Advice: must leave full time employment, anything to be aware of?

[misoandpickles]

I've been seishain for 4 years or so but I just can't stick it out with this company. My company has offered to transfer me but there is nowhere left to go that's suitable for me. I know they say to find your next job before you quit or to start your side hustle while employed but the environment there has taken enough of a toll that I just need to get out.

There has been power harassment of various kinds and some bullying too, and I'm suffering stress and depression. I'm not interested in taking antidepressants, which I think would be required in order to receive 傷病手当. Could be wrong.

Is there anything I need to be aware of before up and leaving?

[adamu]

Sounds stressful, hope you manage to work things out. I also agree that finding another job first is the best route for many reasons, but I'll just put some practicalities here (you said in another post that you're a permanent resident, so I didn't include visa issues):

1. You will need to switch from company to public health insurance/pension.
2. You will need to make arrangements to pay the rest of your residence tax, if you were having monthly instalments deducted from your salary. Although if you will be unemployed, maybe there are other options? Worth thinking about, at least. Remember that tax on this year's income is due next year, too.
3. Make sure they give you your unemployment insurance certificate (雇用保険被保険者証).
4. Try to get a few copies of an employment certificate (在籍期間証明書 or similar. Not an official document, just something they print and stamp that says the dates you worked there) - useful for proving your employment later without having to get back in touch with them.
5. Credit cards etc. might not be very happy if you don't have a job / income. Applying for new credit could get difficult.

[Kanto]

Do you have PR or a Spousal Visa?

If not, you need to inform immigration. I believe you have 2-weeks to do so.

................

This sounds rough. However, are you sure you will be in a better mental place if you are unemployed in the current economy?

Anxieties surrounding money and employment can be just as painful.

[captainspoke]

...

1. You will need to switch from company to public health insurance/pension.
   ...

I'd only note that switching to public health insurance (city hall) was one of the easiest things to do (after I retired), and I'd guess pension will be similarly easy. Point being--don't sweat this.

The only hassle, from my point of view, was then getting a booklet of bills to pay (and keep track of). Setting up an auto deduction from a bank account took a few months, but they were helpful and told me what month that I should pay up to, and when the deductions would likely start. (and then happily ever after)

Hellowork, for getting unemployment compensation, was also pretty smooth. They did want some paperwork (picture?), and I think it took 2-3 visits. But then about six weeks later some money appeared in my bank account. (lump sum in my case)

Good luck with this!

[concerned]

"There has been power harassment of various kinds and some bullying too, and I'm suffering stress and depression."

I experienced this some years back and quit my job because of it. I had nothing lined up and ending up having to leave Japan.
After leaving this company, and as I looked back on it, one of my biggest regrets was not taking my boss and company to task, the law is on your side if you are SeiShain. I would advise checking with lawyers in Tokyo if they can help you, at least get your full retirement money.

[misoandpickles]

I spoke with a lawyer and with the labor standards office in July, and the lawyer said that I did not have a case. Nothing material has changed between then and now. I forgot to mention that mine is a mid-sized company, so the new power harassment law does not apply to it for another two years. Although it's true that they can't fire me for reporting it, all they have to do is show their good effort to remove me from the situation--like moving me to a window (or no window) with no responsibilities. I give them the benefit of the doubt that they'd try to find another position that I could do happily, but I don't think there is one in the company.

[Ori]

You might find it difficult to find a decent new job from an unemployed position. And you will have to come up with some explanation why you left your previous company, which is doesn't make you look like a trouble and is not a complete lie.
I would say, stick it out until you find a new job. If you put a great effort into it, it won't take long. And when you know that you are doing smth to change the situation, it will be easier to ignore the shit at work.

[StockBeard]

There has been power harassment of various kinds and some bullying too, and I'm suffering stress and depression. I'm not interested in taking antidepressants, which I think would be required in order to receive 傷病手当. Could be wrong.

I would still look into trying to get it categorized as a health-related leave. It's probably the "easiest" way to get a leave of absence, and buy yourself some time to plan your next move (and get some rest). I would assume no doctor would "force" you to take antidepressants. I mean, worst case scenario you can buy them and choose not to use them.

[tokyojoe]

I guess you could spend your free time sending off as many job applications as you can, which will
make you feel better if nothing else, but may throw something your way.
Pencil in a time limit - if no new job comes up by a certain date
then you can just go ahead and leave - this will also maybe help you feel better as it does then set
a definite date on which your current job will end. Also spend some time thinking about plan B , plan C
- for example could you fall back on a little translation / proof reading / English teaching type work
if push come to shove? Is there some sort of business you could start by yourself -programmer / youtube etc?
Presuming you are not from Japan then all of us with a different nationality also have some flexibility
in that we can always head back to our respective country if needs be (some of those countries
have very generous conditions like free healthcare etc. . Either way I wish you well and hope it works
out for you.

[kuma]

I sympathise with your situation.

If need be, research what happens to pension contributions, social insurance contributions, etc if you leave mid-month, and avoid leaving at the least favourable timing if you can.

Also, I echo other replies by saying consider the route of medical leave. Check carefully what your insurer covers and how to claim. If the medical reason for the leave was termed burnout (燃え尽き症候群) rather than stress/depression, would that change your thinking at all?

If you do end your employment and wish to do some freelance work to bridge a gap, it is very straightforward to register as a self-employed sole trader at your tax office. Free. No need to set up a business. Might eliminate a gap from the resume that I sense was a concern. Volunteering too could serve the same purpose, without the income, though!

Best wishes, and I hope your situation improves.