This simply means that Japanese people respect hierarchy. Western societies on the other hand tend to be individualistic and non-hierarchical. Japanese society is collectivist and hierarchical. How the Collectivist Hierarchical Japanese Society Affects Work Hours This says a lot about Japan’s dedication to delivering results. In the west, conference rooms are used for discussions on the way forward. Japan’s conference rooms are used to report progress. Japanese employees always want to give more than is required of them. If they have worked the 8 hours required, they will do overtime. Besides, there is no Japanese employee who wants to leave the office first. It is also considered impolite to leave the office before your boss. Working five extra hours of overtime is just the typical day for a Japanese salaryman. to be in the office 2 hours earlier is normal. Working long hours and harder than anyone else is a source of pride in Japan. It notes that 63% of employees who take vacation days feel guilty about it. One survey, published by Expedia, captures this very well. Some studies also show that Japanese employees rarely take vacation days. Even if it’s just to watch these popular sports in Japan. For example, taking leave is frowned upon in Japanese corporate culture. These factors are fully enshrined in Japanese workplace culture. There are several factors that promote hard work and dedication in the workplace. Japan’s Corporate Culture and its Effects on Working Hours And what they expect in return is loyalty and hard work. The company offers you lifetime employment. It refers to white-collar workers who show exemplary loyalty and dedication to the corporations they work for. This is a colloquial local term used in Japan. Japanese School ChildrenĬhildren were raised to believe that the ultimate goal is to become a Salaryman. Many in Japanese society felt that working for such prestigious companies is the true mark of Japanese excellence. They went head-on with major western corporations and won. In the 1960s, Japanese companies were competing at the global front. As you can imagine, the state tapped into this manufacturing history to rebuild the nation. There was already a culture of organized production too. The country also had a very robust military-industrial complex that was used to support the war effort. This meant that it had to put a huge percentage of its population at work. Japan also had to pay war reparations to the Western Allies. The country was faced with the unprecedented challenge of rebuilding its economy from the ashes. The nuclear attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to its surrender. This dedicated work ethic continued even after the Second World War. Soon, it emerged as a major global power. Under the slogan “Fukoku kyōhei”, the country significantly expanded its industries and military. Japan, at the time, was experiencing rapid industrialization and militarization. This can be traced back to the early 1920s. The idea of hard work is something well enshrined in Japanese work culture. The long hours associated with Japanese work life are not a coincidence. Japanese Work Culture and Its Influence on Work Hours The aging Japanese population is also increasing the working hours in the country. A culture of loyalty and hard work in corporate Japan is one of them. Japan’s working hours are influenced by several factors. Compare this to the United States where only 11% of employees work 50 hours a week. The OECD estimates that on average, 22% of all Japanese employees work more than 50 hours a week. A 2016 government survey found that over 25% of all Japanese companies demand 80 hours of overtime each month. Japanese labor laws dictate that employed persons should work for a maximum of 8 hours a day, or 40 hours a week. Well, in this post we look at Japan’s working hours. However, the issue of long working hours has overshadowed their brilliant achievements. Japanese people are globally renowned for their strong work ethic, hard work, and ingenuity.
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