June 3, 2010
Dictum
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2010 The Tokyo-based labor organization 21 Seiki Shokugyo Zaidan (a.k.a. the Japan Institute of Worker’s Evolution) is dedicated to “improv[ing] the welfare of female workers, workers who care for children or family members, and part-time workers.” Toward that end, the group has produced a file folder to remind big […]
By Metropolis
Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2010
The Tokyo-based labor organization 21 Seiki Shokugyo Zaidan (a.k.a. the Japan Institute of Worker’s Evolution) is dedicated to “improv[ing] the welfare of female workers, workers who care for children or family members, and part-time workers.” Toward that end, the group has produced a file folder to remind big shots around the office of the dangers of “power harassment.”
¥250 each. For more info about the JIWE, see www.jiwe.or.jp (Japanese & English); to order the folder, see www.order-jiwe.jp/book_list.php (Japanese)
 Stop accusing employees of being a “wage thief,” i.e., “You’re nothing but a thief eating away at our company money” |  Stop being a ''monster boss''—getting emotional and yelling, kicking garbage cans, slamming tables and throwing chairs |  Stop public lashings; don’t impugn an employee’s character in front of everyone |
 Stop threats, i.e., ''I’ll destroy your career if you don’t obey my order'' |  Stop the silent treatment; don’t order your team to ignore a particular member |  Stop ''lecture-calling''—ringing employees on weekends to criticize them about their mistakes |
 Stop the ''excess quota''; don’t give employees impossible amounts of work and then accuse them of poor performance |  Stop enforcing private outings—requiring employees to join karaoke, golfing and other activities unrelated to their job |  Stop ignoring cries for help: it’s the company’s responsibility to listen to power harassment claims |
