I really want to know is, is this the norm for all companies in Japan or did I just luck out and join a really bad company? If I had known that I could be fired for coming in late twice I would of never decided to come all the way to Japan to work.

Sody

[canuck]

Find a new job. Don't be loyal to a company like that. Just an unfortunate situation.

[guest of Japan]

You　might have hurt yourself by not saying why you were late, but not by much. In all likelyhood they would not fire you if you are late again, they are just trying to scare you. But as Canuck said, look for a new job. The one you have is horrible.

[PAULH]

[Sody]

Hey guys, thanks a lot for the insight and support. I appreciate it.

I must apologize though, it turns out I screwed up. The company won't fire me if I come late again, they will "ask me to resign." I'm not entirely sure what that means. I think I lose my bonus for not completing my contract and they don't owe me anything. I'm not completely sure though. In any case they made it clear that I am expected to leave and I wouldn't want to stay if they are against me. It's bad enough that I am out here all alone in Japan. I don't want to make enemies with them as well. I think that is what bothered me the most, the fact that I was so expendable in an instant and that by coming late once I almost lost my job.

According to my friends, it is normal in Japan to fire someone if they come late even once. My friends are English teachers as well though, so perhaps they might be wrong? If they are right, then I guess I got off lucky. In any case, it may have been a mistake to work for this company but I signed a contract and made a year's commitment so I am going to try and survive until it is complete. I appreciate the help, thanks again.

Sody

[taikibansei]

[Glenski]

I agree with everyone else here.

1. The policy is too strict.
2. Don't resign if they ask you to.
3. You might've gotten off easier if you explained that you had had a bike accident coming to work.

One more point. You wrote...

[PAULH]

Sody, I think you have got the message by now that your employers are somewhat control freaks and they also have some pretty discriminatory work rules.

I might just add that even if you arrive 15 minutes later than you are supposed to, I assume that your paid working hours start from 30 minutes before the first lesson? is 30 minutes before a lesson actual paid work time? If you are actually late for work by arriving after the starting time, that is one thing, but if your work hours start just before the lesson starts, e.g. work starts at 9.00. lesson at 9.15 and boss wants you in school at 8.45) then that means your boss is making you work for free between 8.45 and 9.00. That is more than 1 hour over one week and 4 hours over a month.

Obviously it sounds as though you have become a little intimidated by your boss' actions but i would keep in mind that you have rights as well, and your boss can not make you come to work and not pay you for it, and threaten to fire you becuase you arrive late, through unforeseen circumstances.


Any work rules that appy to only foreigners and not Japanese are inherently discriminatory, even racist, and this simply means that your boss does not trust foreign teachers and has to treat them like children. This may perhaps have been because of teachers who were late before or caused problems for the company. Such discriminatory work rules are not covered under Japanese labor laws and and simply rules made up by your boss.

It does sound to me that he has a rather repressive and dictatorial manner. Not a good place to work, if you ask me.

[Bozo Yoroshiku]

[Rorschach]

Is this your first teaching job in Japan? It sounds like you are putting up with more bullshit than you have to. Stick up for yourself and watch management cave.

[Apsara]

Hmm. Did you know that if Nova teachers are late without giving any notice, even 2 minutes, they are fined up to 4 lessons' worth of salary. Nova teachers aren't usually fired on their second offence though. Your school sounds strict, but punctuality is taken very seriously in Japan, it would have been much better to tell them why you were late, as it's a valid reason.

[Apsara]

Hmm. Did you know that if Nova teachers are late without giving any notice, even 2 minutes, they are fined up to 4 lessons' worth of salary. Nova teachers aren't usually fired on their second offence though. Your school sounds strict, but punctuality is taken very seriously in Japan, it would have been much better to tell them why you were late, as it's a valid reason.

[taikibansei]

[Sody]

Well thanks everyone once again for the informative insights.

Yes Rorschach, this is my first job in Japan. LOL, was it that obvious? I gotta say I don�t have the guts that most of you have, but I�m new to this industry and plus I�m too old to put up with anymore crap about the matter. I�m not a recent university graduate; I�m over 30 years old. I have never had anyone question me about my punctuality before and I�ve never been �on probation,� so this is all new to me. That�s why I asked about whether this was all standard for a Japanese company.

Bozo and Taikibansei, I�m not sure what I�m going to do if I end up being late again in the next few months. But your suggestions are intriguing to say the least

Seriously though, I should make it clear that it�s not a bad company imo. For the most part I actually enjoy teaching here in Japan and like I�ve said I haven�t had any problems with the company before this. I guess it was just the shock of being told by a stranger on the phone that I would have to resign if I ever came late again over the next six months. If I had known that I could lose my job like that I would have never gotten on the plane to Japan in the first place.

Glenski, I was able to confirm that the policy applies to all teachers, both Japanese and native. Bozo, I�m not entirely sure what happens when they ask you to resign but the manager said that he has had to do it a few times. So I�m assuming that more than one employee has been �asked to leave,� for their lateness.

PaulH, basically they pay you for the 30 minutes before class as well. It is a very different system from other eikawas I think. You basically have the key to a small school that you must open yourself and you teach the kids by yourself. Since there is no one there at the school you have to be on time otherwise it is possible that one of the parents may come early and end up waiting. Obviously, that would be a bad thing for the customer to wait so I think it is a good system.

I am on probation now so that means I have to be in class 1 hour before the class starts and call in for attendance. The company uses a point system so I have actually lost money because of my lateness. From what I have been told I lose the money from my �completion bonus,� so I don�t actually lose anything from my paycheck. I realize the system is extremely strict, but it�s definitely not discriminatory. In any case I�m fine with it as I am usually early anyhow. I agree that I should of lost money from my paycheck. I came late for the appointed time and they should of docked off 17 minutes of pay.

Sody

[Sody]

Hi taikibansei,

I was definitely late for work and the policy is applied to the Japanese staff I'm almost 100% positive. I should definitely be fined for my lateness. I actually think that is a good system, not four days pay though. That is insane! LOL. If they did that in North America I know a few people who would not survive until their next paycheck.

Oh and btw Apsara, I did tell that manager on the phone why I was late but it didn't make any difference. I take full responsibility for my lateness, I don't argue that it was my fault. But to have someone call me up and tell me I am on probation and very close to being forced to resign was too much. Especially since I didn't mean to come late, I was never late before and I have always put in a good effort at working hard for this company. I have spent many extra hours preparing lessons, not to mention all the hard efforts to deal with undisciplined and socially dsyfunctional children and this is the thanks I get? I screw up once and I am suddenly on trial. I have been late for work more than once in Canada and I explained to my manager that I was sorry and that was the end of it.

I'm not arguing with you Apsara, I see your point about Japanese strictness but if you are saying they are justified then at least give me some more cases as to what is the Japanese norm because I honestly don't know. That is why I started this thread. My friends in Japan are all Canadian and from what they have told me about their Japanese friends who worked for places like Trial, Jusco and bento restaurants it is possible that you can be fired for coming late even once.

Sody