CoMic95TheSavior: quit

If you’ve seen my journals on YouTube about my life as a teacher in Japan then you probably already know how I feel about one of my jobs here. However I am also aware that every company comes with it’s pros and cons which his exactly why I have personally decided to deal with it for the time being. There is no such thing as a perfect company to work for. The longer you live or work anywhere the more flaws you will see within the place. It's human nature to get tired of things, places, and even people.

No matter how upset your company makes you it's very important that you try your best to remain professional and to leave on good terms with your coworkers and employer. Japan is a very small country and a lot of these schools are connected. You might end up working with these same people again and you don’t want to burn bridges. It’s also nice to have Japanese references so try to be extremely helpful, apologetic, and professional before you leave. Before we get into the the things that you should have straightened out before quitting I want to help you understand some of the problems with the workplace in Japan from a foreigners perspective.

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We Don't Understand Each Other

When we talk, read, or see anything about Japan it is usually highlighting how "wonderful" and "cool" of a place it is. While most of those who have done some research on Japan might already be aware of Japan's suicide rate and the ridiculous work hours and stress that a lot salarymen and career women have to endure, very little is discussed about foreign workers in Japan besides general talk about teaching positions and visas. People never really go into much detail about the process of leaving a company nor do they talk about how their employers treated them very often. Because of this lack of shared knowledge many people believe that Japanese employers behave just like the average Japanese person, that is polite,professional and even a bit friendly. While this most certainly can be true for some they can be just as cruel and unreasonable if not worse than employers in your home country.

The market for teaching English is massive. Nowadays everyone wants to be fluent and wants to sound like a native speaker. Japanese people that choose to run these schools have to go through a lot of stress mostly due to cultural differences in the way that foreigner view their work. Most companies in Japan don't have to deal with a turnover rate that is nearly as high as that of English schools in Japan. In Japan it is common for employees to finish up their contracts and to even renew them until they have worked at the same company for at least 2-3 years minimum. No matter how bad they are being treated or how little they are being paid they will deal with it.

Foreign teachers in Japan also deal with stress and culture shock in reverse. They have to get used to being expected to work off the clock, arrive to work early, do tasks that aren't listed in their job description, accept a low salary, and even put up with verbal abuse (and in worse cases sexual harassment) in the work place, all while dealing with the "them" and "us" work environment (foreigners versus Japanese staff aka cliques).

Japanese employers can sometimes be very strict and hard on their employees because they've been burned in the past by previous foreign teachers that they hired. They have to prepare for their teachers quitting, showing up late, and not taking initiative around the workplace. Just as you are used to having a job with more security and structure your boss is used to being able to boss around their staff, say and do whatever they want, and pay you whatever they decide is appropriate without you complaining. In some cases of employment there's a huge disconnect and it can make working in Japan a totally nightmare for some.Unfortunately this kind of stereotyping is common practice in Japan and if you aren't Japanese it is simply unavoidable. As I have said countless times all it takes is for one foreigner to do something bad and now every foreign person has to be profiled, babysit, or distrusted.

10 Things to Do BEFORE You Quit Your Job

While I don't personally recommend quitting your job just because everything isn't going your way, I also don't recommend staying in a bad environment that has you contemplating suicide or harming other people whether it be a student or a coworker. Your mental and physical health is more important than any cultural differences or any amount of cash imaginable. If you don't feel safe at work or if you are being abused then it's time to quit. If for any reason you feel that staying at your job any longer is unbearable then yes by all means please don't bother giving notice and simply quit your job (professionally).

You have to put yourself first because if you don't your employer most certainly will not. Working in a a foreign country can be overwhelming and the last thing you want is to have added anxiety, depression, or stress from being abused or taken advantage of all day at work. As an adult living in Japan on a work visa you will spend most of your time working for your company so it is important that you are being respected and treated as though you are human. It is also important to prepare for your departure from your job and to not let your emotions get the best of you.

1.) Understand that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Your pay might be lower or your hours might longer at a new company. You might also have less freedom and flexibility. You might have to accept a lower position. You might have to work with an age group that you don’t like. There might be more rules or even more people that you don't like but will be forced to work with.

2.) Thoroughly read over your employment contract. See if there will be any deductions for breaking your contract. Calculate your salary. If you're a new employee your salary might be lower than what the contract says for the first 1-6 months so you’ll have to read the fine print and take out a calculator to determine what your employer owes you.

3.) Reevaluate your life and job. Are you just having a bad day? Is there just a few people giving you a hard time? Why do you really want to quit? Will these problems REALLY go away at a new job? If not why are you leaving?

4.) Be sure to receive your final paycheck (your largest salary payout) before you resign or announce your plans to do so. Your employer might scam you out of it and as a foreigner it is very difficult to take legal action in such circumstances. There are a lot of loopholes that employers can take to get out of paying you too especially if you're being paid under the table.

If possible try to resign or announce your plans for it shortly after your payday. Remember that the longer you work at your current company the more experience you'll have with teaching which can not only make a nice addition to your resume but it can help you on a personal level as a teacher to develop skills and understanding.

5.) Be prepared for your boss to fire you instead of allowing you to work for the 30 days (Japan’s version of a 2 week notice is a month), tell you off, or nitpick at your performance. It’s a huge hit to their pride especially if you're the headteacher and decide to quit abruptly in the middle of the school year were applicants and job posts/classifieds are rare. Remember that if you don't give notice you will not be eligible for certain benefits and your boss can use this as an excuse for withholding your last paycheck.

6.) Save up enough money to survive for 30-60 days. If for some crazy reason you get fired, your check is being withheld, or if your new employer requires you to work for 2 months before receiving your first salary you’ll want to have enough money to live off of without having to struggle and live paycheck to paycheck. Tough it out and stay at your job until you have enough money put aside.

7.) Have a new job secured that offers visa sponsorship/support. Keep in mind that having an interview lined up is not a guarantee of employment and not all companies can help youth visa renewal. Don’t quit your current job unless you are 100% positive that you have a new job and a set start date. Your work visa will eventually expire so it is very important that you choose a company that can help you with this in the future.

8.) Be sure to work out any retirement savings programs, and health insurance that was set up through your employer (if you had this). Understand that your employer can’t take anything away from you but your check (which is illegal to do in most circumstances). They cannot take away your work visa if you decide to quit your job or if you are fired. ONLY immigration can do this and it will only be done if you have been criminally charged with/for something. Your work visa is not tied down to your company.

9.) Avoid oversharing any personal details about your new job such as the location, salary, age group etc.. You don’t want your employer or coworkers to stalk you or for them to go behind your back and share negative things about you to your new employer. Do not share where you are planning to move to or the name or location of the company that you are interviewing or set to work for.

10.) When resigning be sure to speak firmly and in a clear voice while still being very respectful and apologetic. Stand your ground while being the bigger person. Japanese employers are known for being very temperamental and are easily angered.

No matter what they say to or about you don’t insult your boss, coworkers, or the school. It is best to put the blame on yourself and to apologize for inconveniencing the school. If you boss interrupts you let them talk and remain attentive and professional. Don’t let their bad behavior you cause you to break out of character. I know that it can be very tempting to tell your supervisor or the headteacher how you really feel about them (in a bad way of course) but now is not the time to be childish and take shots at people. You never know who you'll run into outside of work or who you'll be working with again in the near future. Japan doesn't have an infinite amount of English schools so you are bound to meet again unless you return to your home country, work from home, start your own business, or become a stay at home mom ( or a Mr. Mom haha).

Take a Break and Think About it

Quitting can be really easy and a huge stress reliever or it ca be really nerve wrecking and frightening if your boss is a bully.

Please give yourself time to relax. Sometimes you just need a vacation or a few days off from work. Work life balance is a must in Japan, You need to have alone time and you need to have time to spend with friends, family, and with your partner. Sometimes you just need to take a deep breath and remember that when you're dealing with a bunch of bad stuff at your job that at least you are getting paid to put up with it. Remind yourself how hard you worked to get here and how badly you wanted to leave in Japan. Think back to how excited you were to have gotten that first interview or t be told that you're hired and now a part of the family. Never make any major or permanent decisions based off of your temporary feelings. You might want to quit today but maybe net week or next year you'll regret having given up so easily.

I wish you theist of luck and I hope that no matter what you choose to do or where you choose to stay that you'll find happiness, peace and that it will all work out for you in the end.

Thank you so much for reading! Do you have any advice that you'd like to give to foreign English teachers in Japan that are contemplating quitting their jobs? Had you ever worked in Japan? If so please share your advice and opinion in the comment section.