Job Discussion Forums

[SoulCal]

I would like to hear from other former GEOS employees regarding their End of Contract Evaluation Bonuses. I am in the process of disputing several low marks on my evaluation that severely contradict the sentiments I received during my employment with this company. My compensation, which was significantly low for my time with the corporation, had no explanation of the numbers and makes me feel that my evaluators simply overexaggerated anything they could. After contacting my former Head Office, I was given a sheet of unjustified number rankings that contained no concrete reasons to support their conclusions. The most despicable part is, while I was still employed by this company, I received comments directly from people who interacted with H.O. about their dishonest practices and their intentions to reduce teacher payouts as best as they can.

I am curious to know how many other teachers have gone through similar experiences and what kinds of actions they have taken with corresponding results. I was always skeptical of this evaluation process due to the fact that it takes months to process after teachers leave, and there is no transparency in this procedure.

This is one more bit of insight to consider for people who are interested in teaching at GEOS before they invest their time, money, and efforts. And this is really just the tip of the iceberg, folks. I am thoroughly happy to no longer be employed by GEOS, and I would be even more ecstatic to hear about other teachers' experiences with this corporation.

[womblingfree]

These evaluations are a joke. They're based as much on how much you get on with the boss, how much spare cash the schools got and whether they want to keep you in your place as anything else.

I had a friend that was the most hard working and loyal eikaiwa teacher you can imagine, never complained, helped sell the dodgy books, did everything asked of him and more.

In the seven years he was there I don't think he got more than a cursory promotion. I think eventually he got a job in another department of GEOS doing admin, he's fluent in Japanese. For most mortals the trials required are not worth the long-term rewards.

As far as challenging these decisions, you'll most likely just rub the management up the wrong way, be labelled as a malcontent and fast-tracked to non-renewal of contract, or at least have a big black mark against your name.

EDIT:

Actually you've just reminded me about our own evaluations one year at Aeon.

They came back written out simply, with motivational stuff like, 'Great!', 'Let's work together!', etc. Anyway, we found our actual reports in a drawer, all written in Japanese and photocopied them for posterity. They are very detailed about every little facet of your behaviour and personality. Probably kept on record for eternity in case you ever reapply.

Hope I still have them around somewhere???

[SoulCal]

I wanted to post some follow-up info. regarding my experience with GEOS and their "professionalism". Hopefully, this helps prospective teachers think about some of the realities they will have to deal with when providing their time and efforts for GEOS.

As I stated before in this thread, I worked for GEOS for several years. Although I wasnt perfect, I certainly received a lot of praise from my management, co-workers, and students for being a good teacher. Well, 2.5 months after returning home, I received my bonus, which was about 1/3 the amount I expected. There was no explanation for this lump sum, so I contacted my Head Trainer to get an explanation for this number. He responded with a paper that broke down each category (and subcategories) with a number from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest). I received mostly 1s and 2s across the board, so by the look of this evaluation, I looked like a horrible employee. This contradicted everything that I was lead to believe about my performance during my employment with GEOS, and naturally, I wanted a clear explanation for this discrepancy. Ive made multiple requests to GEOS to offer substantiated reasons for these numbers, as they looked grossly misjudged and without merit, and since then, GEOS has stopped communication and never provided me with anything concrete to backup their bogus claims.

GEOS absolutely demands professionalism from their teachers, they constantly drill this expectation into your head. But, it seems that when its time for them to be professional, they lose their dictionaries and communication skills. Every prospective teacher who is overjoyed and excited about a new experience overseas should take a moment to slow down and read the stories of their predecessors. Although its possible to have a good experience with big English companies, the Eikaiwa industry as a whole is cut throat, sleazy, and manipulative; I think GEOS epitomizes the sliminess of this business. GEOS claims that its acronym stands for Global Education Opportunities and Services; however, I think it needs to be appropriately renamed to Greedy Extortive Ostracizing Sharks. This company is a joke.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[Glenski]

Whether you return to your homeland or just relocate within Japan, they know you won't take them to court over it. Guess who wins?

[cornishmuppet]

Having been on the receiving end of an insult-bonus (England, along with the other 100 people in my department) and a promised (but forgotten) bonus (Japan, eikaiwa), I think the best thing is to never expect anything where a pay scale is involved. Even when it clearly states "100,000yen contract completion bonus" or the like I think the believe-it-when-you-see-it way of thinking should be used.

[SoulCal]

I hear what you guys are saying, but it doesnt hurt to spread the word for all the people who search these forums for insight. I wish more people who worked in this industry would provide more detailed stories from their respective companies. I think most people just give up and blow off any problems they have because they feel helpless, which doesnt help inform the general public about what goes on in this business. GEOS is going to be the next Nova, its just a matter of time.

Cornishmuppet, what was the name of the Eikaiwa you worked for in Japan?

[Cool Teacher]

I heard from inside sources that the Japanese staff didnt get paid this month and theyll be paid week late. Do you think GEOS could sink like the Titanic! (Like NOVA?)

I think the bonuses can always be fiddled. It happend to me once AT A DISPATCH COMPANY when I had to take some time off work because I has a contagious disease and the doctor told me I was forbiden to work but when I got my bonus I had only half the money and the boss said I didn't work my full contract!!! If I went ot work and made the kids sick guess who would get the blame though!

I think never assume you'll get any money and if you do its a BONUS!!!

[SoulCal]

Great, keep these stories rolling! People who have worked in Japan as an EFL teacher have a lot of valuable experience that they may take for granted. I assure you, the people who are still living in their native countries contemplating coming to Japan to work in the Eikaiwa industry will greatly appreciate the stories all of you have to offer. Maybe its a burden they still wont mind bearing, or perhaps theyll come to the conclusion that the job isnt as great as they may have originally thought. But, people with actual experience and fortitude are going to be able to tell it like it is. So, make it harder for these corporate Eikaiwa crooks to hustle by giving these newbies the real deal.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[Cool Teacher]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

No, the name comes more from mobmovies and tv shows. Bada BING! was Tony's bar in the Sopranos. A mob-esque radio commercial in Toronto when I was in my undergrad "Call 2 for 1 Oh! 2 for 1... eh bada bing bada boom" (241-0241 is the telephone number of a pizza place that gives you two pizzas for the price of one) and walking around singing a little rhythmic song I made up, :"Gambada-Bing- bada-Bang- bada-Boom! GambadaBingBangBoom!" when I first started learning Japanese because I was always WAY too overtired and the prof kept saying "gabatte!" whenever there were pained groans at having a test every week.

[Cool Teacher]

[kahilm]

I worked for GEOS for about a year and a half and gave them the ridiculous 4 months notice required to get the end-of-contract bonus. I was a decent teacher and had lots of students sign up and renew, but never sold books because it felt dirty and rarely got anyone to sign up for the extremely expensive study abroad packages.

About 2 and a half months later, the bonus was deposited into my postal savings account. To my surprise, it was actually more than I expected. Almost 20-man. I wonder if it was because I was still residing in Japan and could have taken some action if they tried to screw me (maybe not legal, but I could have alerted all the students I knew that GEOS wasn't living up to their contracts for the teachers).

On the other hand, one of my ex-coworkers who had returned to the States before I quit told me that she never got her bonus at all. She was a model employee, too. I never followed up to see if she eventually got it, but I doubt it...

I guess like others have said, you should expect to get bent over and if you don't, then count your lucky stars.

[cornishmuppet]