Long story short, I don’t feel safe in my placement anymore, and even though I agreed to recontract (they asked me to recontract within three month after I arrived) I am planning on breaking the contract on the spot and maybe leave within a week. I know it sounds super crazy but does anyone have any suggestions or what I should be aware of and prepared for?
Like the residence tax and etc
Thank you for all the answers in advance.
16 comments
Well, I wouldn’t expect much sympathy or support from your co-workers. Especially if you do it on such short notice. Honestly, you’ll get a mixed of support from other ALTs depending on how much they know and if you’re city or prefectural.
You’ll certainly be paying for your own flight home.
If the BoE or whatever rents the apartment on your behalf, you’ll almost certainly be billed until 30 days after you tell me. Your contract does say you’re supposed to give 30 days so you’ll have a hard time arguing against something like that.
You’ll need to appoint a tax representative, this is usually a supervisor or the like, but it is wholly optional and not their responsibility. You might have to find someone you trust to do this.
Can I ask what has happened?
Two months from now is when the majority of new JETs will come over. If you tell them **immediately**, they might be able to snag an alternate list applicant. If you’re 100% certain you’re gonna bug out, do not wait any longer. It will only make it worse.
They don’t have to pay for your ticket.
You won’t get favorable references.
Your apartment better be squeaky clean.
You’ll need a tax/pension representative. Read the handbook.
Look, JET is a job, people go mad here about ‘breaking contract’ like it’s some crazy semi-legal thing that’ll get you shunned and banned from Japan. If you *need* to leave, leave. People are allowed to leave jobs… Will you piss off your school colleagues? Yes. Will you ever see them again? No… Will the students possibly be without an ALT for a year? Yes. Will this *really* matter? Depends entirely on your school…
I feel like the JET programme overstates breaking contract to discourage people casually applying, going for half a year and then leaving. And it **is** serious, you’re leaving a job in a country where you probably need support, and you’re leaving a job where it’s harder for them to find a replacement, but you *can* do it. It’s really not the end of the world. At the end of the day you’ve got to do what’s best for you. Don’t stay here if it’s damaging you or making you feel unsafe.
I have some ALTs in my BOE who had to leave due to personal issues, and it sucks, the schools are annoyed about it because they didn’t get any other info, but the ALTs and BOE just feel bad for them. They wanted to be here but couldn’t be.
If you want to, discuss it with your BOE and the implications of it, as soon as possible. As others have said, they may be able to get an alternate upgraded quickly and get someone new in to replace you.
And lastly, and most importantly, if you want, discuss with them why you don’t feel safe. They may be able to help you and enable you to stay, if you still want to. If not, they may be able to put in place procedures that stop the next ALTs having the same problem.
JET has been my dream for many years and now that I’m shortlisted I’ve had time to learn the dark side… I’ve seen so many stories like this and I am terrified of being women in Japan. So many crimes are commit against women and nothing is done about it. As a tourist in Japan I had multiple creepy encounters with men. If you don’t feel safe and think u need to leave, then do it. Who cares about what the BOE thinks, they don’t care about you if they are not helping you.
Honestly, people in here are such JET sympathisers. People need to start prioritising human beings.
If you do not feel safe in your placement then just leave. This won’t ban you from Japan in the future. Your school might be caught short for a while, but they will probably just get someone from a dispatch company in for the time being. The lessons and the school will go on without you. ALTs were spread far and wide during COVID and they still dealt with that situation.
Please prioritise your health and safety.
I don’t know much about JET, but have you contacted your embassy? Keeping their citizens safe is part of their job. Let them know what’s going on, ask them for help.
you
I’ve heard of them relocating JETs in this situation. If that’s something you’d like to do, you should do that. Are there more details, or is it Japan in general making you feel unsafe?
At this point treat it as preparation to flee the country.
Step 1. Save approximately $3000 and safeguard your important personal belongings on your person at all time e.g. wallet, passport, etc. International flights and hotels are going to increase in price from July onwards, cooling slightly in mid August.
Step 2. Filing police report. You’ve just been sexually assaulted in the workplace. That shit doesn’t fly in Japan nor the western world. The fact your BOE told you to delay/impede your report acknowledges this.
Step 3. Advise your BOE that you’re leaving and you filed a police report. Doesn’t matter if the police take action or not as long as you have some documentation you can at least explain to the consulate/embassy what happened in case there are any legal repercussions should this become more public and escalates.
Step 4 depending on their response, you either leave all your shit behind and spend the $3000 on a flight out of pocket or they pay for your flight back. Whatever is left is just stuff you can buy more or replace it.
Inaka are very self-preserving so police may not be impartial. If you find that to be the case consider the situation as hostile and gtfo asap.
Sometimes you just gotta look after #1.
Document everything. Keep any and all copies of written communication.
This isn’t a workplace but given that it is your coworker’s son, the new harassment in the workplace laws the went into effect in 2020 might become pertinent.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/koyoukintou/seisaku06/index.html
https://www.humanrightspulse.com/mastercontentblog/new-anti-harassment-law-introduced-in-japan?format=amp
Additionally, you do not have to disclose why you are quitting to the BOE. Especially if you are in fear of repercussions.
https://www.generalunion.org/laws-and-rights/1295-notice-of-resignation-the-truth
I forget which law it is but there is an legal addendum that supersedes the whole “two weeks notice” guidelines in cases or harassment.
It depends on if you are leaving the scheme or the country or both. If you are leaving you must get an EXIT Visa in your passport to show no outstanding bills. Phone,water,gas,electric,City tax etc.
If you
So much love and support to you! Please do whatever you need to do to feel safe and don’t let anybody guilt you for taking care of yourself and getting out of a difficult and dangerous situation. I was sexually assaulted by my co-worker at a work party and I would have absolutely left the country if he weren’t switching schools and if my school refused to do anything about it (it was a going away party for the teachers leaving). As it was I don’t think the guy faced any repercussions even though I reported it to my PAs and the BOE. It’s sickening and I am so sorry you are going through this.
Hi I broke contract
I had a lot going on at the time but I remember having to pay all my final bills and inform utilities companies I was leaving such as internet. Also phone contract – had to go to the store to cancel my plan etc. As im writing this I can’t remember if you are leaving the country or not or just leaving the job to find another
And also I’d say Protect yourself from the weirdos on the JET pogramme who will use your situation to make themselves feel better and make you feel like crap! And don’t justify or explain yourself to anyone you don’t trust, it becomes gossip . Also, hope you’re ok!
Do what you need to do in terms of staying or going.
If you leave you need to:
Pay any outstanding bills (gas, electric, water, phone)
Cancel phone contract (and maybe pay a cancellation fee)
Cancel internet contract
Pay any outstanding residence tax
Close your bank account
If you are leaving mid pay cycle ask about what salary you will be owed from the time after you last got paid until your last day of work. Also ask how they will pay it to you when you are out of the country.
Tell city hall that you are leaving Japan (important so that your residency can be stopped)
If you want to claim your pension refund ask someone in Japan to be your tax representative. You can post the pension paperwork from outside of Japan but double check you have all the correct documents and your blue pension book
Edit – formatting
For what its worth, I just want to share my experience with the Japanese police because I found them to be absolutely brilliant
I was in an abusive relationship and it got to the point where I felt a threat to my life if I stayed in the country. On one occasion when things got particularly bad, I called the police and they came right away. They interviewed us seperately to allow me to tell them what I needed to and were just all round supportive and offered assistance to get me out. Granted, it might have been a bit of a different situation, but I wouldn’t be afraid to reach out to them!
All the best <3 feel free to DM me if you want to