hide 0 Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 In my office, most people work much later than the official finish work time. It is frustrating and stupid in my opinion, and no-one wants to go back home first every day. I am sure not like this outside of Japan. I want to know how for foreign workers do with this working in Japan - do same or just go early?! thanks, hide Link to post Share on other sites
danz 0 Posted May 28, 2003 Share Posted May 28, 2003 I hate it to hide! I try and compromise...I usually stay in at work about 10hrs (today I am already up to 12 )...I can't handle more than that...start to go mad... my coworkers are machines...freaks...12-15hrs day in day out...what gets me the most is the ones with wife and kids...why??? or the younger ones...why oh why?? life is not all about work... all work and no play makes jack a dull boy danz Link to post Share on other sites
miteyak 0 Posted May 29, 2003 Share Posted May 29, 2003 Often work OT, but then I get paid by the hour, so not an issue with me. Pretty relaxed here for Japan. Personally, I wouldn't stay for free. For me, to work for no money is to undervalue oneself, smacks of inefficiency and reflects a low regard for you by the company. I do have solo projects which make it easier to go when I want though. I'm not letting anyone down if I leave early, and receive no help when i'm pushing 12 hour days in return. I like it that way. For those of you who stay, are the rewards worth it? Would you get sacked if you didn't? Is it just pride/fear that keeps you working so late? Wouldn't going home 4 hours early be worth the cold shoulder? Link to post Share on other sites
Stefan 0 Posted May 29, 2003 Share Posted May 29, 2003 The Mediterrians have got the right idea, have a seiesta at about 3 o'clock! Link to post Share on other sites
snowboard_freak 0 Posted May 29, 2003 Share Posted May 29, 2003 If i'm not getting paid then i'm not there. Simple as that. I work to get money and value my free time so theres no way i'd spend time at work if i'm not getting paid. To hell with that! Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted May 29, 2003 Share Posted May 29, 2003 Different environment here though, SF, but I agree of course. I tend to try to fall somewhere balanced, something I can accept. Link to post Share on other sites
enderzero 0 Posted May 29, 2003 Share Posted May 29, 2003 Hide - you asked about outside of Japan. In America it depends on your job. If you work for a technology company, for example, you may be asked or even expected to put in long overtime hours when a project is nearing completion or is behind. Chances are you won't be paid for those hours. I have heard that in professions such as Law and Banking/Finance you are expected to work very long hours when you first start to earn your place. But overall I would say that the attitude of not wanting to be the first one to go home is not prevalant. The average Joe pretty much leaves when the day is over without feeling too guilty. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted May 29, 2003 Share Posted May 29, 2003 I work later than I probably would back home, but to me it is part of the deal. I know people who go back right on the bell, so to speak - but many of those people aren't going to get very far in Japan with that kind of attitude. (They probably don't want to or don't care, which is cool too ) Link to post Share on other sites
wendy-cake 0 Posted May 29, 2003 Share Posted May 29, 2003 Even if I work an hour past my official end of the day, I am 95% of the time STILL the first person to leave the office. Link to post Share on other sites
rach 1 Posted May 29, 2003 Share Posted May 29, 2003 It constantly amazes me how much (more accurately, how LONG - time wise) many of my co-workers work. They are way from efficient at what they do, but put so many hours in. I often think they stay just so that they can be seen to stay, and so be seen to be "working hard". I wonder if this concept is changing slowly? Are people actually realising that working a long time does not necessarily mean working hard or efficiently? Link to post Share on other sites
LARD 0 Posted June 10, 2003 Share Posted June 10, 2003 The last school I worked at teachers were often in the teachers room still at 8pm. Some of them just watching TV (er, why don't you go home?) and some of them actually working. Link to post Share on other sites
jared 0 Posted June 10, 2003 Share Posted June 10, 2003 when I was a uni a man told us that when you work more that 36 hours a week, the work you do in the extra hours is done half as efficiently as the first 36 hours. The more you work the less efficient you become until at around 50 or 60 hours (cant remember which) you start to loose ground and the work you do at this stage will require more work in the future to fix the crap you are producing. Link to post Share on other sites
IceEiji 0 Posted June 10, 2003 Share Posted June 10, 2003 Good one. I usually finish my work around 7pm in day, its tiring. Link to post Share on other sites
powwwers 0 Posted June 10, 2003 Share Posted June 10, 2003 personnally don`t have a problem working more than what my contract hours stipulate. especially if i`ve got no plans. i sometimes even make a point of working MORE hours, bcos i often ask for time off. i.e. winter breaks so i can go to hokkers. and they`ve neva said `no`. usually i`m not even doin anythin, i`m just there, so it looks way good when i hand me reports in. "what ya loose on tha monkey bars, ya make up on tha swings" Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted June 11, 2003 Share Posted June 11, 2003 I suppose I work faily late quite often too - but even if I do I am still the first to leave Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted June 13, 2003 Share Posted June 13, 2003 Thats a problem, even if you work late you're often still the first to go - so not much gained. Link to post Share on other sites
viv&kev 0 Posted June 19, 2003 Share Posted June 19, 2003 I've actually been having to work late quite a bit recently and it sucks especially as they are not putting on the aircon yet. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 That period between needing the aircon and the date when the aircon goes on (as decided by the company) is always a pain. Same goes for hearing when it starts to get cold too. Link to post Share on other sites
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