Job Discussion Forums

[mapraopenrai]

I'm in my fourth year at a private high school in Kyoto. When I was offered the job and told that I could hold no outside jobs, I wasn't quite sure I wanted them to dictate such terms to me, but at the time I wasn't very eager to work more than what my full time schedule would be anyway.
Now being in my fourth year of no raise, no bonus, work many hours to show a good face, no guarantee of being re-hired, I'm thinking of supplementing my income.
If the school says that you cannot hold an outside job, is it legally binding? Anyone know about this? Anyone in a similar situation?

[JimDunlop2]

Technically speaking, you are bound by the terms of your work visa. I.e. if you are listed as an "instructor" and get busted doing some exotic dancing on the side, you are in violation of the terms of your visa. In addition, your visa sponsor may have objections to you taking on work on the side -- whether or not this is legal, I'm not entirely sure -- I'd ask the union about it.

As for me, I cannot moonlight, as I am a civil servant (working directly for the BoE). As such, regardless of the nature of the work, I am prohibited from taking part in it. That rule applies from the mayor and superintendant of schools, all the way down to the lowest janitor (is what I've been told). Although if I volunteer, the city has no say over what I do in my free time... (Volunteering often carries with it an "honorarium" but I think that falls into a grey zone that people would rather not push into too much).

[furiousmilksheikali]

This may depend on what was written in the contract you signed.

Bear in mind that a lot of eikaiwa companies make this stipulation in their own contracts and it really prevents anyone taking on private students.

Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to take on private students but never mention them to your employer.

[cornishmuppet]

I agree with ali. Generally speaking, no employer wants you to have outside jobs, for whatever reason, and its usually in the contract. I wasn't allowed to when I worked in a bank back in England. There they stated that if I was tired I wouldn't be able to perform my full time job appropriately. In Japan I imagine eikawas don't like it because they think you'll be taking their business. My previous employer here even barred me from doing volunteer classes.

Having said that, practically everyone I know in Japan is doing some sort of private work on the side, regardless of where they work, be it Nova or the local BoE. They just don't tell anyone about it.

While I don't know anyone who's ever been caught, if you like your job enough not to jeopardise it I'd be careful about picking up other work. Chances are you'll have no problems, and if they do catch you, they'll probably just give you a slap on the wrist. But I imagine some people have got screwed for doing it.

[furiousmilksheikali]

[Glenski]

[mapraopenrai]

OK, like I said, I don't teach in an eikaiwa school, I teach in a private high school. If a public high school student falls under that category of 'civil servant', I don't know what that means about me.

[mapraopenrai]

And the actual contract does not say that I can't have outside classes. Matter of fact, it says very little aside from stating my salary, and an addition this year, that I will not be able to renew my contract next year. Now, they have come to me in the last few weeks to ask me if I'd like to continue and talked about making a special contract, but it's all part of me not being permanent, even though they put so many requirments and limitations on me.

[furiousmilksheikali]

[TK4Lakers]