So I recently finished the two most demanding tasks required of me as a CIR, the official delegation visits of representatives of my town to our partner city and vice versa. On both occasions, I was required to interpret at events well into the evening, usually until 9 or 10pm. At the first occasion, I was told "we'll handle the overtime after the fact". Well, it got handled by being denied. I worked around 20 hours of overtime in 4 days in my private time. Great. Clair can't do shit btw. I contacted my japanese PA in the matter, and all I got was "each town does their own rules, and we can't tell them to do otherwise".
For the second occasion, I made it clear that I will be compensated with 代休 every single evening, otherwise I would not attend. Cue everyone being shocked. How can I say that? Everyone is 頑張るing and 歓迎ing together. Well, tough luck, I said. After some stern words from my 課長 about Japanese culture, team work, letting other people down, and my future here, I was granted my wish. Though, I was made aware that this might be my last year at JET (I'm a second year).
There have been other occasions where I was required to attend events in my private time, but refusing was a lesson to be learned.
How is the overtime situation for everyone else?
by FuzzyApe