Office Culture In Japanese Companies

21LEH105T-Japanese

Prepared By:-
Tanmay Mahajan (RA2211003010992)
Gagandeep C (RA2211003010996)
Abhivesh Shukla (RA2211003010962)
Prakhar Sharma (RA2211003011017)
Aditya Mukherjee (RA2211003011096)
Dhanisha Singh (RA2211003010895)
Introduction:-
Traditional work culture emphasizes an extreme dedication
➢A 2015 survey found that 53% of Japanese people don’t know how
much annual leave they have.

➢This level of dedication leaves the people unhappy. They are the
second most vacation deprived workers in the world.

➢But over the past few years the Japanese work culture has changed
quite a bit.

➢Their working culture is slowly moving towards a healthier version

 Why do Japanese Work So Hard?
The Hard Working Culture of Japan is Deeply Rooted in The Country’s history
➢Japan’s corporate culture is driven by the so-called salary man. They are defined by their
loyalty to a company and are expected to spend their entire career at same firm.

➢The culture emphasizes success of the company rather than an individual which is evident
by the fact that a survey found that 63% of Japanese feel guilty to take paid leaves.

➢Even after these long working hours, Japan has the lowest productivity amongst the G7
nations.

➢Unfortunately, sometimes this abnormal level of stress and work pressure results in Karoshi
(過労死) or death from overwork.
The Three Main Social
Factors Behind This are:-
( F ROM NIPPON.COM)
1. The Feudal Society of Japan reached the same economic level as
the powerful western countries but paid a heavy price due to the
arduous labor required which left the workforce with a habit of
overworking.

2. The collectivist culture which was prevalent at the time expected

the workers to prioritize the company over themselves. This in turn
gave The corporations the power to ignore the employees’ rights.

3. There was a cultural expectation of “Convenience”. The 24/7 retail

and delivery services are very beneficial to the customers but the
employees get stuck with suffering the shifts to accommodate
them.
Working Conditions in
Japan:-
Minimum Working Conditions:-
Any Employer who regularly employs 10 or more employees per workplace is
required to prepare the work rules in accordance with the Labour Standard Act.
The work rules must contain pertinent details relating directly and significantly to
the working conditions. An Employer m may not change the work rules in any
way that would disadvantage the employees without obtaining their consent or the
changes are deemed reasonable.

The Salary:-
Wages must be paid in full directly to the employee and in the appropriately
designated currency. An employees wages are paid periodically (At least once a
month on a specified date). The work performed on Statutory holidays And Late
night work requires extra allowance.
Maximum Working Week:-
Generally the working hours are 8hrs per day and 40hrs per week. Statutory
holidays must be granted once every week or four times every four weeks.
Flexible working hours are permissible, subject to certain requirements under
the Labour Standards Act. The employees may work in excess of statutory
working hours without any overtime allowance as long as the average working
time over that specific period does not exceed 8hrs per day or 40hrs per week.

Overtime:-
Compensation of overtime work of up to 60hrs per month must be at least 25%
of the normal hourly wage and the overtime which 60hrs per month must be at
least 50% of the normal hourly wage. Employees in the managerial and
supervisory positions are exempt from the abovementioned overtime regulations;
however the late night work allowance is still applicable.
Reasons to Work In
Japan:-
Immerse Yourself In Japanese:-
Working in Japan is the perfect way to boost your Japanese Study. Not only
will you have plenty of speaking practice, but you can also hone your listening
skills by hearing daily conversations. You can consider a teaching position If
you are keen on improving your Japanese as most ALTs will work from 8:30
am to 4:30 pm which allows plenty free time in evenings and weekend to study
Japanese.

Explore The Real Japan:-

Of course, visiting the best tourist places in Japan is a lot of fun. But if you
are curious to learn about real Japanese culture, you have to move past the
sight-seeing spots. Working in Japan allows you to see a more realistic, daily
routines of Japanese people.
Clean And Safe Working Environment:-
Japan is famed for its low crime rate. In fact, in 2016, Japan had a record low
1.8 robbery rate (per 100,000 people). You may also notice how clean Japan is.
The streets, the stores and the offices are all kept to a high standard of
cleanliness. This is because keeping things tidy is deeply ingrained in Japanese
culture.

Find New Career Opportunities:-

Thinking of changing your career? You are not alone. An estimated 4 million
US workers quit their jobs in April 2021 as part of ‘The Great Resignation’. If
you no longer feel motivated in your career, maybe it’s time for something
new. working internationally is a great addition for any resume! Choosing to
work abroad shows confidence and initiative. It is also a way to showcase
your soft skills, such as communication, decision-making and adaptability.
India on Contrast wjth
Japan
Mandatory Approval Of The Superiors
One of the most followed rules in Japan that drastically affects the mental health
of foreign citizens is that employees are not allowed to make decisions without
the permission of their superiors. Employees in Japanese companies must go
through the proper chain of command to get permission to make decisions. This
system of not being able to make even a small decision on one's own affects
employee's mental health.

Japanese Workplace Are Comparatively More Formal

The work culture in Japan is still very formal. This makes it quite difficult for
Indians to fit in. They have to wear suits in the appropriate colors depending on
their position. They prefer uniform clothing for their employees. You will hardly
see them wearing bright colors. Although India also has a formal regime,
"business casual" makes employees relax. In Japan, this is not common.
After Work Party With Co-Workers
In India, people generally prefer to return home to spend time with their families.
You may even see employees enjoying themselves with their friends after work.
In Japan, on the other hand, there is a culture where groups of employees drink
and socialize together after work. It's not mandatory, but people do it to be
socially accepted and build relationships.

Longer Working Hours, Fewer Brakes

Different countries have different work cultures. If you compare India's work
culture with Japan's, India offers more flexibility to its employees.
Japanese are notorious for their long working hours. In fact, karoshki - a
Japanese word meaning death by overwork, was developed in Japan
Japan. The excessive working hours have severely affected the mental health of
many people
Focus On Groups

This is one of the best values of Japanese work culture. Japanese work culture
preserves group harmony. They place more importance on the needs of society
than on personal interests. They do not prefer to make individual decisions. The
Japanese work ecosystem takes a holistic approach. In this way, employees work
in harmony with each other. They make all decisions for the good of the group.
Each employee demonstrates maximum productivity to support their teams.
In the traditional Japanese monoculture, foreign employees are bullied in the
workplace. They consider you part of the company, but not part of their family.
This has led to depression for many foreign employees.
ADVANTAGES
Fair Assessments Of Diverse Human Resources, Resulting In
Motivating Work Environments.

Are you familiar with the term "DEI"? It is a new concept that combines the idea
of "equality" with "diversity and inclusion". Through "diversity", companies are
trying to increase their competitiveness by encouraging different employees to have
different points of view. "Equality" refers to providing equal opportunities to those
employees, and "inclusion" is the desired outcome of making all members of a
company's diverse workforce feel included.
The majority of foreign companies actively promote DEI. Since everyone is judged
fairly, this makes for a motivating work environment. Behind this newer focus on
DEI is the recognition that equal distribution of resources does not necessarily lead
to equal employment or advancement opportunities in the workplace. This is a
problem that affects not only companies, but society as a whole.
Fair Assessments Of Diverse Human Resources, Resulting In
Motivating Work Environments.

To give a close-up example: Few Japanese companies have systems in place to

encourage female employees to return to work after having a child, or to ensure
that they receive an appropriate salary increase when they return to work. Female
employees with children are denied the opportunity to improve their skills or
advance in the workplace, even if they have the desire to do so. DEI seeks to
eliminate such inequalities and instead ensure that all employees have access to
the resources and tools they need for their individual situations.
Interpersonal Skills Are Enhanced In Global Environment
When you work in a foreign company in Japan, you need to develop not only your
professional skills but also your interpersonal skills. In a globalized work
environment, you are forced to interact daily with Americans, Europeans,
Asians, and bosses, colleagues, and customers from a variety of other nations and
cultures.
Japanese business etiquette and customs will sometimes prove insufficient - and
you will need to accept and be flexible in responding to other cultures. However, if
a company wants to grow, it is its duty to assemble an international workforce of
talented employees and allow them to interact while on the job. Interacting with
people of other races and cultures will also cause you to broaden your
perspectives and attitudes. As a result, you will be able to find new methods and
solutions for dealing with customers. As you can see, one of the benefits of
working for a foreign company in Japan is that you will not only improve your
skills, but also have the opportunity to develop as a person.
Foreign Companies In Japan Value Human Resources

Foreign companies place a high value on original opinions when they contribute
to improving work processes or overall performance. This is another point that
differs from Japanese companies.
The business environment is evolving at a rapid pace, and consumer needs are
constantly changing. If companies want to identify and meet consumer needs as
early as possible, they must develop creative products and services.
Disadvantages
The Gender Gap
Unfortunately, it is not common in Japan for women to be board members or
members of management. This is mainly because women may leave the company
due to parental leave. As we mentioned earlier, Japanese companies want to train
their employees for the long term so that they can contribute, and therefore prefer
men rather than women. This problem has gradually improved, but it is still a
serious issue, with Japan ranking 144th out of 153 countries in terms of gender
equality in politics. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, Japan
ranks 121st in terms of low gender gap, which is the lowest rank ever. The index
calculates and assesses inequalities based on four indicators: "economic
participation and opportunities between genders" ,"educational
attainment", "Health and Survival" and "Political Participation". This is a
serious problem, as Germany ranks 10th, France 15th, Canada 19th, the United
Kingdom 21st, the United States 53rd, Italy 76th, and Japan is far and away last
among these highly developed countries.
The Gender Gap
There is no inequality between men and women in literacy, primary education,
and birth rate, and the country has been ranked first in the world since last year.
However, in labor income, politicians/corporate managers,
professors/professionals, and number of members of parliament, the country
ranks 100th or below in the world

Possibility Of Long Working Hours

For many years, long working hours have become routine in many Japanese
companies. Although recent work style reforms have made working hours more
reasonable, there are still some companies that are unable to reduce working
hours. Japanese tend to follow the norm and try to be the same in the group
Crowded Trains
In Japan, it is common to take the train for transportation. However, during rush
hours, trains are extremely crowded and people push and shove each other, especially
in Tokyo. This may be stressful for people who are not used to this lifestyle, but it is
commonplace in Japan. Some companies are introducing a flextime system where
employees can start work earlier or later to avoid crowded trains.
Natural Disaster
Japan faces many severe natural disasters compared to other countries. Natural
disasters such as typhoons, heavy rainfall, heavy snowfall, floods, earth and sand
disasters, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions occur every year. Japan's
land area is only 0.28% of the world's area, but 20.5% of all earthquakes magnitude
6 or higher occur in Japan, and 7.0% of the world's active volcanoes are in Japan. It
is important to be prepared for any disaster. Many people carry a backpack of items
to keep themselves safe at all times. It is also important to go to the nearest place of
refuge, such as a school or public hall, if you need to flee your home
Many Lack Cross Culture Understanding

Not many people have experience communicating with foreigners in Japan.

In Japan, some companies practice the phrase "When in Rome, do as the Romans
do." Japanese tend to act as a group rather than as individuals, so anyone who acts
differently may seem bizarre. That's one way to do it, but if you overdo it, both
employees and employers may not respect the differences between their cultures and
lifestyles, which can lead to problems.