No regrets -- well........

When Jamie and I were in Japan we worked for a huge company called NOVA. A lot of language schools can be found throughout the country and by far this company dominates. We didn't really enjoy working for the company, but stuck with it because it is the only English school that allows its staff to do shift swaps with other employees should one want. Since we had quite a few visitors and did some travelling we decided to take advantage of this 'perk' and suck it up for 12 months.

Shortly after being employed with NOVA it became very clear that it was a money hungry company that couldn't give a rats *#$% about its employees. Once again we thought, "This isn't a career. It is an easy job, so let's do what we are told and then leave after our contract is up." After living in Osaka for about six months we noticed how frequently the company we worked for was negatively being portrayed in the media. A lot of students began to freak out, therefore using up all of their points because they feared the company was going to go bankrupt. I always wondered how it was possible for NOVA to go under given how many schools are in the nation and how many things they have for sale with the infamous usagi (the company's mascot -- it means rabbit in Japanese) on it. It is actually weird how where-ever you go in Japan you are bound to see that little sick pink rabbit.

When we left Japan we were told we could get out final salary payment via a cheque, money transfer to be completed by a friend, or a wire transfer completed by accounting. We opted for the latter thinking it would be the easiest and safest way for us to get our money.

We were supposed to get paid Aug. 15-20th. Well, it is now almost the end of September and we have yet to be paid. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! After making numerous (and expensive) phone-calls to the accounting department, we just discovered last week that the president of NOVA has put a hold on all overseas wire transfers. Why?? No reason was given to us, but we figure it is because the company really is going bankrupt.

We have spoken to some of our friends that are still in Japan and they have basically said that 'you know what' is hitting the fan and that we left at a good time. Teachers currently working are being paid, however the company is not paying the rent for those who live in NOVA accommodations. Staff that are higher up are receiving delayed salary payments. Everyone is being told "One more week...one more week". Some of our friends have protested with signs and have basically continued working by disobeying all of the expectations the company has set out for them in the schools they teach in.

We have contacted the regional area manager to see what is going on. We have contacted the Japanese embassy. We have contacted the NOVA recruitment office in Toronto. All of which we have heard nothing except "We will let you know what is going on when we know!" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

We really don't know what we can do from here. It is so frustrating, especially since we were banking on that money in our bank accounts. We heard that CTV had caught wind of this story. We didn't see anything about it on TV, but I came across this article. You don't have to read it if you don't want, but it does a better job of explaining our situation.

If you have any ideas as to what we should do or who we should try contacting, please let us know! We've basically come to terms that we are probably not going to get our money, but I don't want to just let this whole thing go without a fight!!!

Here's the article if you are interested and thanks for letting me vent :)

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Canadian teachers unpaid in Japanese ESL woes
Updated Sat. Sep. 22 2007 11:21 AM ET
Sana Qadar, Special to CTV.ca

Some Canadian English teachers are among the thousands of worried workers left without prospects and paycheques in the wake of vast financial problems for Japan's largest private language school.

Nova Group, which has 900 schools, employs about 7,000 foreign workers -- more than any other Japanese company.

Thousands of young Canadians have worked for Nova since it launched in 1981. When the yen was strong and the Canadian dollar weak, it provided post-college employment to pay off student loans, and offered a cultural exchange opportunity and valuable work experience.

Nova's Toronto recruiting office wouldn't comment Friday on the problems, or say how many Canadians are currently working for the company in Japan. (Sept. 23 update: Foreign Affairs in Ottawa says there are 668 Canadians working at NOVA schools across Japan.)
The school's financial problems have been getting front-page treatment in Japan, and Australia, where the majority of the foreign teachers come from.

The problems stem from an advertising scandal and rapid over-expansion that began four years ago. Problems worsened in June, after Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) imposed a six-month ban on the practice of signing students to long-term contracts.
The ban came after a Japanese court ruled Nova had lied about its services and cancellation policies when soliciting students. Their practices were similar to the methods North American gyms often use sign clients to long-term contracts.

The ban led to a sharp decline in revenue when many of the 400,000 students ended their enrolment abruptly. Facing a cash-crunch, Nova began delaying the payment of salaries to foreign teaching staff and Japanese staff.

On Friday, foreign teaching staff was supposed to receive their overdue paychecks. Instead, they received a fax expressing "greatest regrets" and a promise that salaries will be paid next Tuesday.

"All the procedures for depositing the salaries have been completed. However ... these were not completed in time to deposit the salaries today," read the fax.
This was the latest in a number of faxes that have been sent since July, all of which announce delays in salary deposits.

All this has left Canadian Nova employees frustrated and angry. Randy Poehlman, a teacher from Thamesville, Ont., even organized a small protest on Thursday in Osaka, where Nova's head office is located.

He held up a sign: "Quit Nova now, they have no money to pay teachers or debts" in Japanese and "Nova is insolvent" in English and Japanese.

In the blog letsjapan.org, Poehlman writes: "I stayed until 12:20 p.m. and made Japanese people aware. The media, including a reporter and photographer ... did show up ... to discuss the situation. Sadly, not many instructors came, but a few did offer their support."

Julie Chalmers, a University of Ottawa graduate originally from Sudbury, began working for Nova three years ago in Kyoto. She decided not to renew her recently expired contract, but is still waiting to receive her salary for August and September.

"Nova is such a huge company that it never really cared about its workers. We are all just numbers and the huge turnover rate shows just that," she told CTV.ca.
Chalmers said Nova owes her about $2,600 for the month of August and est
imates she's due $1,700 for September. "I have no idea how I'll get my money," she said.
Business grad thought Nova would turnaround.

Calgary-born Nabil Khan arrived in Japan two months ago, along with his fiancée. He was aware of Nova's problems relating to the METI ban, but felt the company's problems could be easily fixed given that Nova commanded the largest share of Japan's multibillion-dollar private English teaching industry.

"When METI imposed the ban I saw no reason they couldn't come out ahead ... I looked at it from a strictly business point of view, many companies have been hit with much larger fines and penalties ( Exxon after Valdez for example) and have made adjustments and come out ahead.
"The image of Nova was tarnished in the Japanese public's eyes, but apologies and a true commitment to customer service would have fixed it. But nothing changed the company kept up its usual plan of operations. And to this day there seems like there is no one at the helm and we are on the Titanic as it is going down."

Khan studied business at Memorial University in St. John's and wanted to learn about Japan's culture and language while seeking business opportunities in the country. He saw working at Nova as a way to get his foot in the door.

"I am owed over $2,000 from Nova and I don't think I'll see it. I have accepted it and am now looking for another job before there are another 7,000 teachers doing the same ... at the moment, I look at it as volunteer work."

Nova announced Friday it is closing about 200 of its 900 schools, many of which are located near train stations around the country. The company is hinting at further announcements next week.

In another fax sent to instructors on Friday, Nova CEO Nozomu Sahashi tried to reassure employees, writing: "The dark clouds that have been hanging heavily over us will be cast aside. I said previously 'the darkest time is before the dawn' and finally the first light of dawn can be seen ... there will be no concerns regarding salaries from next month onwards. I cannot announce further details at the moment."