Job Discussion Forums

[likewisepro]

Lee Rose English School, also operating under the name IEES, is located in Ishinomaki, Japan. I was 'hired' by them on March 15th, and was supposed to be payed standard TEFL salary on the 15th of every consequential month. Just be warned that they don't pay!!!!! So if they're posting new teacher classifieds---bypass it!!!! You will be very thankful you did!!!!

[Glenski]

I hope you report them to the labour standards office. No pay at all?

[likewisepro]

zero pay. and yes, they are being reported to the ministry or labour, health and welfare.

[fluffyhamster]

How about the small claims court? There were some informative threads a while ago.

[From Russian With 52]

That's cute that your remembered you Shakespeare.

But it wouldn't fun unless we told the whole story:

1. You were hired on March 15th of 2008.

2.The following two weeks of March were designated as "training weeks" where former management made the poor choice to make those training weeks receive no pay.

3. Thus your first paid working day was April 1st, and you were to receive your paycheck for the month of April on May 15th.
(Lee Rose pays on the 15th of the previous month's work because it takes awhile to collect payments from all the schools and private lessons the company does)

4.Instead of being paid on the 15th of May, YOU QUIT!! You left town after a little over a month working here and didn't tell anyone.

It's a much better story when it's the WHOLE story. I do admit it was a poor choice not paying you for the first two weeks, but the company is now under different management.

CHEERS!

[Hoser]

Wow-interesting

[Inflames]

[wayne432]

If it was actually laid out that the first 2 weeks or so were unpaid training, then it would make sense that the OP was put on the pay roster starting April 1st... If that's true, doesn't that make this a "first paycheck coming in 1.5 months" case.

Isn't that normal?

[J.]

I've never heard of two weeks of UNPAID "training." That alone would be grounds for quitting, especially if it were a surprise to the OP.

What difference does it make if he/she has left town? You can still forward the pay. In fact, the OP has quit for cause. You're lucky he/she didn't turn right around when he/she found out you were intending to pay nothing for the first 2 weeks.

Doesn't make a difference who is in charge now. You've shot your reputation unless you pay this teacher and change your future practices. No one can afford to give you that much work up front while you "collect fees".

[wayne432]

I agree about the 2 weeks of unpaid training. It does sound odd.

I don't really see how most people would agree to it, but it also could depend on the contract.

[jgmodlin]

I may be off on this, but I believe Berlitz has some sort of unpaid training at the beginning for new hires. Agreed that it is a bummer not to get paid for training, but I think there are a few schools that do this...

Also, this is a good lesson for many about how long you will need to wait to get a paycheck. I think this is why so many on this forum advise people to bring enough money to see themselves through 2-3 months. I remember wondering when I would ever get ahead when I first came to Japan. It takes a bit of patience and budgeting in the beginning.

[spiral78]

It's not just Berlitz... it's entirely common for 'hack' schools that require teachers to use their own teaching methods to require unpaid training periods.

[I Oughta Know]

I read this post with great interest. I am the "former management" that From Russian refers to, and he only speaks the half-truth....but that is all he has been told.

While the "management" of this "school"- Lee Rose English Language School, has changed, the owner remains the same, and has a long and infamous track record in the business. This "school" is owned by International English Education Service (IEES), and is associated with International Preschool Pinocchio.

Likewisepro was fully aware of the May 15th payday, as FRw52 points out. But the decision to require 2 weeks of unpaid "training" was entirely the owner's insane idea. In fact, it was her policy to require this from dozens of teachers before Likewisepro, and only stopped at my insistence after this incident posted here. FRw52 was the 2nd teacher to benefit from this policy change (you are welcome!).

As FRw52 correctly states, LWP disappeared late one night with absolutely no discussion, leaving the "school", coworkers, and students in a lurch! Very unprofessional, and very childish.

However, what LWP says I fully support. This is a 1st-class HACK SCHOOL with no curriculum, purpose, or regard for staff or students. The owner is a pathological lier, with a litany of conflict and deception in her past.

Some of you have wondered about the pay LWP was due. In fact, he worked exactly 15 days on the payroll. The funds he had earned were withheld by the owner. This was not my decision. However, I did tell his girlfriend (who was the only one who ever contacted the "school" in an attempt to recover the funds) that he should come to the school to collect the funds himself, as no banking information was provided. That was the end of the "claim". No investigation was ever conducted by any government official.

FRw52 states that because of my mismanagement 3 (YES, there were only 3) teachers left before their contracts expired. He is not aware that, in fact, there have now been over 30 teachers who have run like hell from Lee Rose. This school has gone through teachers at an astonishing rate. It has much more to do with the owner's lies, deception, and complete lack of support teachers enjoy.

I was actually lured to the school with promises of profit sharing and management control that never came true. I moved to Japan with my wife and children based on these lies, and put my family at risk. I was paid my salary 2 weeks late consistently because of the school's lack of funds (YES, so teachers like FRw52 could get his pay on time, I waited for a month after the end of my monthly period!!!) and on a couple of occasions I was forced to cover large company expenses out of my pocket and wait months for repayment- in fact I paid all the upfront rent and fees for FRw52's apartment out of my own savings....and look at the appreciation he shows me and my family by spreading lies here and on his personal blog (very classy!).

After leaving this "school" I did attempt to file a claim for unpaid overtime, and the owner lied to the Ministry of Labor agent and claimed that the business was insolvent and would be ceasing operation within the month. The case was dropped. My only option was to retain legal counsel, at my own expense. No small claims court process here! In response to my claim. As a final feather in her cap, the owner decided to dock me for a week's scheduled and approved vacation (in lieu of 40 hours of my unpaid overtime pay), and my last pay from this circus was exactly 25% less than my regular salary.

I started my new job immediately, and was actually paid my first month's pay 2 weeks before my final payment finally arrived from Lee Rose English Language School (IEES). I am now in a much better place in life, and regret the entire 20 months I suffered under this regime.

These 2 stories here on this thread might seem a bit incredible, but it is a sad fact that these are just 2 of dozens of disasters created in Ishinomaki by Lee Rose English Language School. I could write a whole lot more, but I limit myself at this point......

As LWP stated, STAY FAR AWAY from this circus. You will be very glad you did.

But I would go one step further and warn prospective employers, Likewisepro (Likewise Pro ?) is a dangerous threat to your business- take a pass on this utterly unprofessional individual.

Cheers!

[JimSwill]

I find it interesting that I oughta know thinks that, a disaffected employee doing a runner was, "very unprofessional and very childish." And then goes on to say that not one, not two, but up to 30 people have done the same with this company. It would seem a reasonable response to the treatment that they have received, at least in my eyes. There are some cases where it may be childish but, it looks to me like you had a pretty decent reason. We don't come here to work and not be paid. Sorry, doesn't work that way. My bet is I oughta know wishes that he/she was able to do it too but, because of the need to support the family and I am sure little pride too (The owner did sell them the dream of management and a share in the company).

Sounds like hell there and people would do well to stay clear. Unfortunately there are suckers all over the English speaking world that will take the job, believing the promises. It happened to me; not with this particular job but, with another in Kitakyushu. Same M.O. to a T. Don't feel bad for the students. They have seen it before and will continue to see it again. Take care of yourself first. Next time don't leave before you are paid and make sure you know the details of the contract. Flex a little muscle. I got paid after a month of hell and heinousness and started working with another company the next day. I was lucky. Two friends were bent over by the same company and are no longer in Japan.

Japan is a beautiful place and that makes the job easier for snakes and all sorts of other reptiles to prey on your dreams. Unfortunately you will find it in whatever company you work for. I still see it day to day. I just hope the pay off, in experience, will be worth it in the end.

[I Oughta Know]

JimSwill, you are missing the point here. LWP didn't stick around long enough to enjoy the mistreatment that most have experienced from the owner. He knew full well when payday was, and ran all the same. Had he been deceived or misled, I would fully agree with you. But this is simply not the case!