The Japanese words “Otsuboné” for women and “Rojyu” for men is used for someone in the office who has long years of service and have good internal connections but has a largely negative influence on morale in the office. When I speak to CEOs and Managing Directors of Japanese organisations in Europe about the frequent existence of “Otsuboné” and “Rojyu” and the problematic nature of them, they are delighted to discuss it.
Last week, I read The Time’s interview with Anne-Marie Slaughter, a US public policy expert. In 2009, she became the first female Director of Policy Planning under then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and she travelled every weekend between Washington and Princeton, where her husband took care of their two sons during the week.
Today’s “FT poll of polls” shows 44% each for both Remain and Leave. Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, is so concerned regarding the outcome of this referendum that he started his own Remain campaign yesterday, only three days before the vote. In the meantime, Vote Leave broadcasts TV ads saying the EU contribution money is a waste and it is necessary to take it back for building a better NHS. The panic and scaremongering of the last few days is deja vu from the Scottish referendum in 2014.
The Project Company has contributed an article to the magazine issued by the world’s largest HR service firm Adecco Group’s Japanese arm for their clients.
Many Japanese may have an impression of greater gender equality at work in the UK. However, the reality is far away from what the UK government wants and it has been working hard to achieve better equality, quickly.
There were some changes in employment legislation from October: an introduction of Modern Slavery Act, the usual rate increase of National Minimum Wage, extended safety helmet exemption for Sikhs, smoking ban in a car, and an Equality Act provision.
The great festive atmosphere continues as the Rugby World Cup (RWC) games are held at stadiums throughout the UK. I went to watch the Japan v Scotland game in Gloucester last Wednesday and the train we took was packed with Japanese fans who had flown from Japan for the tournament.
I soon noticed that Japanese packaging technology is advanced after I arrived in the UK. Packaging does not refer only to the appearance, but it is also an important part of consumer experience of the product.
According to a CIPD survey published this year, the most important behaviours of line managers are perceived by employees to be…
High-tech toilet and bath in Japan are brilliant. I endured a cold toilet seat in winter in London for years and I had had enough. I recently bought a toilet seat cover in Japan.
Our clients include large Japanese companies and governmental organisations but their operation in the UK is often small. And at the head of the organisations are Japanese expatriates who are, in most cases, new to HR. They often want to concentrate on compliance with employment legislation.
Recently in the UK, shared parental leave was introduced for mothers and adopters, whose babies were due or children placed for adoption on or after 5 April of this year.
This morning, I had the rare opportunity of attending a breakfast event with Ms Haruno Yoshida, President of BT Japan and the first female and youngest executive of the Japanese business association “Keidanren”.
The obesity rate in the UK is very high, compared with other European countries and is increasing.
Some important changes in employment legislation in England & Wales are to be applied in April 2015.