2nd year contracts

[hikhik]

Quite soon I will have to negotiate a new work contract.

As far as I was concerned, in the 2nd year of working for a school, you should be offered more money, on the basis that you are no longer training, you have not abused any of the kids, and that you do turn up on time, at least once a week.

Do people ever get offered less than their initial contract, when their work has been of a good enough standard?

[Name Deleted]

Quite soon I will have to negotiate a new work contract.

As far as I was concerned, in the 2nd year of working for a school, you should be offered more money, on the basis that you are no longer training, you have not abused any of the kids, and that you do turn up on time, at least once a week.

Do people ever get offered less than their initial contract, when their work has been of a good enough standard?

And as far as your boss is concerned you are disposable enough to not be re-hired as you have your hand out for more money

So what is a good enough standard for you and why should the fact you dont abuse kids mean you deserve more money?

Being punctual for your job is a requirement and not something you should be rewarded for.

You have a lot to learn about working in Japan as it seems you feel the world owes you a living.

[hikhik]

I was being sarcastic, of course not abusing the kids is taken for granted.

What I meant to imply, is that unlike many teachers who turn up late, get complaints from students/parents/staff, teach bad lessons, whine about lack of breaks/holidays, etc etc etc - I am a good teacher who does not make any problems for the school.

As for being disposable, there are numerous teaching positions being advertised, with the increasing amount of ALT jobs being offered, finding a decent, reliable teacher is not quite as easy as it might have been 5 years ago.

[hikhik]

You have a lot to learn about working in Japan as it seems you feel the world owes you a living.

duh...

I think I have probably worked for enough Japanese companies to understand how things work here...

Owe me a living? nope, I dont remember stating that I was owed a living. What I did comment on, were my feelings that someones salary should increase, or at least not decrease, after they have proven that they are a good worker.

[Name Deleted]

duh...

I think I have probably worked for enough Japanese companies to understand how things work here...

Owe me a living? nope, I dont remember stating that I was owed a living. What I did comment on, were my feelings that someones salary should increase, or at least not decrease, after they have proven that they are a good worker.

no you are not working for a Japanese companY (as in a regular, cant be fired seishain employee) you are a foreign casual employee ona renewable contract which puts you somewhere bewteen the cleaning lady and the janitor in terms of how valuable you are to your employers.

Unless you have some unique and indispensible skill that they absoliutely can not replace with another foreigner then your request will be spat out like phlegm.

Being a good worker is expected of you, its part of your job. Dont expect them to reward you with a hike in salary unless they offer it to you. Asking for more money because you turn up for work on time and keep your nose clean is likely to meet with mildderision at worst and respect for your chutzpah at best. I will add that Japanese workers work twice the hours you do for half the pay. you dont see them complaining.

I need only remind you that employers are not required to even negotiate with you over salary, much less agree to it. In Japan its take what you are given, in 99% of the cases.

[person]

Agreed...your salary SHOULD increase if all is well, etc. However, whether it will or not...that's another question all together, right?

Like you, I don't think it's quite as easy as people seem to think...getting good people for positions. Heck, even getting "so-so" people isn't all that easy anymore. For employers that care about such things, they will already know this. The others? Won't and/or don't care to find out.

In "normal" situations, a pay raise would be fairly standard. However, these may not be normal situations. Perhaps there is a limit for the position ...one that can't be exceeded, etc.

If you can't get more money, perhaps you can get some other "benefit"...more time off, etc. Just something else to consider...if you really like the job. Money is, of course, essential. However, other "things" can be equally important. Perhaps flex time, subsidized lunches (depends on the environment you are working in of course), a higher % paid towards health/pension, etc.

[person]

no you are not working for a Japanese companY (as in a regular, cant be fired seishain employee) you are a foreign casual employee ona renewable contract which puts you somewhere bewteen the cleaning lady and the janitor in terms of how valuable you are to your employers.

Unless you have some unique and indispensible skill that they absoliutely can not replace with another foreigner then your request will be spat out like phlegm.

Being a good worker is expected of you, its part of your job. Dont expect them to reward you with a hike in salary unless they offer it to you. Asking for more money because you turn up for work on time and keep your nose clean is likely to meet with mildderision at worst and respect for your chutzpah at best. I will add that Japanese workers work twice the hours you do for half the pay. you dont see them complaining.

I need only remind you that employers are not required to even negotiate with you over salary, much less agree to it. In Japan its take what you are given, in 99% of the cases.

FD - Try and be a bit...nicer. Much of your advice is sound...try not to be so argumentative. That's how it's coming across. I'm sure there's a nicer side to you, no?

[Name Deleted]

As for being disposable, there are numerous teaching positions being advertised, with the increasing amount of ALT jobs being offered, finding a decent, reliable teacher is not quite as easy as it might have been 5 years ago.

As an ALT you are not a teacher you are a teacher-for hire temporary contracted dispatch worker. ALTs can not teach classes by themselves as its against the law and you are employed by your conversation school boss, not the client school you work at. ALTs are hired guns who can be pulled out of a school on a moments notice.


There are plenty of positions advertised as the turnover is high, pay is usually abominable and people dont stick around. Doesnt mean that its a great job.

[Name Deleted]

FD - Try and be a bit...nicer. Much of your advice is sound...try not to be so argumentative. That's how it's coming across. I'm sure there's a nicer side to you, no?

Yes , maybe read the thread this morning. Got wife trouble too.

[hikhik]

I guess it comes down to the school.
Some schools will hire anyone, and assume they will last a year, then move back to their own country.

Some schools prefer to keep the decent teachers for a few years, because its better than losing a teacher, and replacing them with a 23yr old idiot, who is late every monday with a hangover.

Also, it depends on location, if you are in Tokyo, I assume there are more than enough candidates to fill every position,
if the school is located elsewhere, then it might be obvious to every teacher working there that the school has major issues finding replacement teachers, and in the past they have had a few unreliable teachers who damaged the school with their less than professional behaviour.

[hikhik]

As an ALT you are not a teacher you are a teacher-for hire temporary contracted dispatch worker. ALTs can not teach classes by themselves as its against the law and you are employed by your conversation school boss, not the client school you work at. ALTs are hired guns who can be pulled out of a school on a moments notice.


There are plenty of positions advertised as the turnover is high, pay is usually abominable and people dont stick around. Doesnt mean that its a great job.

Im not an ALT, I was pointing out that as there are a number of ALT positions available at all times, that Eikaiwas are having issues filling their positions, because a lot of the potential workforce are moving to ALT jobs, due to the long holidays and the semi-normal working hours.

[person]

Yes , maybe read the thread this morning. Got wife trouble too.

My guess is you will have "wife trouble" as long as you have a wife Sorry, but...it's true. The first step is accepting the things we can't change....or changing them.

Easier said than done, I know.

[PanicInducingGaijin]

no you are not working for a Japanese companY (as in a regular, cant be fired seishain employee) you are a foreign casual employee ona renewable contract which puts you somewhere bewteen the cleaning lady and the janitor in terms of how valuable you are to your employers.

That's funny. I remember you claiming that working as a fake priest counted as experience working at a Japanese company.

[Name Deleted]

That's funny. I remember you claiming that working as a fake priest counted as experience working at a Japanese company.

It does when your boss is a Kabushiki Kaisha, and there are maybe 50 employees in kansai. My present company i worked (PT) for 8 years.


I dont have some JTE standing over me at least or get yanked off the job because I failed some popularity contest with 8 year olds.

what does P.I.G stand for again?

[Name Deleted]

Im not an ALT, I was pointing out that as there are a number of ALT positions available at all times, that Eikaiwas are having issues filling their positions, because a lot of the potential workforce are moving to ALT jobs, due to the long holidays and the semi-normal working hours.

Long holidays yes. Paid vacation, NO. Try finding an ALT job where you are paid for 2 months while you are not working or in a classroom.

[Scrum Doctor]

And as far as your boss is concerned you are disposable enough to not be re-hired as you have your hand out for more money

So what is a good enough standard for you and why should the fact you dont abuse kids mean you deserve more money?

Being punctual for your job is a requirement and not something you should be rewarded for.

You have a lot to learn about working in Japan as it seems you feel the world owes you a living.

And poor old FD wonders why nobody likes him on these forums.

[Name Deleted]

And poor old FD wonders why nobody likes him on these forums.

and truth is a very bitter pill to swallow. If you cant stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.

PS and the OP will wonder why he is suddenly terminated or sent out to buttf-ck Gunma ken for standing up to his boss and asking for more money.

[PanicInducingGaijin]

It does when your boss is a Kabushiki Kaisha, and there are maybe 50 employees in kansai. My present company i worked (PT) for 8 years.

So, you're a seishain at the wedding place?

[Scrum Doctor]

and truth is a very bitter pill to swallow. If you cant stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.

The truth is that you are a reviled figure on these forums for being such a pig-headed, haughty, would be know it all.

[PanicInducingGaijin]

and truth is a very bitter pill to swallow.

You must have swallowed a bunch of said pills to become so bitter.

Too bad the space for signatures is limited, because the one I originally wanted to use encapsulates your unique blend of arrogance and ignorance.

I teach English here and one of my last positions paid over $75,000 a year, probably more than you can make as a Java developer.

[tmo]

Quite soon I will have to negotiate a new work contract.

As far as I was concerned, in the 2nd year of working for a school, you should be offered more money, on the basis that you are no longer training, you have not abused any of the kids, and that you do turn up on time, at least once a week.

Do people ever get offered less than their initial contract, when their work has been of a good enough standard?

If you feel that you have done a good job and have helped increase or maintain profits then I think you would be justified in expecting a pat on the back in the form of a pecuniary reward.

If they don't offer it. Ask for it. If they refuse you can take yourself down the road or suck it up.

If you have a boss who sacks you just for asking for a raise, then they're not worth working for anyway. Good, reliable teachers are hard to come by. If you are one of those and your boss is not an idiot then he/she should endeavour to keep you by giving you a reward.

If your visa runs out in 2 months and your current employer is your sponsor then I would disregard all of the above advice and take what you're given until you get a 3 year visa.

[kurogane]

You must have swallowed a bunch of said pills to become so bitter..

ROFL Harris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kurogane]

ROFL!!!!!!

He's Backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[Name Deleted]

So, you're a seishain at the wedding place?

No Im not sweetie but Im also not a lowly ALT on 3 months contracts farmed out to kiss arse with JTEs at a high school and ignored by everyone else. You pick your battles.

[Name Deleted]

The truth is that you are a reviled figure on these forums for being such a pig-headed, haughty, would be know it all.

coming from you, thats a compliment.

[Scrum Doctor]

coming from you, thats a compliment.

Take it as you will. Time to face reality Mr Can't get it up.

[Name Deleted]

Take it as you will. Time to face reality Mr Can't get it up.

So now is open season on my sex life. you are a barrel of laughs arent you. Wife not giving you any at all? New jobby-wobby in Tokyo stamping on your libido?

[Scrum Doctor]

So now is open season on my sex life. you are a barrel of laughs arent you. Wife not giving you any at all? New jobby-wobby in Tokyo stamping on your libido?

Wife is at her parents' place.

We all know why you've been spurning potential sexual partners, performance anxiety?

[Name Deleted]

Wife is at her parents' place.

We all know why you've been spurning potential sexual partners, performance anxiety?

If it was that I certainly wouldnt tell you. And how would you know about sexual dysfunction?. Must have been after that little drink we had together last week.....

[Scrum Doctor]

If it was that I certainly wouldnt tell you. And how would you know about sexual dysfunction?. Must have been after that little drink we had together last week.....

You don't need to tell us, reading between the lines, it's pretty obvious.

[hikhik]

i had a phone call from my supervisor.
i will be offered a minor raise.

i feel satisfied. my contributions have been recognised.

[kurogane]

i had a phone call from my supervisor.
i will be offered a minor raise.

i feel satisfied. my contributions have been recognised.

hikhik Hooray!!!!!!!!

Good for you.

[Fujay]

I'll add to this thread even though it seems to have been completed.

If someone is a good teacher, it makes sense that they should get more money in a second contract than on a first one. But, what a lot of teachers dont realize is that the profit margin on English schools is so small that an employer may not be able to afford to give a pay raise even if they want to. And as much as it sucks having to hire someone who is new and may or may not suck, sometimes an employer will have to do that because that is the only route that they can afford to take.

However it does cost more money to hire a new teacher and train them, so a good employer will calculate the money it costs to hire a new teacher, and maybe try and offer their current teacher something either close to that or a little less, so as to save themselves money, and keep the teacher they have. Some employers aren't smart enough to realize this logic though. Or they work on the logic that they would rather let go of the guy who wants a raise and pick up someone a little more compliant.