Job Discussion Forums

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

I've had four jobs in Japan. The present job and the two before it have not paid on arrears. So January salary was paid on the 21st or 25th of January, depending on the job.

However, my first job - in eikaiwa - did pay late. January salary was paid on the 11th of February, or a couple of days later if that day was on a weekend.

How normal is this? And is it just in the English teaching industry? I haven't discussed it with too many Japanese acquaintances, but none of them seem to be paid in the middle of the following month. Why do eikaiwas do it? Surely their staff, many of whom will have just arrived, will be more likely to run out of money in their first month and live paycheck to paycheck. Is it to keep tighter control of their employeers?

Interested in the thoughts of other posters.

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

Being paid near the end of a month is pretty standard for most businesses in Japan. One can always tell when payday is (if you've ever forgotten) just by looking at the size of the crowds in restaurants or electronics shops on the following weekend.

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

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

It is absolutely standard in just about every industry in Japan to pay in arrears, and the 11th of the month would be much earlier than most people get paid. All the jobs I've had here, from eikaiwa to proofreading, translating, doing promotions and teaching yoga have been paid in arrears- usually on the 20th or 25th although one company did pay on the 10th.

My Japanese husband has worked at 3 different companies since I have known him- first NTT, then the Tokyo headquarters of two foreign IT companies- all have paid on the 25th of the following month.

Why do eikaiwas do it? I agree with Glenski- how many people do you think would do a runner the day after payday if they were paid for work they hadn't yet done?

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

Fair enough - it seems it is more common than I thought.

As I said, three of the four places at which I have worked paid before the end of the month, and none of the Japanese partners I have had have had to wait until the next month either.

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

Yep, 25th of the month after for me. I'm employed by a dispatch company.

Two of the eikawas I work for part-time pay me at the start of the next month, but it's cash in hand.

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

Every place I've worked has paid in arrears for Japanese and foreign staff (if there is any difference - at Nova there was).

The people I know have all gotten paid in arrears as well.

Tzigane · Joined: 22 Jan 2011 Posts: 7 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I get paid on the 20th of every month, for example, I get paid June 20 for the month of May...makes it that much more inconvenient if I want to just up and leave!

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

Far more normal than I thought then. Looks like I have lucky in finding mostly jobs that paid just before the end of that month, and not half way into the next one.

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:29 am Post subject:

I too get paid in arrears. I think the only people who get paid in advance here are landlords!

*RANT TIME!* (Please skip this section if you have a life)
And it's not just salaries that get paid a month later.
My energy supplier made a mistake at the end of one month and owed me money. But instead of deducting the amount from my next bill, they made the deduction the month after... WTH! They are more than happy to take my money, but it takes them 2 months to give it back when they mess up. The same with Daiwa Living: They get the keys back and check the apartment in early April and then they tell me that they don't plan to refund my deposit until the end of May!!
*END OF RANT*

I don't think it's such an inconvience to be paid in arrears as long as they are always paying on time.

It might be slightly tight in the beginning until the first pay day, but after that you are being paid at the same time every month as you would be even if you weren't being paid in arrears.

And if you switch smoothly into a new job that pays in arrears (which is a strong possibility here) you will either have received a larger cheque from your last employer to make up what was owed or you will receive your final pay in that first "pay-gap" month so you really shouldn't be affected by the arrears payment of the new job which often causes so much grief for new arrivals.

Obviously, if somebody switches from one of the rarer jobs that pays at the end of the month for the same month's work to a job which pays in arrears, they might be in trouble if they had been living paycheque to paycheque and hadn't put money aside to live off of for those possibly 2 months between pay cheques.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It's not really necessary, but I can add that being paid at the first of the month for the previous month is also the norm in Europe. Payments are usually made anywhere from the 2nd to the 10th of the next month for work done. I don't know if it's normal in every industry, but for newbie level teachers, totally common.

So - it's not just Japan where this is the norm.

yamanote senbei · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 435

elliot79 · Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 14

I work in an eikaiwa and get paid on the 11th of each month in arrears.