New Japanese Employees
On the morning of April 1st, trains bound for Tokyo were unusually crowded with young men and women wearing brand new business suits. They were new employees who were starting work with companies after graduating from school. They are supposed to be fresh, active, and individualistic. However, they were actually very quite and looked nervous.
Characteristics of New Employees – High Corporate Dependence with Low Corporate Loyalty
“New employees this year seem to need a great deal of care. Companies should take care of their new employees as if polishing the ice to slide a heavy stone towards the target in the game of curling.” This is how the Japan Productivity Center for Socio-Economic Development characterized new employees in Japan this year.
Even if companies take a great deal of care, new employees are unlikely to respond with high corporate loyalty. “I will work for the company for a while. But I will change my job as soon as I find a better position outside”, a new employee said. “I do not plan to work just for this company for my entire life.”
More care than is needed?
Even if a company offers new employees a lot of training and benefits, the new employees may leave the company anyway when they find better working conditions elsewhere. So, why should companies take great care of new employees when they may just leave the company after receiving training? Well, Japanese companies may just stop offering new employees such training and benefits. As the old saying goes: “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
April 11 2008 08:41 am | Culture and Weekly Articles
