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A
typical Japanese office is an open space with an
over-crowding of desks or very little private work
space. There are very few private offices as group
effort and complete communication within the department
or company are critical. In a large company or
government office, there are many position titles which
spreads out the total responsibility.
AN
EMPLOYEE FOR LIFE
As
an employee of a company, there is a great deal of
responsibility, obligation, loyalty, and duty. Although
things are gradually changing, workers still think of
themselves as 'employees' for life with many personal
benefits such as subsidized housing and education for
their families. It is still very rare to fire or let go
of an employee unless there have been extenuating or
unethical circumstances. What is most apparent is the
commitment by both sides to work together towards a
common goal.
SALARY
MEN
About
70% of university graduates become "SALARY
MEN", which is a Japanese-English term coined to
describe salaried company employees, particularly those
working for large Japanese companies. The usual image
conjured up by the word is of a white-collared worker,
clean shaven, short hair, dark suit with company lapel
badge, white shirt and tie, brief case, has joined his
company for life and commutes to his office everyday
from his home in the suburbs.
LUNCH
The
lunch break is usually very short and usually taken at
one's desk. Lunch is not a time to socialize or eat with
a client. Alcohol is rarely consumed. Smoking is not
banned from the work place and most restaurants do not
have non-smoking sections.
OVERTIME
Unlike
Western custom, workers do not leave promptly at closing
time. They do not leave until their bosses have and
frequently stay quite late every night. It is also
embarrassing to be the first one to leave and you do not
just sneak out the door. Much of the productive work is
done after hours and workers have a chance to be less
formal with each other. Typically these workers are men
who have become workaholics and absentee fathers and
husbands. Recently there has been some attention made
about the high levels of stress that male, white-collar
workers in their forties and fifties undergo. There are
an estimated 10,000 karoshi (death from over-work)
deaths per year. |
General Section
