The Middle of the End of Nova

Tis not true...they were paid, but do not believe me, go search the internet, there are many trustworthy and reputable sites out there. It is not as if they post a story, based on a comments posted by someone they do not know on a website that picked it up from another unknown poster on a different forum.
No wait, that is what they do here.

OK so Nova is finished perhaps, but consider this. A number of former Nova workers scattered back into the wind have agreed that the Eikaiwa industry, as we know it, is on borrowed time. You'd have to be extremely naive to think that the remaining members of the "Big Four" will be stepping up to the plate to cover the slack and welcome unqualified Nova instructors with open arms. Regardless of whether or not their business practices will ever be scrutinized, the potential customer will undoubtedly be scared off for for some time. Perhaps it's the Japanese group mentality ala panic surrounding Mad Cow Disease, SARS or terrorism which resulted in a such a large percentage of people never eating beef again (no matter where it comes from) or refusing to fly to even Okinawa for the fear of being hijacked. A plus for many prospective Japanese wishing to study English is that recently many have discovered more effective and cheaper avenues such as community study groups, the internet and private lessons.

As for Nova, this is such an unfortunate situation for the majority of foreign staff. Especially those who might be long term residents and have indeed settled down with a family.

Staff at our school didn't get paid and just rolled over and took it. We tried explaining to them that they don't make units of time small enough to measure how long instructors would work for no money, but they just sheepishly grinned.

One thing I learned from years in the software industry: when they start screwing with the payroll, get ready to blow the canopy.

I have been working for Nova for 6 months. I started work in February 2007, and now being August 2007, there have been over 1,100 teachers hired. I know this because my employee number is 38,2** and I just met 2 newly hired instructors a couple of days ago, whose numbers were 39,3**. So, if Nova hired 1,100 new teachers in 6 months, then where the hell are they?!??!?!! In my area (5 schools) we have lost more than 18 teachers in 6 weeks!! Five of the 10 replacements we have recieved this summer quit within 2 to 3 weeks of starting. A smaller Nova school recently merged with my school and that added 2 new teachers, and about 100 new students! My school is under staffed with instructors and relies heavily on help teachers to make it. The pressure and high demand is taking its toll on all of us, especially the Japanese staff. My vacation request was recently denied and my AAM (area assisant manager) who told me my vacation request next month is "pending until further notice", thats how bad things are, they cant even let me have a vacation next month because too many teachers are quitting to take ALT jobs that start September 1st. There is a looooong list of AT (assisant trainer) positions on the bullentin board for several schools in my region, but nobody wants the job, because it pays just 10,000 yen a month more than regular teachers and with the heavy burden of being a snitch and an ass-kisser. There is also a loong list of overtime, but again nobody wants it...we are worked to death as it is.
Students at my branch and at other branches I have worked help shifts at are always telling me that they want use their points as quickly as possible and get away from Nova. I noticed my branch staff is bending over backwards to please students, a new tactic recently has been to pressure instructors to level up students to make students feel they are making progress. We are forced to level up students, even when they do not have the ability to take higher language classes. Nova policy is to approve ALL level up tests, there are no failing level-up tests...but students dont know that. Anything to make the students stay.
Ever since MET handed down their ruling against NOVA in June, lesson demand has really peaked!! My follow instructors and myself included feel that students are rushing to get their points used up before the company goes under, students are very nervous and so is teachers and staff. To everybody out there, this is an awful company...dont work for NOVA unless you want the visa, but dont stay long. I have 2 interviews this week for another company. I just cant wait to get out of this company!

For those of you Nova teachers still hanging on, you need to familiarize yourself with Hello Work, which is the name of the Japanese unemployment agency that you'll be visiting when Nova busts. There are many Hello Work offices in every city in Japan, but you'll be required to visit the one in your respective ward. I quit Nova as an AT about 2 years ago because I thought things then were fishy, but as it turned out the next company I worked for, Lado International, went bankrupt. What luck, eh? In a way I'm glad things happened the way they did cause i feel older n wiser n all that bs. Anyways, so from my experience from Lado going bankrupt last April I can tell you that you'll have to wait a total of two full calendar months before receiving your first unemployment check, and 5 months before receiving 80% of your lost wages from the Japanese government. So be prepared! In order to receive unemployment payments you will be required NOT to work for a full month after the company goes bankrupt. If you work other jobs or if you sign another contract somewhere else in that period, you will not qualify for unemployment. Best to save as much cash as you can now, and start teaching as many private students as you can. Good luck everyone!

What i read on this page is mostly true... last month nova staff in fact did not get the bonuses they are promised. as was the case with the area managers (AAM) of which 3 immediately walked out of nova upon hearing they're bonus was not forthcoming. the AAM's salary is largely based on this bonus but if they dont get it they infact drop down the the same wages as the trainers. So staff and AAM's were about 6 days late last month. As of this month some area's in japan were hit with instructors not getting paid on time. this month teachers had to wait until at present the 19th which is a full five days after we were due to get paid. staff pay is due shortly after.. it will be interesting to see what will happen with that. The biggest problem is the president and his bad handling of many different events. with regards to instructors he claimed on the 13th that pay would not be given as scheduled on 14th but it would be with us on the 14th but 12 hours later than usual. then on the 14th mid afternoon a memo was sent to all branches stating that we wouldnt get paid until the 19th.. it strike me that the president has either lost all business sense or hes trying to sink nova. A simple way would have been to send a memo a week before to instructors stating pay would go in after the national holiday this could have just kept instructors calm and unworried as opposed to sending shockwaves through every teacher suspecting that they have no money to give us... He has to go. But i doubt he will and nova will sink and everyone will be without pay and stuck in japan.. im plan to change employment within the week. then at least next month nova only have to manage to pay me 1 weeks pay... even that might be too much.

Oh update..today the AT`s didn`t get paid AGAIN and I know some who just went home mid way through the day and aren`t showing in tomorrow.

NOVA really screwed the pooch today

I worked for NOVA 7 years ago, both the AT`s I had were pretty decent fellas, didn`t rat on anyone, I even remember my trainer advising me to join the NOVA union when I asked him about it. I guess I was lucky. One thing tho for those of you doing going all out to get fired. DOn`t take it out on the students, and don`t take the piss out of them. They paid a lot of money to be there, and they`re getting shafted just like you. As for the bloke complaining about the smelly old ladies, well maybe you can`t smell your own halitosis. And you probably don`t clean your arse as well as they do. So get a dental check, get a washlet, and shut the fuck up.

Lastly, spare a thought for the staff as you wander in drunk, tieless etc. They`ve got the shittiest wages, have been force-fed a lot of company BS from day one, and - fanatics excepted - are pretty much compelled to swindle and lie to students to keep sales respectable. It`s fucken wrong.

And as of October 12th, it was at just 40yen per share and STILL falling!