The Japanese are generally considered to be very hard-working people. The overtime that the Japanese accumulate is also legendary. This behavior is rather foreign to Germans, as we have strict working time laws that are monitored by works councils and other institutions. Overtime often even has to be applied for. The author knows, for example, of a situation where overtime was once refused even though it was an urgent matter. The work had to be reorganized.
Why overtime?
Japanese employees usually stay in the office until the boss leaves, even if they have nothing more to do. What would be seen as nerdiness in Germany has a different background in Japan. First of all, attendance is an expression of loyalty to the boss. The boss could still need you and could be annoyed if you are no longer present. This is also an important sign to the boss.
Norms and group behavior
There is a very strong group norm in Japan. At the same time, it is culturally essential to place one’s own interests and expectations below those of the group or higher-ups. Violations of norms are sanctioned more severely, even to the point of losing face. This makes it clear that this behavior affects not only the individual, but the entire office. If someone quits and goes home, this can be interpreted negatively.
Higher workload
In general, Japanese people spend more time working than Germans. The reason for this is that it is not only the usual workload that has to be managed, but time for communication and maintaining relationships is also very important. On the one hand, Japanese employees also discuss private matters – this serves to maintain relationships. On the other hand, company decisions are prepared in many informal discussions. Controversial meetings with discussions, as we know them from Germany, do not correspond to Japanese culture, which is concerned with harmony. It is therefore essential to prepare such meetings and decisions in other ways – and that also takes time.
You can also overdo it
Constant overwork can lead to health problems. However, just how strong the cultural norms are can be seen from the fact that in Japanese there is an expression for death due to overwork – karoshi. The most prominent case was that of a TV presenter who was found dead after working 159 hours of overtime in one month. As a result, the legislator has now reacted and limited the number of overtime hours per month to 100 and per year to 720. Still a frightening world for Germans.
How should I behave as a German?
The question is whether a German working in Japan should adapt. It depends on the situation. If Germans are posted, certain contractual agreements may apply that limit working hours. Furthermore, a so-called “bonus” applies to foreigners – they are not Japanese and behave differently. If, on the other hand, you work in Japan in a Japanese company with a local contract, you should adapt as much as possible in the interests of your career.
Clarifying unanswered questions – intercultural training Japan
Of course, this topic cannot be explained exhaustively in a blog. But it is also clear that you should be aware of your situation before you set off for the land of the rising sun. This should be done through intercultural preparation, which of course also covers other important aspects. However, such preparation is the key to success, as many examples show. It also allows you to clarify the question of whether you really want to go there, because Japan is a different world and some people find it very difficult to adapt to it.
