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Cashing in on the time change
The possible power shortages caused by the March 11 earthquake could signal a shift in language, from “after five”–referring to personal time after the workday ends at 5 p.m.–to “after four” to reflect the new hours due to daylight saving time.
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Aloha shirts ok as Japan seeks to beat heat
“Up to now, Japanese had stereotypical habits of working from Monday to Friday, 9 to 5,” said Kou Iizawa, a manager at [KDDI]. “Though we have had this unfortunate incident, it is acting as a catalyst to change our work habits. I hope we will become as progressive as Western countries — and we should…
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Foreign refugees pitch in to help
Myo Myint Swe, a 42-year-old refugee from Myanmar, said that since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, he wanted to help those in the Tohoku region affected by the devastation.
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Chinese exodus hurts industries dependent on foreign trainees, interns
“If the expenses for (going to China to) recruit and train are added to their wages, Chinese interns now cost more than Japanese workers,” the president said. “I intend to do away with accepting interns over the next three to five years.”
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Japanese Workers Told To Dump Business Suits
Japanese workers have been told to swap starched suits for flimsy summer apparel so that offices can turn off their air conditioning systems amid concern over power shortages post-Fukushima. Known as Super Cool Biz, the radical dress code will be put in place in June in an effort to reduce electricity consumption by 15 percent…
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Summer Bonuses Going Up 4.17% At Big Firms
Summer bonuses at large companies are set to grow for a second straight year, according to the results of a first-round survey published Wednesday by the Japan Business Federation, or Nippon Keidanren. The average agreed-on bonus was up 4.17% from last year to 809,604 yen, reflecting the economic recovery up until the March 11 earthquake.…
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Muslims file suit over antiterror investigations
A group of 14 Muslims has filed suit against the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments, demanding 154 million yen in compensation for violations of privacy and religious freedom after police antiterrorism documents containing their personal information were leaked onto the Internet.
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New hot-weather office dress code OKs Hawaiian shirts, tees and jeans
During the campaign period that starts June 1, environment ministry employees can wear jeans (without holes), chinos, Hawaiian shirts and solid-color T-shirts to work. The ministry is urging the private sector to follow suit and avert a possible shortage of electricity in the Kanto region, which is serviced by the embattled Tokyo Electric Power Co.
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Media starting to tally the economic effects of foreigner flight
Common factors among companies whose foreign workers chose not to leave after the disaster, [can be] compiled mnemonically as A-B-C-D, which stand for “Accountability” (dispelling anxiety by working to keep the foreign staff informed); “Bonds” (building relationships that will make them want to stay); “Career” (making the acquisition of “knowledge” their motive for staying on…
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インドネシア人看護師、岩手での活動報告 姫路
日本との経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）に基づき来日、姫路赤十字病院（姫路市）で勤務するインドネシア人看護師、スワルティさん（３２）が、東日本大震災の被災地岩手県山田町での支援活動を終え９日、同病院で記者会見した。スワルティさんは「今後も支援できる方法を考えたい」と話した。