Job Discussion Forums

chaz47 · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 157

How do Japaneses employers react to sick days? What is the healthcare like for someone who goes in to a hospital complaining of a fever, they do at least take your temperature yes?

Please see my thread in the Korea forum for the reasons why I ask:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=108247&start=30&sid=c43a3676b0c1f2683130cfce46eb052c

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Employers usually balk at people taking days off, but if you are truly sick and not just hung over, it's obvious that you should not go to work, or that you should at least see a doctor.

chaz47 · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 157

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Every time I've been in to see a doctor, they give me a thermometre for under the arm and take the temperature before seeing the doctor, then then doctor already has it all set out in front of home when see him.

I don't go to the doctor very often though, because I know a cold when I have one, and take tylonal (sp?) and vitimins. Then it goes away. I do go if I break an arm or something, though.

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

OP, if you were shocked or surprised at not having your temperature checked, then I wonder how you'd have felt in the following situation!

I went to my local municipal hospital a couple of years ago having fallen off my bicycle and landed heavily on my elbow. My Japanese was good enough to explain in a reasonable amount of detail what had happened, where the pain was and the limited extent to which I was able to bend or straighten my arm. The doctor I saw had a quick look at my elbow, patted my arm a couple of times and then prescribed me 3 different kinds of medicine, although didn't explain what any of them was, or was for.

You're probably thinking, "what about the x-ray?", and indeed I was thinking the same and asked the doctor. He said there was no need to x-ray it as it wasn't broken, only bruised and would be ok in a few days.

Not much I could do there and then, but I was pretty fuming about this and went to a different hospital to try again. There I received excellent service - they immediately did an x-ray and confirmed there was, in fact, a fracture and that it'd be a couple of months recovery time needed, not a couple of days.

I've lived in both Korea and Japan and I'd say, as a general rule, I'd be fairly happy going to a hospital in either. I have had frustrating experiences in both, and encoutered what seemed to me strange medical practices in both. But I stress that, ultimately, I've been ok.

OP, I know from your previous posts that you're obviously done with Korea, it's not been what you wanted and you're eager to give it a go in Japan now. Just come to Japan, give it a go and see if you like it. I think you'll find an awful lot of your gripes about Korea are similar in Japan, BUT you'll be better prepared to deal with them so it's not necessarily something to worry about. Just my 2 cents, but I don't think fishing for little reassurances that things you haven't liked in Korea are all hunky-dory in Japan is the best idea. You may come across something you don't really want to hear - and given the large number of shocking medical negligence cases in the news in Japan recently, I definitely reckon your sanity is best served by not digging too far on this particular subject.
Just relax a bit, come to Japan and try to enjoy it!

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

I've lived in both Korea and Japan.

Korean employers: generally complete arses when it comes to teachers calling in sick.

Japanese employers: generally complete arses when it comes to teachers calling in sick, but less so than in Korea.

Korean hospitals: generally good for the big things, but usually, although less often than in Korea, a waste of time when it comes to "small" things like the flu... although you can find some pretty hardcore medicine that's illegal in most western countries.

Japanese hospitals: generally good for the big things, but usually a waste of time when it comes to "small" things like the flu... although you can find some pretty hardcore medicine that's illegal in most western countries. They also take your temperature. There is way more paperwork for you to fill out in Japan then in Korea.

These are my opinions from my experiences in both countries. I've had the privilege to stay in hospital in both nations.

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

chaz47 · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 157

It's true that Korea has me at my wit's end but I was recently offered a university job so if I can manage to get it without having to fly back home for the new visa requirements I'll probably stay.

SeasonedVet · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan

Clerk · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 17

SeasonedVet · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

Jeezus! Let it go.

'Deepest, darkest Africa' is an expression just like 'Bumf*@k, Egypt'. It was used in that sense.

If you want to start a thread on expressions that are outdated and have racist connotations, go ahead, but let it go in this thread.

SeasonedVet · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan

southofreality