Please go home…

Japan is a country of the hardworking. True or not? Read some of the following experiences I had and decide for yourself.

• Everyday at 5:20 PM the office loudspeakers at the major research institute I am visiting, announces first in Japanese and then in English:”This is an announcement from the department for human resources. Please finish your work and go home now, unless you have work that needs to be completed today.” [Needless to add that people work on.]

• How was your weekend? My Japanese colleague, who has quite a bit of self-irony, replies: weekend? I was working. But I was not alone.

• What is a “5 days holiday”? You will be off from work on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

By the way, foreigners usually have a big bonus: you can be a little bit lazy and leave earlier. Anyway, if you are interested to read more about working life in Japan, read this wonderful article http://www.stippy.com/