Japan is known as a hard-working country. However, I think it is a very inefficient job. In addition, although it is considered a hard-working country, production efficiency lags overseas.
I am investigating the inside of various countries for the purpose of understanding different cultures. In the process, I was able to know how late Japan was. I think Japanese people are foolish and serious. You should be able to enjoy it more. In recent years, "work style reform" has become popular, and many companies are trying to eliminate overtime or taking time off.
There are two main problems with the working environment in Japan.
The first one is the mainstream idea in Japan is that it is better to have one job from old times to retirement age. But this idea is outdated. Certainly, it is not a bad thing to keep doing one job, and I am proud of it. But that is when the job suits you. I think you should do what you are good at. You should not leave the company right after joining the company, but if you feel that it does not suit you after working for several years, you should change your job. It seems strange to me that if I quit my job, my career would be hurt or that I would not have the patience. It is a shame to continue working until retirement with a job that does not suit you. Life is only once, so you should try various things.
The second is that Japanese people have a habit of working overtime. In 2002, "Karoshi" was listed in the Oxford English Dictionary and became a hot topic. It is a characteristic of Japanese companies that many people die from overwork and are forced to work overtime. The trend of office workers who work for companies during the period of high economic miracle continues even today. “Working style reform” has improved the management of working hours than before, but the reality is that there are still more than in other countries. The reason is that the amount of work that does not end within working hours is allocated and there is a culture of making money from overtime pay. Another thing is that the atmosphere is harder to return than your boss.
As a result, the longer overtime hours, the longer the working hours, and the hourly labor productivity in Japan is very low.
I think these two are the causes of the bad working environment in Japan from overseas. In the United States, salaries are given according to roles, and the scope of work is clearly defined. Unlike in Japan, there are no concurrent duties, so there is less work per person, which results in efficient productivity. Basically, it is characteristic that you do not work overtime, and I think that a culture that values work-life balance in the United States appears. I think Japan should emulate the working environment overseas. However, it is difficult to imitate everything, so I think we should promote reforms that suit the Japanese people.