Professor Loses Job at School After Being Caught Working at Konbini

Imagine being a teacher and ending up losing your job because you had another job. That is exactly what happened in Okayama Prefecture, involving a public junior high school teacher who was caught working a second job outside school hours.

Professor Loses Job at School After Being Caught Working at Konbini

The case began on July 4, when the Okayama City Board of Education received a report claiming that a male teacher in his 60s was working at a convenience store in the neighboring city of Kurashiki. The following day, the school principal visited the store and confirmed that the teacher was indeed employed there.

It is important to point out that the teacher was not skipping classes or neglecting his responsibilities. He only worked outside school hours and was even seen at the store on a Saturday, his day off. However, simply engaging in any paid activity beyond his public teaching position was considered a contractual violation.

In Japan, it is not uncommon for employment contracts, especially in the public sector, to explicitly prohibit second jobs. The usual justification is that employees must dedicate themselves fully to their primary role, preventing performance issues or concerns from parents and the local community.

According to the information released, the teacher had been working at the store since November 2023 and had earned around 1.7 million yen during that time. In his statement, he explained that he took the extra job to supplement his income after being rehired under reduced salary conditions, a common practice in Japan when professionals reach retirement age and return to the same position with lower pay.

After the situation became public, the educator issued a formal apology, stating that his actions damaged trust in the profession. The Board of Education also apologized to students, guardians, and residents. Under growing pressure, the teacher indicated he plans to resign and has also stopped working at the convenience store. In other words, he is now unemployed.

via Soranews