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TRod
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 59
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 Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject: Passing Blood/drug tests for Eikawas?? |
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| Hi. I was wondering if anyone who is in Japan teaching had to take a blood or hair test, testing for drugs and what not. Did anyone "fail" the test and was not offered the job? |
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Like a Rolling Stone
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 872
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| Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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It is a urban legend. Relax maaaan, pass the duchee on the left hand side...  |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 9:35 pm Post subject: Re: Passing Blood/drug tests for Eikawas?? |
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| TRod wrote: |
| Hi. I was wondering if anyone who is in Japan teaching had to take a blood or hair test, testing for drugs and what not. Did anyone "fail" the test and was not offered the job? |
No one has been tested since 1996 as its illegal and discriminatory in Japan because Japanese are not asked to take the same test. Drugs tests are legal under US laws though.
Asking you to pee in a cup implies guilt and they dont trust new employees. Being treated like a criminal before you start a new job is not the way to go, IMO. |
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TRod
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks everyone. I hope it doesn't have to come down to that.... |
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callmesim
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 279
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| They might take a pee test but only to test glucose, calcium and something else. |
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Willy_In_Japan
Joined: 20 Jul 2004
Posts: 329
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 1:36 am Post subject: |
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GEOS insisted that I go for a 'health check' six months into the contract. I had a feeling it was to check on drug usage, but couldn't prove it.
They wouldn't let me dodge it. Not that I had anything to worry about, but it still annoyed me a bit. |
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ironopolis
Joined: 01 Apr 2004
Posts: 379
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 1:54 am Post subject: |
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| Willy_In_Japan wrote: |
GEOS insisted that I go for a 'health check' six months into the contract. I had a feeling it was to check on drug usage, but couldn't prove it.
They wouldn't let me dodge it. Not that I had anything to worry about, but it still annoyed me a bit. |
It's not unusual at all for Japanese companies to have their employees go for a health check once a year. Whilst many westerners might see this as something of an invasion of privacy, in Japan people see it as a chance to go for a peace of mind giving check-up at the company's expense. I don't think many language schools do this though - if yours do, don't moan about it as you may well be seen as ungrateful or perhaps even as having something to hide. Often the same check-up would cost you a fortune if you had to pay for it yourself. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 2:26 am Post subject: |
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| Willy_In_Japan wrote: |
GEOS insisted that I go for a 'health check' six months into the contract. I had a feeling it was to check on drug usage, but couldn't prove it.
They wouldn't let me dodge it. Not that I had anything to worry about, but it still annoyed me a bit. |
Depending on your age the health check is to check for things such as diabetes and cancer. If you get sick on their watch they will have to pay out a fortune in hospitalisation or compensation if you get sick.
I am over 40 and take the school health check, I even underwent an 'internal' examination to check for colon cancer.
I think you are being a bit paranoid here. |
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yamanote senbei
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 435
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 2:29 am Post subject: |
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| It's the law for employers to give their employees a health check at least once a year. Few foreigners actually have them though, because their employers don't want to pay the expense. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 2:35 am Post subject: |
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| Willy_In_Japan wrote: |
GEOS insisted that I go for a 'health check' six months into the contract. I had a feeling it was to check on drug usage, but couldn't prove it.
They wouldn't let me dodge it. Not that I had anything to worry about, but it still annoyed me a bit. |
If its for drug usage that means they have to ask the Japanese staff to undergo drug tests and if they did they would have a mutiny on their hands. Anyway, results are confidential and they cant fire or harass you as a result of your medical records. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 2:36 am Post subject: |
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| I did the optional health check up 3 years ago with my employer. I won't do it again as my all my info was basically passed around the office to translate the results. I didn't have anything to hide, but was royally ticked off. Nothing is private around here. |
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Willy_In_Japan
Joined: 20 Jul 2004
Posts: 329
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:17 am Post subject: |
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I am not 'being' paranoid. It happened 3 years ago.
But I wouldn't put it past them to harrass you if something was found. Some people give me the line that it is a benefit to 'check' your health. I see medical checkups as means to discriminate personally.
I once went for a medical, and my family doctor put down 'allopecia' on the report. I told him to take it off, as I did NOT have allopecia. I had 'Male pattern baldness' and it wasn't a 'disease'. Jerk refused and I got a new doctor. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 4:12 am Post subject: |
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I remember having a similar discussion with some of the Dave's people a while back when I was first starting with the BoE... I had an objection to the barium stomach X-ray...
Everyone has to learn to pave their own way. Some people suggested to me ways I could weasel out of the medical check (which failed, BTW)... But we seem to have come to a happy compromise. Before "medical check day" comes, they tell you that you are not allowed to eat anything 12 hours before, and nothing to drink 4 hours before your medical... There's a spot on your application form that asks you this question... I always tell them that I had a full and proper breakfast, and just had a few cups of coffee before arriving. "Ah... Gomen ne..." Forgot all about not eating.
So... They do the rest of the medical check as planned, and lo and behold, they omit the stomach x-ray and no one says a word!
BTW, medical check results should be COMPLETELY confidential -- not even your employer has the right to see this info... It should be delivered to you directly in a sealed envelope. Fortunately this is indeed the case at my BoE... The fact that teachers like to "compare" results and see who's got the highest cholesterol among them, etc, is their own business -- I don't participate in that variety of water-cooler talk. |
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Like a Rolling Stone
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Posts: 872
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 4:54 am Post subject: |
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Who looks at the medical check information?  If my boss has a check can I ask to see his medical problems? Can he see my medical problems? |
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casual
Joined: 13 Oct 2003
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Like a Rolling Stone"]It is a urban legend. Relax maaaan, pass the duchee on the left hand side... 8)[/quote]
surely a cooking pot wont help!! |
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