Hey all,
I need opinions/advice.
I’m currently working 42.5 hours a week (total) at an eikaiwa. I have 25 classes a week, which equals approximately 21 hours of teaching a week due to the fact that classes are either 45 or 50 min long. The issue is that I’m expected to be at the office for 42.5 hours a week to do prep and write reports, and my boss told me today that he thinks I should start coming in earlier in the day to do more prep, due to the fact that I’m new there and am still getting used to all the textbooks etc.
I don’t have a set lunchtime and I don’t take much time away from work during the day. I sometimes find I don’t have enough time to do the reports, but I’m getting faster at this and was told that it’s not crucial that they’re completed to the tee every single day.
I almost always have quite lengthy breaks between classes to do prep, so I feel coming in earlier in the day would be redundant.
I’m teaching kids and adults. We do use textbooks but tailor our classes to each student. Of course certain games etc are repeated but we try to switch it up as much as possible.
This is my third ESL job in Japan and, while my previous jobs didn’t include as much planning (comparatively speaking), I feel that I’m doing fine in my classes with the prep time I currently have (close to 20 hours a week). I’ve been in this business long enough to know that my classes are going well and my students are happy with my classes. I’ve recieved positive feedback so far as well.
Is it fair of my boss to ask me to come in for even more hours than 42.5?
Also, would I be entitled to overtime pay if I do work more than that?
Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you very much.
5 comments
Are you an employee paid for specific hours?
I can’t understand why you would be expected to prepare 25 lessons a week – that in itself is insane, unless you are using a textbook for every class that doesn’t require much/any prep. This sounds like typical eikaiwa where teachers just follow a textbook, so I am going to assume that is what you’re doing.
If your contract says you work X number of hours, then anything outside that X number is overtime, no matter what your manager tells you – this is labor law. In addition, every employee is allowed 45 minutes as a break if they work 8 hours a day – you should be getting a lunch break. If you aren’t, then your boss is breaking labor law.
You can say this: “We need to be careful about this extra planning time, since labor law requires I be paid overtime for anything outside my contracted hours. I don’t think you want to pay overtime for me to do preparation. I think I am handling preparation fine in the hours I already work.”
If you want to push back on the lunch break thing, then I’d advise joining the union and getting their advice. You will need help in tackling an issue like that one, since it sounds like your manager doesn’t give a shit he is breaking labor law, and would fight you on it.
You don’t have to work a minute longer than what is stipulated in your contract. Any work requested outside of your written hours should be listed in an “expected” overtime clause or something similar.
Basically if you’re not getting paid OT, don’t do it. And even if you are, if OT isn’t required to finish your work, don’t do it lol.
And NEVER EVER agree to anything verbally/make an oral contract even with witnesses.
Any changes to your contracted work hours should be in paper signed by both parties.
It could be a culture thing. Everyone else does it, so he might want you to do it too. Honestly, I think it’s a terrible idea and you should find a way to remove the extra hours you are already doing.
* You only have to adhere to the time period that is stated within the contract (same goes for breaks)
* If there are fewer than 9 employees at a given school, then they can legally schedule you 44 hours a week without paying overtime.
If there is an agreement between the manager and you to work more hours for overtime pay, get it in writing either in an email or as an amendment to the contract.
With an email, just send it in the following format:
“I just wanted to confirm that…..,”
Anyone that says its a culture thing, remember that it isn’t your culture and it isn’t the law. Go to the labor office if you feel you are treated unfairly (do not go to a union, they won’t do anything other than tell you to go to the labor office and get more people to join them).