Leaving Early Consequences

[histgirl]

Once-in-a-lifetime trip after JET and before grad schools means I need to leave 3 weeks early. Trying to figure out the consequences before I start booking tickets...


- Pension: It is calculated in six-month increments, right? So as a 1-year JET, I would be reimbursed for the first 6 months and forfeit the last six months?

- Final Paycheck: is it pro-rated? Is it better to leave only three weeks early or should I go for the full month? How do I get the final paycheck if I'm not in Japan for it?

- Return Ticket: JET pays for a return ticket home, right? I assume I'll forfeit this if I break contract early? Also, anyone had the experience of flying somewhere other than their home country after JET?

- Shipping stuff home: I will send my belongings home (USA) separately from me. Any cost estimation for two large pieces of luggage? Approx 100lbs?

- Any other penalties for leaving early? I have a lovely placement and supervisor, and I've already said no to next year, still I want them to be happy with me.


Thanks guys. Sorry if this has been covered on the forums, couldn't find it when I searched....

[jarrod]

The first two you should ask your supervisor about.

About flying home, since your return ticket is gonna be forfeit, you will have to buy it yourself, so it doesn`t matter where it`s to.

About sending packages home, you`re just going to have to bite the bullet and do it. Maybe some google searches could give you some comparisons, but it will cost a lot no matter what. I think there is a sea shipping option, but if it is important stuff, then you should probably do EMS.

Do you have any nenkyuu or daikyuu to use for those three weeks? That might help. You should also just talk to your supervisor about the situation; if he/she is understanding, then it might not suck for you.

[Allison_NaraPA]

I agree with Jarrod- If you enjoy a good relationship with your Supervisor,
would you feel comfortable discussing your opportunity with them?

In addition to helping you with the physical details of departure,
your Super may also be able to best anticipate who/what would
be affected by an early leave and how. They may appreciate your
consideration and help you explore any alternative options
to technically resigning!

If it comes to it, your Super will also be the one to spell out the final
consequences of breaking contract. Good luck!

*A note on return tickets: If you qualify, the return tickets are
ESID. ^_~ Some BOEs buy tickets for ALTs (directly to their
home country). Other BOEs ask the ALT to do comparative
research, then pay the ALT cash. Others allow the ALT to
buy whatever flight they want (straight home), then reimburse
the ALT when given a receipt. If anyone knows additional
examples or can correct me- holla!

[ladama]

Pension: It is calculated in 6 month increments, but you may get the full year. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think when they deduct pension from your paycheck, it's for the whole month or not at all, they don't seem to do "partial months". I say this because I came in Group C so my 1st paycheck was just for the 10 days I was there that August, but the amount deducted for pension was the same as a full month. So if you were Group A and pension was deducted from your July paycheck, I think as long as you pay into the pension through June, that's 12 months.

Final Pay Check: Since JETs contracts generally begin and end on odd days of the month, BOEs are used to calculating the last paycheck by days worked that month. My contract ended on August 5th, and my last paycheck was just for those 5 days (so only a few man), and I had some nenkyuu left so I didn't even really work those last few days. How you'll get it just depends on your BOE and your supervisor. Some JETs I've known have asked their supervisor hold the money and send it with the pension tax refund, that could be a while, though.

Return Ticket: As Allison said, every BOE handles return tickets differently. From what I understand, the BOE has the right to refuse to pay for your ticket if you leave early, but then again, you're not leaving 3 month early, just 3 weeks, and in reality you won't miss *that* many lessons, maybe weeks worth, two weeks tops. So maybe they won't be too hard on you.

Shipping stuff home: Going to second Jarrod, it's just going to cost what it costs. You pretty much have to chose between paying less or having your stuff arrive in tact. I got a quote from a shipping company some of my fellow JETs used: it was 5man for a cubic meter (i.e. the minimum), so I decided to go with seamail, and while that's fine for clothes or other squishy things, it's not so great for anything breakable. I don't know about shipping a suitcase through the Japan Post, might prove difficult (unless you get it in a box?)

Good luck to you, must be a pretty exciting trip to go through all this trouble

[king]

Does our contract not run out in the middle of the summer holidays?
There may be a way to do it with just nenkyu.

[SaitamaPA_Denise]

- Pension: It is calculated in six-month increments, right? So as a 1-year JET, I would be reimbursed for the first 6 months and forfeit the last six months?

- Final Paycheck: is it pro-rated? Is it better to leave only three weeks early or should I go for the full month? How do I get the final paycheck if I'm not in Japan for it?

Pension: Yes, 6-month increments. If you were to cover the last three weeks entirely with nenkyu or daikyu though, then you would be able to get both six-month increments refunded, but if you break contract then you would forfeit the refund for second 6-month period.

Final paycheck: Yeah, what the others said--either check with your supervisor or double-check your contract (in at least a couple COs I know of in Saitama there's a section that explains it).

Otherwise, particularly if you get along well with your supervisor, I would also recommend speaking with them about it sooner rather than later. There's a lot of stuff involved when a Jet leaves, and more so when it's before their contract is complete. Good luck on thinking things over though!

[histgirl]

Thanks so much for the replies.

Update: I have told my supervisor about acceptance into graduate school and made a point to mention the early start date (August 6th). Next week or so (once exams are over), I'll tell her the firm date when I am leaving Japan, July 7th. As a group A-er, that's only three weeks early and with the school test and summer schedule, only one week of real instruction.

And acting on the advice of a friend, I have already booked the air travel for the trip (savings hundreds of $$ by doing it now). Since I am set in the decision, dragging my feet waiting for someone to warm up to the idea really only hurts me. I'm giving them as much time as I can. I know third years who left in March, but told their BOE 9-months in advance and everyone was fine. 5 months warning is as much as I can give, and far less than most people do.

Pension: It is calculated in 6 month increments, but you may get the full year. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think when they deduct pension from your paycheck, it's for the whole month or not at all, they don't seem to do "partial months". I say this because I came in Group C so my 1st paycheck was just for the 10 days I was there that August, but the amount deducted for pension was the same as a full month. So if you were Group A and pension was deducted from your July paycheck, I think as long as you pay into the pension through June, that's 12 months.

Hmm, I am group A but I'm not sure if I had a pension deduction from July (2011) since I got paid for July and August at the same time (will check in my records somewhere). However, if by working for at least part of July (2012), they could take the full contribution out and I would still qualify for the refund, the hassle would certainly be worth the extra 140000. If not, ce la vie.
Here's some pretty detailed info on it:
http://www.akitajet.com/wiki/Pension_Refund

Return Ticket: As Allison said, every BOE handles return tickets differently. From what I understand, the BOE has the right to refuse to pay for your ticket if you leave early, but then again, you're not leaving 3 month early, just 3 weeks, and in reality you won't miss *that* many lessons, maybe weeks worth, two weeks tops. So maybe they won't be too hard on you.

The BOE's discretion? Well, the BOE's around here are pretty good about taking care of their ALTs. I think my supervisor might take my side, but the BOE might over-rule. If it's forfit, oh well. But it would make a dent in my travel expenses to cover just the first leg.


More on Shipping Stuff Home
Japan Post will work better for my needs than a shipping company, since they seem to have really reasonably prices, and I don't need to send anything but clothes and souvenirs.
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/fe ... #parcel_03

I agree with Jarrod- If you enjoy a good relationship with your Supervisor, would you feel comfortable discussing your opportunity with them?

I have a good relationship with my supervisor, but she's also a little weird. Halfway through the year, my pred left the country then called back to say she quit, so my supervisor has always seemed a little jumpy whenever I had a trip or took time off. I need to plant the idea very early for her to be comfortable, but I think being too blunt would freak her out (like I was going to quit next week).

Do you have any nenkyuu or daikyuu to use for those three weeks? That might help. You should also just talk to your supervisor about the situation; if he/she is understanding, then it might not suck for you.

If you were to cover the last three weeks entirely with nenkyu or daikyu though, then you would be able to get both six-month increments refunded, but if you break contract then you would forfeit the refund for second 6-month period.

Does our contract not run out in the middle of the summer holidays?
There may be a way to do it with just nenkyu.

Yes! I hear you! If I had the nenkyu of course I would use it! But the last of that precious nenkyu will be spent on golden week, living in Japan has not satisfied my wanderlust...

Good luck to you, must be a pretty exciting trip to go through all this trouble

backpacking through Korea-China-Mongolia-Russia

It's now or *likely* never. When I'm back in the states, I need to be 110% career-focused for the next 2 to 7 years. I'd hate to look back on this moment and say, that a little hassle and $5k~$6k of lost income/benefits is all it took to give up doing something I really wanted when I had the time.

[Allison_NaraPA]

When focusing on a career post-JET, references from your supervisor/school/BOE could be very helpful. I hope you can keep these bridges intact!

[AVN]

Histgirl: A couple of things you said trouble me (I understand that this is a personal thing so my opinion is just that).

If your grad school doesn't start until August 8th don't you think you should stay and finish your contract? Traveling is kind of a sad reason to break contract in my opinion. You agreed to work until the end of July, you signed a contract, to me that means something.

The other thing that kind of struck me was how you want to use your nenkyuu for golden week to travel and break contract to travel more. Didn't you just post about professionalism in applying JET?

It might be better, less hassle and drama for your CO, if you sacrifice those nenkyuu days from Golden week and use them to ease your transition back home post JET.

Again I know this is my opinion but I think it's a bit selfish and unfair, to you, them and your successor, to put the BOE through all of this just so you can go backpacking. If it was for school/work I think I would understand but I would not break contract for this kind of thing. Maybe that's just me though.

[histgirl]

Alright, let's back up.

If your grad school doesn't start until August 8th don't you think you should stay and finish your contract? Traveling is kind of a sad reason to break contract in my opinion.

My school starts August 6th. The program starts several weeks earlier than the normal school semester. When I first signed my contract, I wasn't sure I'd go to graduate school, go back home to work, or fall in love and stay in Japan forever.... Even with the possibly of grad school, it was reasonable for me to assume that I would have about about a month between JET ending and school (since most schools start late August). I still don't want to give up "break time" between work and school. I think it would be more sad to live with the regret that I didn't take the opportunity when I had it.

You agreed to work until the end of July, you signed a contract, to me that means something.

That contract means something to me too. Like showing up on time and fulfilling my duties. But I accept that sometimes the contract is not etched in stone, so I don't work by the letter of the law. And that's why I don't witch about all the things I do that are outside of or in violation of the contract (staying late without extra compensation, starting/running extra curricular activities, covering classes when the main teacher is absent, using my own money to pay for club activities when there isn't a budget...). And since most BOEs recognize that JETs are young people with their lives in transition, I think they too recognize that contracts are not pieces of stone.

The other thing that kind of struck me was how you want to use your nenkyuu for golden week to travel and break contract to travel more.

Yep, you got me there.

Before I came to JET, I worked 60 hour weeks for two years. I didn't take vacations and that's the No 1 thing I regret. I'm prepared to jump right back into that lifestyle when I go to the US, but since time and money are limited resources and we rarely have the two at the same time, again, now or *likely* never. There is no such thing as a guilt-free vacation, and I figure in 2-7 years I'll be prioritizing rings and babies. So I'm traveling this year. Selfish or not.

Didn't you just post about professionalism in applying JET?

I do like to complain about unprofessional JETs, though I suppose it's usually things more like the compelling reasons many ALTs recontract:
"You can always sign it and break the contract later."
"The economy is so terrible right now, why give up a sure thing?"
"I didn't want to stay, but they say two years looks better on your resume right?"
"We get paid for doing practically nothing."
"It's such as easy job."

It might be better, less hassle and drama for your CO, if you sacrifice those nenkyuu days from Golden week and use them to ease your transition back home post JET.

Hmm, I guess you're right. Though 90% of the hassle involved is the same stuff they would have to do whenever an ALT leaves though (cell phone, apartment, bank accounts, etc), and I figure five months notice means it has to be more smooth than when my predecessor left...
leaving the country (with two days warning), leaving her car at the airport with the keys inside (that was rented for her under the BOE's name), two days later calling my supervisor to tell her she quit, leaving all her stuff in her apartment for my supervisor (and other ALTs) to clean, and insisting they pack her stuff and mail it, as well as figure out how to close her bank accounts and send her money (to country that doesn't allow transferring foreign money to local accounts) and this is all after she had recontracted despite the fact she hated her job, my supervisor, and was disliked by her schools.

Also, my trip is already set for Golden Week. If I had to go back in time and give up the rest of my selfish excursions this year, just to get the nenkyu back, I wouldn't. I'm accepting that there are consequences, many financial, I'm just trying to measure.

Again I know this is my opinion but I think it's a bit selfish and unfair, to you, them and your successor, to put the BOE through all of this just so you can go backpacking. If it was for school/work I think I would understand but I would not break contract for this kind of thing. Maybe that's just me though.

I understand your opinion and you are damn straight that travel is a selfish reason, but I wouldn't say a sad one. As for unfair to my successor, seriously? Come on, my placement rocks and anyone that gets it will be lucky. JET is what you make of it.


-----

According to Ramit Sethi, the author of "I Will Teach You To Be Rich," 50.6 percent of people in their 20s who were surveyed wished they had saved money to travel. Meanwhile, people in their 30s wished they had saved for a house in the past 10 years. People in their 40s wished they would have saved for retirement in the previous decade. Although saving money for travel isn't the same as saving for an emergency, it does improve a person's quality of life if all the basics are under control.

[AVN]

I guess we just look at this job differently...
All I ask is that you remember that to you JET/being an ALT might just be a job for

young people with their lives in transition

but it is not that for the people in your town and your students. For them this is their life. Your leaving early will affect them in ways you may not even imagine. Some kids might take two ALTs leaving early as a sign that English is a waste of time or that ALTs don't care about them so they shouldn't bother...

I think you should think about your sucessor. Just as your pred leaving early affected you, two preds leaving early will affect your successor.

I guess just do everything you can to make it as smooth as possible...

[Gizmotech]

Everything you have done, and will do, will affect you and your successor in this job.

If you plan on leaving early, by breaking your contract, do it, but understand that you are making a selfish decision and you are having financial consequences and demonstrating professional immaturity. You will lose 6 months of pension, 3 weeks of pay, return ticket home, good relationships with coworkers, ability to get references from your employer, ability to return to JET in the future (though I doubt this is important to you). Basically by leaving early you're saying that the job wasn't that important to you, and you are being one of those irresponsible ALTs that everyone talks about. Just because you have something better to move onto, doesn't justify breaking the contract early for self-satisfaction reasons.

I'm not faulting you for having wanderlust, I'm faulting you for having the lack of maturity to control it. Frankly the image you will be leaving for your successor is the following:
You enjoyed travelling excessively, to the point of using all your vacation time.
You didn't appreciate the contract, as you broke it early to go off backpacking (not a once in a lifetime thing I might add)
The job sucks so much that you could only stay one year, regardless how much you pimp it up.
You were just as irresponsible as your predecessor, and their coworkers will likely treat them with a certain level of contempt (I experienced this in my position thanks to my pred)

[honto]

I don't get it, first you were leaving early to travel, and now it's for grad school? Are you backpedalling in light of the negative reception your selfishness has received here?

And congratulations, you have boned your successor, if your CO even elects to contract another JET after the stellar performance they have gotten out of their last 2. I suffer every day with ridiculous rules and restrictions created because some ALT from the distant past was a selfish dork. Those who come after you will be so grateful...

[jim]

To be honest, it's issues like this that sum up why many future employers look on programmes like JET as an excuse for lazy over-priviledged kids to bum around for a year or two. that's not going to change as long as JETs think it's alright to just disappear when they like for a "once in a lifetime" backpacking opportunity trekking through the communist countryside.

I can't actually believe the OP thinks that being young with a "life in transition" is a reasonable excuse for ducking out of a professional employment contract to go on holiday. I might use the same excuse to try and stop making payments on my mobile phone and car.

[jim]

You enjoyed travelling excessively, to the point of using all your vacation time.

Would you say using up all your nenkyu is excessive? I know many Japanese people avoid using it, but as I only get 12 days a year most of it is gone with just one yearly trip home.