Top 3 Excuses by Japanese Employers When They Ignore Contractual Obligations to Foreign Employees (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–29 … My Adventures in Japan)

“Japanese rules are made to be bent. ... Until you snap.”

Fortunately, the aformentioned “ignoring of contractual obligations” is not very common in Japan, and when it does occur, it often involves only minor points.

(That is to say, you will receive your monthly salary on time, you will be granted your allotted vacation time, and you will have an apartment provided if the contract stipulates that.)

We’ll just bend the rules a tiny bit … until you snap

However, there are plenty of cases where the rules in Japan are bent just a little, then just a little bit more, and then probably quite a bit more.    

So, if you’re working as a teacher ... instead of preparing for your lesson, you may have to clean the toilets in the school facilities. Or instead of teaching only the contractual limit of 20 hours per week, you may be scheduled to teach 21 hours this week, and maybe 22 hours next week.   

If the manager can get away with it, you might even be scheduled to teach 23 or 24 hours in the following weeks. Maybe 25. Probably more.

Without being asked if you’d mind working those extra hours, and without being paid for them.

We just have to bend the rules a bit more. Snap!

Such unacceptable behavior occurs often enough in Japan. And when it does, and when you raise the issue with the powers-that-be in your Japanese company, the chances are that you will hear excuses such as those above.    

(For purposes of clarity, I have paraphrased the above excuses. But they remain 100% accurate.)          _{(Image source)}

   Introduction to – “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats”  _{(right-click on title)}

Top 8 Reactions of Certain Japanese Scumballs When Caught Red-Handed Doing Something Stupid, Immoral, Repulsive Or Illegal

Top 4 Insane Japanese Criminals

Top 3 Ways that Overworked Single Ladies Spend Their Days Off

... and more

Links to my Other Series …

      Introduction – "Intro to Vocab-ability"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Guide – "Guide to Entries"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections   _{(right-click on title)}

      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"   _{(right-click on title)}

_{Images sourced from Google Images, unless otherwise indicated or unless my own.}