Does anyone know the Hello Work employment service here in Japan? I'm not sure if it's government run or not but it's a pretty big job placement service in my area. Well, they fucked me. My assistant had been doing well, working for the last 8 months or so. She's pretty bright and I had her pretty well trained. I'm heading back to the US for a while over Christmas and I was going to leave my eBay store open and have her handle shipping. I had it all planned out.... But then she gets a random phone call from Hello Work. Her case worker mentioned that she hadn't been there in a while. He didn't know that she found a new job so she told him she was working for me. He "summoned" her (her words) to the Hello Work office and she gave him a job description. Apparently she said that she had helped me with my Visa application while describing the job. After hearing about it he told her to quit immediately. The case worker told her that she's not qualified to do things like that. He went on to tell her that she is now responsible for my actions in Japan. And, get this....she can be held liable for any loans that my company fails to repay. So he told her to quit immediately, go down to the employment office and have her name taken off of my payroll, and completely cut off all contact with me. Worst. Advice. Ever. I mean WTF? Who beleives any of that crap? Like I'm going to take out a loan, flee Japan, and the bank is going to go after her just because translated my application for me. She's my assistant. She's Japanese. Of course when I go down to the immigration office she will be there and help with anything that needs to be helped with. That doesn't mean she's my lawyer or sponsor or guardian. She's my employee. Crickey! If I ask any Japanese person any question about my Visa application will they also be liable? Anyway, it's game over. It's a Japanese Mind issue and once it reaches that point I know there's not much I can do. She was told by someone in authority that she is liable, and so she now believes it. Maybe she doesn't believe it 100% but I know how it works...better safe than sorry. Unless I find someone who has more authority on this specific subject matter there's nothing I can do. She actually called herself a criminal and at that point I knew I was pretty much screwed. So she's leaving at the end of the month so my plans to have my shop open while I'm overseas is over. This was going to be my first try and I set everything up, all of the training etc, to be able to do this. That pretty muck sucks. I also don't want to use her to train the next assistant because obviously the topic about liability will come up. So I'll have to do that all over again. Oh yeah....one more little cookie. She resigned two days after I got my business Visa. To get the visa you need to have at least 1 employee (actually 2 but they let me slide). So I got the Visa then my assistant quits two days later. That's going to be a lot of fun if the visa office sees that. Anyway, how's your Friday?
Damn man that sucks. You're always one of the first sellers I scope out after snagging some Christmas loot (I think. Its you, palet_th, rabitds, and... hmm... one or two other people I go to for my Saturn goodies).
Hello work are a government run service. I've used them before to find work so I know what twats they are for coming out with allsorts of shite to make life harder for us none native Japanese. They are right however about your assistant being liable for any loads you may not be able to pay IF she was the one who signed for your Visa. However I'm afraid that once a Japanese hear that they are braking the law even in theory it's almost impossible to change their minds. Yakumo
"However I'm afraid that once a Japanese hear that they are braking the law even in theory it's almost impossible to change their minds." Right...that's the issue. I tried a bunch of different approaches, but when one refuses to use logic then it's game over. Also, she didn't sign or sponsor anything. Her name is not on the application. There's actually no link to her whatsoever except she's listed as my employee, but there's no visa reference there. All she did was translation. Now, if I had taken it to some translation service they would be liable for me? heh...makes no sense.... (I actually meant to post this in the Japan section but I put it here on accident. If you wouldn't mind moving the thread....or keeping it here if it's no big deal.)
My Friday was long, but I'm glad it's over! Thanks for asking!:020: That really sucks though. Can you take any legal action? Most institutions like that tend be prejudice towards foreigners.
Really? If her name isn't on any of the visa forms then she has no obligation what so ever to pay your debts or be in anyway responsible for you. Hello Works are talking total shit there. I'd seek legal advice on this one as well as compotation from Hello Work (if possible). Yakumo
I don't think you can get compensation from Hello Work. They gave advice to your employee. It was shitty, ill-informed advice (hey, what are Japanese gov't agencies for, after all?) but I doubt you'd get anywhere.
I d agree with ccovell. The best you could get is a "sorry" or for them to re-examine the case and inform the parties.
I'd go propose to the assistant and hope she goes for it. Poof! Free assistant. In all seriousness, good luck with your unfortunate encounter. I've seen chinese people not served at tables, and black people not let in shops. You really should write all this down for a nice "doing business in Japan" article.
that's so fugly!:-( hope you find a good replacement for her. or how about to contact this so called hello work and explain them the situation, so may be they can convince her to change her mind again?!? but that's would more than just a dream, i believe :banghead:
Welcome to Japanese beurocracy. The only way to win is to brainwash better. You might have some luck calling them directly. When you actually point out to some moron in an office why he's a dipshit, they will sometimes retract. Sometimes, just throw BS at you, hoping you'll recoil in fear. I won against NTT one time.
