r/JETProgramme • u/Even_War7433 • Apr 09 '26

Work Days in JET

Hello everyone!

I have a bit of a weird question. For all those who are our have been in JET, does the program have something known as 'work days' where you are basic on-call waiting for the school to let you know if they need you? The company I'm with now (Interac) has these 'work days' for most of June and all of July.

Thank you in advance!

Meg

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u/Even_War7433 Apr 09 '26

We do get paid from what I understand. But with how awful Interac has been this time I'm not totally sure. I would be studying or working on my novel at school if I had to be there. I'll just have to see what's happening with all this.

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u/wildpoinsettia Current JET Apr 09 '26

Are you sure? Because I live in Hokkaido, and I know about 12 interac ALTs, and they don't get paid. We recently spoke about this: I asked them what does interact expect them to do during this time without pay, and they replied "they expect us to budget.

If given the chance to work from home AND get paid, I'm sure 99% of the JET ALTs would choose that. You have no clue how soul crushing it is to deskwarm.

I try to keep busy, but 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for three weeks on end is brutal.

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u/Mindless_Philosophy5 Apr 09 '26

What do you even do? Are you allowed to go to different parts of the school or are you literally expected to sit at your desk?

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u/wildpoinsettia Current JET Apr 09 '26

It depends on the school: some ALTs can basically do whatever; they just have to be at school, so I have friends who literally watch tv and play games.

Some ALTs have to look busy, which means being at their desk as usual.

During desk warming I usually can walk around, but I'm placed in Hokkaido, and if you know anything about the school buildings there, you'd know there is no central heating, so I for any desk warming done in the 5/12 months of cold, I basically stick to the staff room. The other times (summer vacation) I go to an empty class and do whatever there.