CULTURE and HR

• cultural traits such as group

centredness, authoritarianism and
protocol are salient ingredients of
the Japanese society
• collectiveness of Japanese culture
has been carried over to the
companies
• company is seen as a provider of
security and welfare.
• Japanese organizations different rank
and statuses are considered
 Traditional HR
• On campus recruitment of workers
and managers
• Hierarchical/Tall organizations
• Bureaucratic organization structure
• wage system based on seniority
• Pay rises and promotions are
automatic
 Work Culture
•
• Participative Decision making
• Cooperative environment
 inter group
 intra group
 Job rotation
• Lifetime employment system.
•
•
 Source for Change
• Economic instabilities in late 1990’s
• Aging workforce
• Transition to a service economy
• Occupational skills valued over firm-
specific skills
• Gender issues
 New HR
• Recruitment policies
• Western-style hiring practices
• New flat'‘ organization aiming at
lower management density, shorter
chains of command
• ``annual salary system'‘/
performance-based pay system
 Salary system
• salaries in 14 equal parts
• Bonus in December
• Expat paid on the Western system
• No tailor individual benefits and
compensation packages to specific
employee needs


•
 Benefits: Health Care
• National Health Insurance
• Employer's Health Plan
• Private Health Insurance

Employee Benefits:
Pensions
 Vacation and Sick Leave

• Depends on the length of time in the

company
• Probation period of 6 months
 10 days of paid vacation
 ceiling of 20 days
• Sick leave


•
 Termination
• Japanese law typically requires "just
cause" for dismissal
• 14 days' notice
 Labour Laws
• Equal Employment Opportunities
for Women
• "Harmonizing" Work and Family
Life
• The Childcare and Family Care
Leave Law
• Deregulation and Increased
Flexibility in Working
Conditions
•