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Re:Bitterness, Anger And Betrayal At MySpace by cletus on Tuesday January 11, 2011 @11:01PM (#2094881)
I'm not sure to the degree it's still true but it was once true that in Japan a job was essentially for life. Not only did the employee have loyalty to the company but that loyalty was reciprocated.

Like I said, it's probably not quite as much as once was but there is no doubt remnants of that still there.

Chris Dixon eloquently articulated the types of work relationships that exist more commonly in the developed world. Broadly, there is the transactional view (as per Jack Welch) or the collective view (eg a startup where you have some equity stake in the company).

See http://cdixon.org/2009/10/23/twelve-months-notice/

Re:Bitterness, Anger And Betrayal At MySpace by cdavid on Tuesday January 11, 2011 @11:47PM (#2095015)
The culture is still there, although it depends a lot of the companies - corporate culture takes a whole new dimension in Japan, and someone working in Sony or Panasonic could as well work in different countries.

To give an example of what companies expect from people (told first hand from people I know personally, or even witnessed myself): you may be asked to work overseas (which most Japanese hate) in a matter of days. That is, the company will tell you: could you please work overseas for one year starting next week ? You can say no, once, if you don't mind having no career in the company. Worse, I have seen the situation where people were given that deal, to be said the day of the depart that no, they won't be needed overseas overall. Note that those people often have wife, children, etc...

Re:Bitterness, Anger And Betrayal At MySpace by patio11 on Tuesday January 11, 2011 @11:53PM (#2095032)
単身赴任 (tanshin funin): To send a corporate employee on a long-term stay at another location unaccompanied by his wife or children. If your language doesn't have a word for this, be glad.
Re:Bitterness, Anger And Betrayal At MySpace by cdavid on Wednesday January 12, 2011 @12:15AM (#2095091)
I did not know the Japanese expression, thanks.