Tanaka Hiroshi, 27
Hotel Clerk from Kumamoto
What are your responsibilities at work?
I take reservations and process them. I work the front desk, checking guests in and out. And I take care of guests’ requests. Other than maids, the front desk takes care of just about everything else.What are the good and bad points?
I enjoy the service industry. This job suits my personality. The schedule is a negative point, however, as my working hours change often. In a given month, I work five afternoons, ten days until 11pm, and twice a month from 6pm to 11am. The salary is low, ¥120,000 per month, but there are two ¥100,000 bonuses per year. I haven’t worked there long enough yet to earn one, however.How are your bosses?
Co-workers and senior employees are great, but some people would rather appear to be important by doing less. Bosses don’t really do much--they sit with their heads in the computer. Even when I’m busy they call me to help because they haven’t learned procedures properly. It’s a pain. I had to learn how to do everything right from the start, but even after several months the boss doesn’t know. Staff can’t teach him because he doesn’t listen; he just says “yes, yes, I know,” but he doesn’t really.What about O-seichi ryori (New Year’s food)?
It’s strange. When I got hired they didn’t tell me about this. Employees must sell two o-sechi ryoris every year--one costs ¥20,000! They are unrelated to the hotel business, but are part of the owner’s side business. For the time being, I asked my relatives to buy one so I can manage, but other employees must buy them if they can’t find any buyers. Bosses must sell three.If you refuse?
I haven’t thought about that. I don’t know.Any other complaints?
A restaurant makes the o-sechi ryori. The hotel makes a co-worker and myself go (an hour trip) and prepare everything.Do you receive pay for this?
No. Maybe a little--very little. We must do this even though it’s unrelated to our job.How else are your employers cheap?
The attitude of the owners is, “If you want to quit, go ahead. We’ll get more workers at minimum wage.” That’s been their thinking from the start. They’re old-fashioned. This month they opened a new hotel. I have to take all the new reservations because it only has half the necessary staff. So my job has gotten very busy even though the number of customers at our hotel has not increased.the end
This interview was originally published in Kansai Time Out magazine.