Job Discussion Forums

[midnightpariah]

Can an employer have a visa canceled? When I received my CoE, my employer said, "They have changed the rules. Just so you know if you walk out on a contract, we can have your visa taken from you and you will be deported. Also, you will never be able to get another visa in Japan again."

I have heard before that this is not allowed, but I just want to make sure. I had no plan of leaving, but that kind of left a bad taste in my mouth.

[Glenski]

Your employer is a bully and a liar. They cannot do that, and there has been no such change that says you will never get a visa again. The visa is yours until it expires. I suggest you watch this job carefully.

Don't even bother telling him to read the labor laws. Watch your back and keep a lookout for the want ads for a better job.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

They're lying. And if they are saying things like that, then you might want to think twice about working for them. It sounds like they may have problems with people breaking contract (which is bad) and if they are lying about this, what else might they be lying about (which may be worse).

From April, visa status could change if the government is aware that your current visa is inaccurate (ie you have a spousal visa, but you are divorced). But you own your visa, not your employer. All that matters is that you have a job when it comes time to get your visa renewed. But since it is highly unlikely that someone who intends on staying in Japan will quit their job without having another one to go to, it probably won't be an issue.

Sounds like a great bunch of people to work for.

[Cool Teacher]

[robertokun]

Get. Out. Of that job. Now!

[gwynnie86]

Can I ask who this employer is?

[midnightpariah]

Would you recommend finding a job and just quitting suddenly? Or should I find a job that starts later and give appropriate notice? I am worried that if I look for another job, they will find out and fire me before I get a new job.

[Glenski]

If they fire you, they owe you 30 days' notice or 30 days' pay.

Let them.

This is prime job hunting time. Should be plenty of openings.

[midnightpariah]

Thanks Glenski.

I am really upset with this job. I figured out, though, that the girl before me only worked there for 4 months before quitting. She did stay, however, until they found a replacement (me). I feel like I've been lied to a lot. From the cost of rent to the class schedule.

I was wondering if there is a link to a place that says they owe you 30 days pay/notice if you get fired. If this were to happen, I would really like to be prepared.

As far as notice goes: If I were to quit, how much notice should I give? What if my new job wants me to start within a short period of time?

[Glenski]

The answer is in the labor laws. Here is the English version.

http://www.jil.go.jp/english/laborinfo/library/documents/llj_law1-rev.pdf

Technically, you should give as much notice as the contract states when you are in your first year. Some people will tell you you only owe them as much time as they owe you (30 days). Others will say forget that and give 2 weeks, then run because they will not spend the time or money to penalize you or take you to court. If their contract already has any illegal clauses in it, the whole thing is invalid, including any penalties or time required for you to give notice.

With a flooded market, they will have no problems in March finding willing replacements.

Oh, and don't let them penalize you financially, either. That's also in the labor laws as illegal.

[steki47]

[starteacher]

Whilst I tend to look at this thread with odds stacked against it, at the same time I wonder why the company would make such announcement, after all there are plenty of other candidates who would be willing to take over if you leave.

We also do not know the reason, unless the girl comes out forth with, why she left. Her reasons could be entirely different, it could be the same, it is speculation. Unless you can give otherwise.

I always feel the teachers should stay the course, just grit it out and in the meantime look for something new, then leave with plenty of notice and in good terms. Maybe this company wants you to stay because actually like you ? Why would they want to tell you something to inflame the relationship ? If they wanted to get rid of you they would have done so by now.

Go where your heart tells you. A colleague of mine had an awful time with one employer, we both wanted to quit. But I stayed and tolerated and in the end left, got a really good reference, that still I hold onto today. My colleague is still hopping jobs. Tolerance and patience is a virtue, and a few months is not much when you consider you could live until 90.

A recruitment friend of mine has recently commented that resumes with fractured lengths (ie. periods of short contractul work or periods of breaks between employments) are now beginning to be frowned upon my employers. The more fractures you have, the more frowns.

Good luck, hope all works out for you.

(PS I could be totally wrong )

[Glenski]

[ssjup81]

[midnightpariah]

I was told that she quit because she found a new job. She worked there 3 1/2 months before she put in her notice and then 2 more months until I arrived.

My big concern was with what sounded to me like a threat about taking my visa. There was no reason for that to be said to me. It was completely out of the blue and while I was sure that wasn't the case, I wanted to make sure.