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The Japanese (and Korean) work culture, or at least the external perception thereof is the biggest factor that turns me and others off. Who wants to work most o
by mnm1 8y ago
The Japanese (and Korean) work culture, or at least the external perception thereof is the biggest factor that turns me and others off. Who wants to work most of their life and put in twelve or more hours a day six days a week or more? It's worse than America which is already quite bad and off-putting. I don't know what it is about hard work that people have fetishised, but it's not all that it's cut out to be and frankly, if one doesn't have to work that hard, working that hard is stupid. Not to mention unhealthy. Doing it for low pay borders on insanity or disease. Workaholism is no different than alcoholism at its core. Both are extremely destructive. Well at least with the former, there will hopefully be money to pay one's medical and early funeral bills.
- lifthrasiir 8y agoYou are generally right, but in the tech sector the work culture is highly variable---I'm saying this as a native Korean having worked for Korean tech companies for a decade, and I have heard similar accounts for Japan. South Korea also enjoys a universal healthcare for everyone; there are mandatory healthcare plans for long-term foreigners as well AFAIK. They do generally have lower tolerance on diversity issues (even while the workplace can be much better, the society is not), so that's something to keep in mind.
- TulliusCicero 8y agoHealthcare is a big issue in America for the poor and working class, for white collar professionals it generally isn't nearly as much.
- mr_overalls 8y agoI'm curious if the work culture differs outside of large cities like Tokyo, Yokohama, etc.?
- astonex 8y agoNew law in Korea means workers are limited to 40 hours a week now, with maximum 12 hours overtime at 150% pay. I work at Korea's biggest tech company and the law is strictly followed.