Hi everyone, I’m writing here because I’m currently under a lot of acute stress and honestly don’t know if I’m overreacting or if these are real red flags.
I recently moved to a new international company with a good reputation. I left my previous company because it was going through an M&A process and there was uncertainty around the future, so I wanted more job stability. I was approached by HR based on a recommendation from my current manager. Even though my Japanese is not fluent, they accepted me because of my professional experience and technical skills.
However, after accepting the offer and submitting my resignation from my previous company, I started noticing some red flags from my new manager.
Before my official joining date, he asked me to have weekly meetings. At first it felt casual, but gradually he started asking me to work on tasks and even join client meetings before I officially joined the company. At that time I felt pressured and uncomfortable, but I didn’t know how to refuse because I had already resigned from my previous job and was worried about damaging the relationship.
After officially joining, the situation became more stressful. I feel constantly pressured, and my manager often communicates in an aggressive way. I’m starting to feel anxious every day before work, and honestly I don’t feel psychologically safe working with him.
What makes this even harder is that I’m currently in the middle of my permanent residency (PR) process in Japan, so changing jobs or quitting without another job lined up feels very risky for me. Because of that, I feel somewhat trapped in the situation.
I’m now questioning whether this is just normal pressure in consulting/corporate culture in Japan, whether I’m too sensitive, or whether this behavior is actually inappropriate.
Has anyone experienced something similar, especially as a foreign professional working in Japan? I would really appreciate any advice on:
whether this behavior is considered normal or a red flag,
how to professionally handle an aggressive manager,
whether HR in Japan usually takes these situations seriously,
and how people balance mental health concerns with visa/PR stability.
Thank you for reading.
by Low-Jackfruit3903