Job Discussion Forums

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

I am anticipating leaving my current job. I have a few interviews this week and for some of them the job would begin in April. This gives my current employer very little notice. For this I feel extremely guilty, but the things that I have to put up with overshadow that guilt.

Would you tell them how it is exactly and leave them in a lurch, give them whatever notice you can, pull a midnight runner, try to get fired, or make up some lie about how you have to return back home for an emergency?

I have never quit a contract early, so I am sure that I will get threats of them taking away my visa. I need some advice please!

ShioriEigoKyoushi · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 364 Location: Japan

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

It's really a bit late to be 'anticipating' leaving a job now. If you really want to leave, then you can either invent an emergency, as was mentioned (I wouldn't, although it seems to be very common and some employers would probably prefer it, because it allows them to not actually change anything that's wrong), or you could actually make a decision (as in decide that you definately want to move) and then explain that you've been given another offer and you intend to take it and here's why: bla bla la. if you have legitimate reasons for wanting to leave, then there's not a whole lot they can say. But, if your reasons are actually just the way business is conducted in Japan (and you are unaware of it), then the same thing may happen again at the new job.

Does your employer have a high staff turnover? (Do people not recontract with them often? Do they not recontract people? Do an abnormally high number of people leave mid-contract to go to their home country, or to another employer?) It shouldn't make any difference but the reality is that if they have a high turnover and don't seem to do anything about it, it indicates that they simply don't care that they have a high turnover. If you've been there for a while, and every year people need to be talked out of leaving early, and people aren't recontracting, then that's just about the same as people actually leaving- it indicates problems with either the actual workload or communication problems.

If it were me, I would just explain what's actually going on. Keep in mind that you haven't even had an interview yet. They may not hire you, or the conditions may not be as good as what you have now, or you may just not think they would be very good people to work for/ with.

If they are hiring for a job that starts in April now, then that could mean someone has pulled out on them at the last second, or that they were too disorganized to get their act together until almost the very last second.

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

Aren't you the poster who said he just landed in Japan with a job and has not even started working yet, but has a (stupid) 3-months' notice clause in his (illegal as I saw it) contract?
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=78982

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

starteacher · Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 237

And what does your husband think ? Surely you two have to work this out. Can you both take these "what if" risks, are either of you dependent on each other, etc ?

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

Well, I have made the decision to stick it out. I have made a list of things that I want to talk about with my boss. I will explain to him my concerns and hopefully things can be worked out. I have never broken a contract before and I really don't want to start now. If things get worse and he is not willing to help, then I will tell him that I am going to start looking for a new job and give proper notice.

Thanks to everyone who has given such wonderful advice. I've taken it all to heart and greatly appreciate it.

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

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

I have some breaking developments that just might help me make a decision. I found out that the contract that they first sent to me while I was in America was not the one they sent to immigration. They had to send a new contract because apparently immigration rejected the first one. I asked for a copy of it, but I was told that I would have to wait a week. So, at this point I have no idea what the contract says. They told me that immigration sent back the old one because the signature was photocopied and that they needed an actual signature. I signed the back page without reading it because I was told it was the same as before. (stupid me)

On another note, I was offered a position at MLS (the drama school) and they would like me to start working this week. Someone dropped out at the last minute due to an emergency and couldn't come to Japan. I explained to them my current situation and they were very nice about it. They said they understood and wouldn't pressure me one way or another. They would need an answer by the end of today.

I really need some advice!!

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

With all the cr@p you get from that first place (and its illegal contract, which I've pointed out repeatedly), do you really need to think this further?

Take MLS.

Bread · Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 318

Yeah, this is starting to get pretty dumb. Just quit already.

midnightpariah · Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 85

I accepted the job. I finally got a copy of my "contract" today. There are actually 3 copies. 1. The first one I got in America 2. The one I signed after immigration rejected the first one 3. The copy that was actually sent to immigration.

On copy #3 (which I don't have a copy of, but I saw it), he hand-wrote extra things in AFTER I signed it. He gave me a copy of the pre-altered contract and said, "look they are exactly the same. I just wrote in your teaching hours and days off to please immigration". I am so pissed off right now. I was just going to leave, but now I am going to send a copy of everything I have to the labor board.