Throwaway for obvious reasons.
I recently joined a small Japanese school. I teach there but I also take care of the business side of the company. I didn’t have much prior experience, but the owner took a liking to me and offered me a high-paying job. During the initial months, he consistently praised my work, expressing surprise at how quickly I was learning. He even mentioned that I could have my own school in two years. He would often message me on weekends to congratulate me on my performance.
However, everything changed during a meeting when I asked him if he would be opposed to me taking on a small side job during the weekend, unrelated to education and in a completely different sector. His reaction was extremely negative, even though I was just inquiring and hadn’t confirmed anything with the other company; it was only in the initial phases. Upon seeing his reaction, I immediately apologized and assured him that I wouldn’t pursue the side job.
After that,, he removed me from several projects, stopped praising my performance, assigned me simpler tasks, and was constantly upstey over minor details. Despite this, I continued to give my best effort.
Last week, I spent too much time on a report, and he became really angry once again. This time, he basically fired me, saying I couldn’t stay because my performance were not good enough and that I should look for antoher job, that if I would like to stay, I would have a salary cut and be given less important task.
Here are a few points: 1) I know all this comes from the side job idea 2) I kept all his messages praising my works 3)I am super confident I can do the job 4) I have a one year contract.
What are my options? He doesn’t seem to have any concrete reason to fire me. Should I consider contacting a lawyer and pursuing legal action? I can’t see myself looking for a new job right after joining this company.
22 comments
Sounds like he is an outstanding person! Me, I would not show up to work tomorrow and never contact him again.
He cant fire you, and he cant reduce your salary in your contract without very good reason. If he tries to, then speak to general union. And start looking for a new job obviously
That’s called pawahara. Contact the union or Labor Standards, but he can’t do any of that.
Also, based on my experience, the Japanese don’t seem to understand what a question is, and, once you ask something, they take it as a demand and will absolutely refuse to change their mind no matter what you do.
In the future, do not ask your boss for permission on what to do with your time outside of work. I’ve met many people who take on side jobs even when their contracts state they can’t, and they never mention anything. They do their own taxes, though.
He quite honestly sounds unhinged.
Going down the legal route could be time consuming and potentially expensive, but if you’ve kept evidence of his positive comments before he went all fruit loop on you, that would be useful if it got that far. Otherwise it would be he-said, you-said, and you’d probably lose simply by virtue of not being Japanese. Sad fact of life.
If you’ve decided that you’re not going to even try and stay in his good books, you could fight fire with fire and inform him that you’re going to be considering legal options in regard to what appears to be a capricious attitude towards firing you. I can envision two scenarios: his bluster immediately disappears and he goes full passive-aggressive to get you to stay, or b) he goes even further off the deep end. If the former, you may consider it worthwhile putting up with him for the remaining time and then getting the hell out of there. If the latter, then grab the side job if it’s still available and use it to tide you over while you find something better and preferably where the boss isn’t a headcase.
You’ll probably find that more people than you may have imagined have been in this scenario. The “one step from a complete wig-out 24/7” school owner is practically a trope in Japan.
How much are you getting paid?
Your relationships went sour and it won’t be the same. I’d start looking for a new job regardless of the outcotume. As others have said, most likely he didn’t fully understand you when you brought this subject up during the meeting and now he is too stubborn to see it any other way. Here in Japan I found that it’s much easier to ask for forginess, than ask permission (your mileage may vary). Some Japanese people, especially in the business sphere really expect “loyalty” from their employees. He might felt betrayed, somehow.
If you truly feel that whatever he is saying to you is equivalent to being fired, you need to request that in writing (as far as I know they obliged to give you a reason for your termination in writing). Having this as a proper evidence might help you.
You have rights and this is the time to use them. Get in contact with an union and keep us updated. Cases like this are helpful to everyone here. Good luck!
Something I couldn’t catch from it was if you are female or not. I ask because it seems like this petty pathetic arsehole feels jilted. Was he grooming you? Then feels like you cheated. It sounds too much like a jealous boyfriend.
Seems like you’re getting paid really well, reach your OKRs, and was liked immensely by your boss. He gave you everything and yet you stabbed his back when you wanted a side gig.
Why can’t you see yourself looking for a new job? That is seems to be the exact reason the owner wants you out: you were looking for a job to fill your free time.
He is butthurt. It seems you are not welcomed anymore. Better to leave as soon as you have a chance, in good terms if possible.
One last thing: never, never mention anything you do on the side to your current employer.
Sounds like he wasn’t going to recontract you next year anyhow, and would have left you high and dry. Now that you showed interest in having other jobs to support yourself and possibly provide a visa, you are no longer under his thumb.
He can’t legally fire you unless you’ve severely violated protocol or regulations / committed a crime. Firings in Japan are super rare, and employees have a remarkable number of rights in that regard—however, he can (and probably will) make your life hell. Look for other work.
Maybe it came up in other comments, but depending on the side job you asked about, it may be considered degrading to the education profession. For example, I asked my boss if I could work after hours at my friend’s taproom, and they said I shouldn’t because it’s beneath me as a teacher to work in a bar. They suggested that if I want extra work I should find something more socially acceptable.
If i were your boss I’d do the same.
assuming he owns a small struggling business and just when he puts all the trust in you, you somewhat say you are committing to something other job. Probably conveyed in not so delicate japanese, so obviously he gets upset.
The point here is you are just one year contractee, he was hoping to elevate you to regular employee but in what way did you just convey, he has to act in the direction in company’s favor. Not much personal.
I’m confused. Are you in a school or in sales?
https://reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/gcPKd1yTzO
Do not sign anything he shoves at you. Stand your ground, keep documentation, rake in that higher salary, and look for a new job asap. Quit once you get it and take this crap to your labor board. They should handle the dirty work for you.
basically sounds like you insulted him.
at least he took it that way.
> I can’t see myself looking for a new job right after joining this company.
I hate to be blunt, but you absolutely need to be looking for a new job, regardless of the outcome with the labor bureau. Your relationship with this manager has become toxic and will not recover, especially if you undertake legal procedures (as you should).
It seems like the boss was doing his succession planning before the OP put a spammer in the works.
OP: You need to learn how to read the room. You lost a potentially lucrative position because of your lack of awareness. The boss has moved on and will be grooming his replacement ASAP.
Message info@tozenunion.org if you’d like a consultation with a union about your possible options
You shouldn’t have said anything about a side gig
Get fired!!! They have to pay you an extra months salary on top of whatever they owe you 😉 . Plus you can jump straight into hello work benefits instead of waiting 3 months if you quit. ALSO if you find a job within I think a month or 2 of starts benefits, you show that to Hellowork, and they pay the rest of your benefits in a lump sum! I got a million yen before haha
That would be work place harassment so yes call up a lawyer and talk to them about this. It’s a common problem in Japan. Honestly tho I would look for a new job if you can.
You should check out Tozen, an English speaking union made up of mostly foreigners trying to maintain and improve working conditions!
https://join.tozenunion.org/