The government is trying to address labor shortage by coaxing more companies to adopt four-day workweeks.

Japan, a nation so hardworking its language has a term for literally working oneself to death, is trying to address a worrisome labor shortage by coaxing more people and companies to adopt four-day workweeks.

The Japanese government first expressed support for a shorter working week in 2021, after lawmakers endorsed the idea. The concept has been slow to catch on, however; about 8% of companies in Japan allow employees to take three or more days off per week, while 7% give their workers the legally mandated one day off, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Hoping to produce more takers, especially among small and medium-sized businesses, the government launched a “work style reform” campaign that promotes shorter hours and other flexible arrangements along with overtime limits and paid annual leave. The labor ministry recently started offering free consulting, grants and a growing library of success stories as further motivation.

“By realizing a society in which workers can choose from a variety of working styles based on their circumstances, we aim to create a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution and enable each and every worker to have a better outlook for the future,” states a ministry website about the “hatarakikata kaikaku” campaign, which translates to “innovating how we work.”

    • ipkpjersi@lemmy.mlEnglish
      0·
      18 days ago

      If I had to guess, it’s probably because the entities in charge of these changes are very old and very stuck in their ways.

      • Sylvartas@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        18 days ago

        So-called risks taking executives/business people when they could take a risk to benefit their employees without hurting their bottom line (and possibly even increasing it):

  • GratefullyGodless@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    18 days ago

    Well, that would be one way to encourage young folks to have more babies and turn around Japans low birth rate. More time to actually spend in relationships with someone other than your coworkers would be a good step in the right direction.

  • GiddyGap@lemm.eeEnglish
    4·
    17 days ago

    Having lived and worked for many years in both Europe and the US, the US has the absolute worst work-life balance and labor regulations I’ve ever experienced in my life. Japan makes the US look like a kindergarten.

  • fubarx@lemmy.mlEnglish
    2·
    18 days ago

    Was listening to an interview with NY Governor on imposing cell phone ban in schools. Said if they left it to individual schools or school districts, there would be lots of pressure from parents or individual groups not to do it and the whole thing would fail. And if they made it voluntary, some kids would comply, but there would be social pressure to keep things as-is, due to FOMO.

    Instead, the government would pass a uniform, mandatory law and take the heat.

    Seems like that’s what will be needed to change everyone to a 4x8 week. Similar dynamic. Do, not ask.

    • SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      18 days ago

      That sounds like classic Game Theory. Nobody’s going to do it because it a few don’t they have an advantage, except when it’s forced from above changing the playing field.

      • MutilationWave@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        18 days ago

        People in the UK were strongly against universal healthcare until it was forced on them. Now I dare someone to campaign on abolishing the NHS.

  • alvvayson@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    18 days ago

    It always surprised me that the country that pioneered Lean production techniques has always had such an enormous waste of labour resources in their office culture.

    They have one of the lowest GDP per hour worked of all Industrial nations.

    Italy, Spain and Germany have way higher labour productivity, while even Turkey edges out Japan.

  • jjjalljs@ttrpg.networkEnglish
    1·
    17 days ago

    Sometimes cultures have really toxic ideas on them. Probably all cultures have something. Like in the US there’s a lot of “the only emotion men are allowed is anger”, for example.

    How do you fix that? Is there a general solution? Because sometimes it’s like enforced by the very people it’s harming.

    But it’s all social. Made up. It’s not like physics. We can’t all decide that acceleration due to gravity on earth is now a nice round 10 m/s². But we could just decide working long hours is bullshit.

  • 2ugly2live@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    18 days ago

    But will they feel safe to use it? I feel like they tried this with time off, but workers felt like they couldn’t use it without repercussions to their career and work social life.

    • MutilationWave@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      18 days ago

      It’s like those jobs with “unlimited” PTO in the US. Yeah go ahead and use it all you want then see if you ever get a raise or even how long you last. I’m sure some companies do it right but I think it’s a trap.

      • hydrospanner@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        18 days ago

        Most jobs like that, or really any pay scheme other than piece work or an hourly wage usually has the process of:

        1. You can take as much PTO as you like.
        2. You can take as much PTO as you like…provided you get all your work done.
        3. You work like a dog, get all your work done, and take time off.
        4. Since you were able to get everything done and have time left over to not work, your boss increases your workload, so now you have to work like a dog, all the time, or else you’ll never get everything done.

        It’s like playing chess, and while the other player can’t change the rules as they go, but a condition for playing with them is that they get two moves every turn.