Job Discussion Forums

[chelsea]

I am planning on teaching in Japan this month. During my job search, I accepted one position, and shortly after was offered a much better job. I accepted the second offer, and contacted the first school to let them know I would not be teaching with them.
I got an e-mail from the school I canceled with, and they are asking me to pay them a rather large sum of money to compensate for the time they spent preparing the contract.
Is this legal? Do I have to pay?

[TokyoLiz]

Chelsea,

You gotta be joking.

If you already have a visa through the first company, you can get into Japan no problem. Just get the new employer to get the sponsorship papers in right quick, so that the other guys have nothing to hold against you.

Wow, forget their phone number, block their email and run away...

[unchi pants]

Paying them compensation for time spent making a contract is a joke ... But if they did sponsor you and get you a visa and then you turn around and say you won't work for them BUT TAKE THE VISA ... Yes, you should compensate them ... Or at least the new company should.

[Gordon]

They have no legal basis to get any money from you. They are bluffing. They don't have a signed contract from you, so don't worry. They must be desperate to go after you, but you did make a verbal commetment and then renegged so don't feel too good about yourself.

[General Union]

[unchi pants]

Yes, of course there's no legal obligation ... perhaps just a moral obligation.

[fion]

Generally I'd say no, of course don't pay them, but I'm in a situation right now where the boot is on the other foot (Business English classes, cancelled at very short notice, after the contract had been issued and signed by both parties.) Client company is having 'financial difficulties' apparently, but I feel that this is not my problem and am trying to push for some sort of cancellation fee. Fingers crossed.
Fion

[General Union]