When he said that, it was as if my eyes were opened. Please let me know your thoughts in the comment section below. Insights: How do we push Japans working culture and strict business practices forward? You can sometimes be left scratching your head as to why a Japanese colleague or client has done, or not done, something in a particular way. But right away, the company started giving me assignments that I hated. This style of publication really took off in the 20th century when various laws forbidding its publication were lifted. This is one of the biggest reasons why I want to pick up Japanese language. People at work call each other by their job positions, while westerners use first names, or Mr . These days, there are many advocates for a more sustainable, flexible, and generally more balanced workplace culture in Japan. Advertisement. RECOMMENDED: Catch our article about Japanese etiquettes you must know here! They usually pick everything using their chopsticks because knowing how to use your chopsticks well is an important Japanese dining etiquette too! A General Overview of Singapore Work Culture. Singapore's workforce is multicultural with Chinese accounting for the most proportion. My boss is a very appreciative person though. (US Department of State, 2010) 3.1 Determinants of Japanese Culture Japanese office-workers tend to dress more formally than Americans. The famous Merlion overlooks Singapore's iconic Marina Bay Sands. Another interesting difference between French and Americans business meetings is that, in France, several consecutive meetings without any decisions being made. Leadership and management are different skills, but todays leaders must have both. Japanese working culture is notorious for rigidity, lack of transparency, and slow decision-making. Here, we round up 8 cultural differences that can perhaps reduce the culture shock you may face if you werent aware. Salarymen can only leave work once their managers leave, 3. Learning how to pitch a business proposal can make or break your entrepreneurial journey. For business and politics, English is the language of choice. Ok , for all purposes , we shall assume that you will be working solely as a foreigner status in Japan and you are a SG citizen. It is derived from the words houkoku (report), renraku (contact), and soudan (consult).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'sugoii_japan_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_17',194,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sugoii_japan_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); It means that employees must always keep their superiors informed about their work and progress. In Singapore, there are approximately 9.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. This means that the "We" is important, people belong to in-groups (families, clans or organisations) who look after each other in exchange for loyalty. Web design by Yu Sheng & Yu Siang. hierarchy. I think, for all of us, this is a world of connecting the dots. This method of micromanagement is ingrained in Japanese working culture and is further amplified by the focus on respect for seniority. The mentality that you will still get paid despite simply blending in with your colleagues means that most people wont feel the need to try and exceed in their role. Westerns are more casual in the office. While I can't say this is true for all Japanese companies, at many traditional Japanese firms, I observed the culture is such that it is better to be seen working (staying behind and working long hours), rather than actually getting work done but leaving on time. Insights: Tell us about what happened in your early career. Thus, you should show up early enough to make that possible. Work stability. But unlike many of my foreigner friends, I chose not to stay there and work, and came back to my home country, Singapore, almost immediately after my graduation. Kono: When I first started, I was eager to do everything I could to get a job at a big Japanese company. Consequently, they also respect other people's time, which makes them very punctual people. is the quality embedded in most Asian cultures that indicates a person's reputation, influence, dignity and honour. Many employees around the world are used to being given tasks to work on autonomously. This is partly a reflection of traditional Japanese culture and its many unspoken rules. Then I heard a speech by Yoshito Hori, the founder and president of GLOBIS University. In Singapore, it is more clinical. primary vs secondary teaching pay. However, within the Japanese workplace, most, if not all, decisions must come from an employees senior manager. Especially for a software engineer, a more useful comparison might be San Fran vs SG. Although most people feel like working in Japan is not the best, I do miss our special bonds between colleagues. Here we can also see the second key principle of the Confucian teaching: The family is the prototype of all social organizations. But globalization makes thing even tougher. They are one culture, and here is the story of how I survive in American culture. This develops trust and a true sense of connection so don't be in . Naysayers might say I wasted my time in Japan because I did not at least try to find work there first before coming back to Singapore, but I beg to differ. I had had a good career at IBM and was on the so-called elite course. But I wasnt feeling satisfied. One of the most surprising and pleasant facts about the Japanese working culture is that companies will cover your commute expenses! Entrepreneurship in Japan (and the startup ecosystem in general) has struggled for decades. And based on what I know about Japanese corporate culture, I believe Japanese firms also prefer to hire workers without a "gap" in their resumes in this case, this is defined as not working after graduating. Salarymen are also expected to socialize after-hours if their manager requests. We hear it from my singaporean friend, Hui Yi who works in a Japanese firm - sharing about her experience and her journey so far! Privacy policy. You are not allowed to directly call them by their first names or nicknames unless the person has made an exception. For starters, the market for hiring interns and experienced workers has grown significantly over the past twenty-five years. But globalization makes things even tougher. Singapore actually has the longest working hours in the world. December 15, 2019, 09:49 AM. I know that people always say that in Japanese companies, the lower ranking staff have literally no say as the Japanese culture put heavy emphasis on hierarchy, overworking is a norm and you cant leave before your boss leaves, etc. So much so, that sleeping or napping at work is considered acceptable! I hope my comics will help more foreigners to understand Japan and Japanese better, as well as to increase awareness and change how we behave. Be prepared to be branded as an antisocial person, or see your colleague who entered the company the same time as you get promoted quicker. Role: Started out from a Sales and Marketing executive position, currently working as Educational Consultant and Business Development Manager. | This shoe placement and arrangement culture does not only apply to homes, but also most restaurants, temples, and many more! Japanese companies in Singapore tend to resemble Japanese operations far more than Singaporean operations, and vice-versa. It really enriched my careermore than that, it encouraged me to use my career to help change Japanese working culture. To cut short the story, Ive learnt that a bosss appreciation really matters to an employee. The Swedes believe that taking breaks seeds productivity, which is why they take coffee breaks, or fika, very seriously. Because ultimately, as with life in general, no one is going to be responsible for you other than yourself. The OECD estimates that on average . Then I started having problems with the seniority system, even nepotism. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'sugoii_japan_com-box-3','ezslot_2',180,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sugoii_japan_com-box-3-0');The Japanese working culture is notorious for being rigid, hierarchical, and overwhelmingly traditional. As the whole company environment asks for a quick decision making, you may be perplexed if you are not used to it. Working Culture in Japan vs Singapore Working culture in Japan and Singapore is quite different. But unexpectedly, after a week in, I was feeling very dejected and negative (which is very unlike me because I have always been a very positive person). However, I was working way too long. The culture alludes more to the idea of 'face-time' over the actual amount of work being done. Their usual work shift is for 8 hours a day. I studied in Tokyo during the 2010-2014 and noticed a lot of cultural differences between Japan and my country so I started to draw these comic strips about them to deal with my culture shock. Advertise with us We're going to focus on ethnic makeup. First, promote career education. These checks can and will likely include the full range of health checks including hearing, eyesight, blood pressure, and blood and ECG tests. So yes, Japanese corporate culture can be pretty harsh, so much so that theres a saying that goes, If youre able to survive working in Japan, youre able to work anywhere else in the world. Its been noted through a survey that Japanese workers only take roughly half of their vacation days! These cultural themes bring about unwritten cultural rules and regulations that govern the way Singaporeans act in a place - and in this case, your workplace. Then he dedicated his career as a human resources professional to influencing the Japanese labor market (and Japanese working culture in general) for the better. Christmas Feast in Singapore vs Christmas KFC in Japan. After entering the office in the morning, you will have to say Ohaiyo Gozaimaz loudly, which translates to good morning. Hierarchy. of years in a Japanese company: 1 year and 8 months as of today. The job-hunting process, or shuukatsu, is something that university students in Japan start as soon as they are in their third year. Another core concept underpinning Singaporean culture is that of. Listen to Japanese brain scientist Ken Mogi explain why and how. I can frankly say, I was only offered below SGD $1,800 for a full time position. Were not all the way there yet, but these are significant improvements. Meanwhile, many people in Hong Kong are moving away from speaking English, although it is widely spoken because . Addressing your boss, colleagues, and clients, you need to add a san at the back. And the more senior you are, the later you reach work. These comic strips were selected from over 300 of them that . Kono: Well, after graduating university, I fully expected to enter the Japanese workforce the usual way. That means they value ideas such as creativity and personal goals. Don't mess it up. Based on the above, you can tell that the Japanese people tend to have extreme devotion to their workplace, contributing to their team, and pleasing their managers. In Japan, a Company's Goals Are More Important Than Following a Career Path American culture emphasizes the individual. Attaining F.I.R.E (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in Japan? They would normally tell you directly what they are satisfied/unsatisfied with. Do not chuck them into your wallet, pockets, or bags immediately after you receive them because it will be deemed as disrespectful or that the person is of no importance to you! Whilst this practice would definitely be frowned upon within other workplace cultures, its actually celebrated in Japan. This has created a unique environment where urban designs meet nature and allow for a healthier and less polluted megalopolis to function. Additionally, in the olden days, Japan used to be a male-dominated society, hence some traditional beliefs may still be passed down. But I still went ahead and accepted the offer because I was really interested to gain experience in the industry. Traditional working hours in the US are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. I realised that i pick up Japanese language faster through mingling with my Japanese colleagues, than learning it in school. Now, most Japanese wives will raise and take care of their infant kids until the age of 2 or 3 before they send them to a preschool and commit to a job. Companies prefer to achieve results through the collective efforts of employees and emphasise collaboration and teamwork. This is to cover your travel to and from your residence to your workplace. Effort and merit are not particularly celebrated or acknowledged. This means, for example, if your work shift starts at 9:00 you should be in the office, at your desk with your computer on at 9:00. Dress code About Contact Follow Contribute. Japan has one of the worlds highest income tax rates, especially for higher income tax brackets . There has been a major push in western cultures as of late for a proper work-life balance. 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