American Work Culture That's SHOCKING To Japanese People

This is Japan vs. the USA I guess
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[@alphus4605]

As an american weeb, Rasengan-ing clients increases productivity in the business with substantial growth within the organization. Chakra being one of the key components in showing how strong the business is. RASENGAN

[@sorathetroll]

What dimension are you from

[@Mendrawza24]

​@@sorathetrollfrom the village hidden in the weebs

[@MostlyAlone]

Promote Rasengan... Like a BOSS. Harness Chakra... Like a BOSS.

[@deenzmartin6695]

STRONG RASENGAN IS NECESSARY TO BE A RAINMAKER

[@Retro_Jet]

@@sorathetrollRasengan!

[@_remblanc]

It is indeed shocking that Americans aren’t taught essential skills like Rasengan at their workplace

[@thegibberishman3797]

I know! I wonder how Sora learned it.

[@EzraM5]

I wish we could learn how to Rasengan here...

[@TheStig505]

I Rasengan'd my boss the other day, he called me a f-slur and get back to work. American work culture isn't what it cracked up to be.

[@Kingdom_Of_Dreams]

I had to google what Rasengan is and I laughed 😂

[@dnplbotoy]

It's Japanese who aren't taught Rasengan. Watch the video

[@Norm-R]

People in the US used to work their entire life for one company, but then companies stopped taking care of workers in favor of higher profits so a lot of workers also decided to be less loyal for more money in their pockets as well. The movie Office Space was a very real time in this country where consultants would routinely be brought in basically just to fire people and save the company money. That was pretty much the end of company loyalty in the US.

[@ermixonscraziesttheories]

Even in those days people would frequently change jobs for more money. There was that practice of headhunting, where rival companies would offer more money to steal away the best workers. It's just that now, with things like LinkedIn, it is no longer a big decision to start looking for a better job. You are less likely to be called out and get into trouble for doing it. It's something people do casually.

[@kevinerbs2778]

@@ermixonscraziesttheories I would never use social media to find a job.

[@thepsychicspoon5984]

​@kevinerbs2778 Well unfortunately, this is increasingly becoming the norm. My current job and my previous one, online applications only. They were not beginning level jobs, these are mid level good paying ones. Companies are increasingly doing this to save money on paper, and to make hiring easier.

[@choojooo8531]

This is true. I get laid off so many times that you realise companies don't care about you, so why should we?

[@rimun5235]

@@kevinerbs2778 I got my job through linkedin... I'm never on it except for when I need to change jobs.

[@Cavouku]

Canadian here, close enough: the overall culture of hierarchies and "polite" conduct has been falling out of fashion for a few decades, to the extent where it can be seen as rude to use it. It's almost like saying "Treating me so formally when I'd obviously rather you be friendly is a sign that you don't actually respect me or what I want". If you're at the management level where you interact with employees, excessive formality can drive people to leave unless the job is otherwise excellent. In short: friendliness is generally far more valuable to people than politeness, to the extent that sacrificing friendliness for politeness wraps back around to being rude.

[@trashyraccoon2615]

You’re correct. I’ve had bosses and coworkers get mad when I call them “Sir”. Seems so silly to me but whatever. Nothing wrong with being a little polite

[@bloodynessie1]

@Cavouku Does that apply to French Canadians as well? I work with a-lot of them remotely.

[@clxwncrxwn]

​@bloodynessie1 the French-Canadians are aholes no matter where you are. 😂, just to be clear im not joking about that, french canadians are hated by the rest of canada, and technically they may call themselves french but true french(from france) dont even speak the same french as those losers from Quebec.

[@marie-michellefortier2993]

​@@bloodynessie1Yes, this also applies to French Canadians. :)

[@bloodynessie1]

Thank you! 🙏

[@Crabbattles]

Workplace romance is definitely a tricky subject. Putting the company aside, if that relationship goes south in a very bad way, well, you still gotta work with that person the next day. Actual company policies usually apply if somebody in a higher position starts dating somebody in a lower position. That tends to be a big no-no.

[@Mortablunt]

I personally have a policy to not date in the workplace. And it has absolutely never gone wrong. I am one of those people who can date somebody have sex with somebody and then go back to a normal just friends or colleague relationship, but a lot of people are unable to do so. As a result, I advise, do not engage.

[@n8pls543]

That's also just an ethics issue -- having a position of authority over an employee makes it far too easy for a "workplace relationship" to really be a coercive thing.

[@50hzlegend56]

In Australia we're somewhere in the middle, we have laws around the topic. On one hand there are strict laws around hierarchy and positions of authority, but on the other hand it is illegal for a company to have policies against dating a co-worker

[@xTBCGx]

High risk, medium reward 😂

[@GeebusCrust]

​@@50hzlegend56I think that's largely how it is in America too. Lots of companies will try and discourage dating a colleague, and many people see the potential complications it can cause, but it's not a legal issue unless you start dating an underling. Also, not sure if there's a law involved, but most companies won't allow spouses to work in the same department, especially if one of them is a manager over the other. It just causes complications.

[@cloudsn]

I think a huge difference is the perception of office jobs. It seems like in Japan the ultimate goal is to get a job in an office and become a "company man." Generally people here in the USA have a more negative view of that sort of work. You could be called a drone, a pencil pusher, a corporate suit, etc. There's some companies that are really in demand, but there's absolutely no security at any of them, so people move around a lot.

[@SquidsMackenzie]

To add to what you're saying, many people find themselves working places where they'll never be able to get promoted no matter how hard they work. Some toady will get the job, or the boss has some nephew or whatever who is going to an Ivy league school and will be given the job you've been working for years to get (this scenario is literally a trope used in tons of media). My point being that sometimes job hopping is literally the only way to start making enough money to buy a house/ afford a lifestyle many would consider "more adult", etc. It's pretty common for people to have to choose between spending their life paycheck to paycheck or job-hopping. Even if someone WANTED to stay with one company, they don't always have the choice.

[@kgoblin5084]

OK, so the general perception around office jobs just isn't true... most viable long term careers in the USA involve being in an office. Alternatives exist of course, but they are either limited (eg. lab work - assuming you aren't also counting that as 'office'), or in some cases like factory work are in active decline, & are in said decline due to outright cultural stigma (factory worker parents wanted their kids to do better & sent them to college so they could get an office job) Yes, SOME folks actively hate the office-career lifestyle, & look down upon it, but they are NOT the majority opinion. And in a lot of cases the white-collar crowd looks down on the blue in reverse as well. Also, the true American 'corporate suit' class is also famously mercenary... loyalty is simply not valued compared to ambition.

[@cloudsn]

@@kgoblin5084 Well, the USA is huge and varied, so maybe you hang out with different people than I do. The *perception* of the basic office job is mainly negative to the people I'm around. Even if they work an office job. I don't know a single person who would say that their professional goal is to work an office job their whole life. I'm not arguing that office work can bring good money, but that highly depends on the field. I'm just saying that in Japan it seems like office work is some sort of dream job.

[@laurie7689]

@@cloudsn I have to agree that office work has a negative stigma around where I live (in the South), too.

[@sinjinreed2091]

The company man (or "organization man") _was_ an ideal in the 50s, but started to falls by the tail end of the 80s because the ever-loyal organization man cannot eventually become a manager or an expert due to the stagnation that this culture incentivizes. Therefore, especially for a defense contractor, the only recourse is to trim the fat and get rid of the overpaid underskilled organization men. These professional handicaps became even more limiting as corporate culture in the 1980s shifted away from cradle-to-the-grave security to an obsession with removing inefficient employees and cumbersome management systems in the name of the bottom line. Corporations like General Electric implemented "vitality curves" where 10% of the employees would be fired based on performance. Many industrial firms also began outsourcing their production to countries with lax labor laws. Corporate mergers and acquisitions were also becoming more and more common. The combination of cutthroat hiring policies, outsourcing, and corporate mergers meant many employees, especially those seen as too old and highly paid, were fired as liabilities and replaced with younger workers willing to do more work for less. Many employees who expected to retire with a pension could not collect one, further damaging their long-time prospects. Furthermore, only a handful of positions, or even only one, on their resume meant they would be seen as being underqualified for any job they applied for.

[@facecat1]

About #3, part of the reason it's so common to change jobs for better pay is that employers can fire someone or lay them off for any reason. There's very little job security here even if someone has been with a company for years, so there's incentive to always keep our options open and be prepared to change jobs at a moment's notice

[@LilChuunosuke]

Exactly. Its also a very new tradition as well. A lot of our grandparents worked the same jobs for decades or only ever had one employer for their entire lives. But current generations face higher workloads, lower pay, less benefits, higher risk of being let go, etc etc. Our employers have stopped being loyal to us so I have stopped being loyal in turn.

[@devinaschenbrenner2683]

Americans want to feel appreciated and valued at work. Basically, If you want me to give a shit about you and your needs, you need to give a shit about me and mine too.

[@Grandleon]

Not to mention that most companies in the US do not hire from within. To move your career forward you have to be looking elsewhere.

[@KsCookingCorner]

I wonder if japanese companies take care of their employees. Good wages, benefits, and retirement. If not, I dont see why they would stay at one company.

[@Pragabond]

@@KsCookingCorner I don't think they do I think there's just far more pressure to settle into a job. As in if you job hop or don't show loyalty that's viewed as far more damaging to your odds of getting hired than it would be in the US.

[@RanDom-II]

The biggest everyday difference I find is that calling a client by their name or in a greeting is considered extra good manners since you recognize them as a unique individual and therefore special to your business. It's the opposite in Japan and is actually rude, most Japanese learners don't know this until someone tells them.

[@IERServer]

Thanks for clarifying it's _most_ Japanese learners. I've been studying Japanese for years and a general consensus I reached is that lowering yourself (i. e. using the humble and, specially, the honorific languages) is key in Japan when talking to people you don't know much about/strangers, like clients or your boss. In other words, clients are "above" employees, hierarchically speaking. That's why, for example, employees at a store will immediately use the honorific language to anyone who enters the store (clients).

[@IERServer]

This topic reminds me of my first language, Spanish, and how it works similar to Japanese regarding language usage. You see, we have "informal you" (tú, vos, depending on the country), and a "formal you" (usted, used in every Spanish-speaking country). Both of these pronouns have their own verb conjugations, just like in humble/honorific Japanese... in fact, you could say "informal you" is similar to "informal Japanese (だ)", whereas "formal you" is like a combination of honorific/humble Japanese, depending on the speaker's perspective of themself with respect to their listener/interlocutor. Basically, if you're a well-educated and polite person (i. e. knowing what respect is all about), you'll never EVER use "informal you" verbs with and always call your clients "Mr./Ms. Last Name". There's only one right way to enter into a more casual manner of speaking with your interlocutor, and that is by asking "Puedo tutearle?" which basically means "Can I treat you informally?". Some people (usually older people or top managers) will say "No." and consider the gap between you and them necessary. If they say "Yes, (of course!)", however, then welcome, you can now talk to them almost like you would with any of your friends and family lol. Language do define how cultures work, in the end.

[@quoccuongtran724]

learning this fact as a vietnamese feels hilarious, consider here, a client would always be called by their given name (first name), while the full name is only addressed very few times and it would be rude to repeat calling their full name on the other hand, the avoidance of family name/surname is for good reason: 1 in 3 vietnamese has the surname of Nguyễn, so it would be awkward to call your client Mr./Mrs./Ms. Nguyễn when your surname is also Nguyễn; not only this name, but other surnames like Trần, Lê, Đỗ,... are also common too (mine surname is Trần)

[@joshlemagne]

We actually have that in English too. You might have heard "thee" or "thou" in a Shakespeare play, for example. It's just that it fell out of usage over time. Oddly enough what we lost was the informal forms which is the opposite of what you'd expect. Probably because a lot of immigrants to the US and England only interacted with English speakers in fairly formal settings and never learned the informal forms so they eventually died out. @@IERServer

[@ibm30rpg]

It's more like calling people on a first name basis. Even the British do last names initially.

[@adamperdue3178]

The whole 'being casual with clients' thing is mostly because people want to talk to an actual person, rather than a machine. Automated customer service is very common, so the easiest way to express that you aren't a machine is by being casual with them, because it's harder to fake. So by being casual, you're going out of your way to show your client that they're getting personalized service.

[@GremoriaParadise]

if u do it to like Japanese people , they feel creep out. i know i still do

[@adamperdue3178]

@@GremoriaParadise There's a lot of cultural differences between the USA and Japan. It's a lot more acceptable to talk to strangers here, which as far as I'm aware is a social taboo in Japan (and in many other places as well) so it doesn't feel too strange to talk to clients as if you knew them. I personally find it very pleasant but I can see how others wouldn't like it.

[@deserttortoise2227]

That's not what happened. Sometime in the 1970's rich boomers decided that it was fashionable to pretend that class distinctions didn't exist anymore (they still do). They gradually started dropping traditional signs of wealth like formal clothes and aristocratic accents, although if you know what to look for you can still tell. They like to pretend that the employee is just a friend doing a favor instead of what they really are a servant performing a task.

[@broEye1]

In my experience, while we do have "parties" during work hours, the term "party" is kind of a major overstatement. Generally we'd gather, offer best wishes, eat a slice of cake, then head back to work in very little time. Workplace romance is also a case-by-case thing. There are places where it's not really a big deal, and places where employers will strongly discourage it, especially within the same department. Part of the problem, I think, is how easily attempts at flirtation can come across as harassment, especially in an environment like the workplace.

[@solracer66]

@@pistachioracle Dating someone you work with at a small company or in your department at a large company just isn't a good idea. However when your company is as big as say Amazon is you would severely limit your dating prospects. In my city we have three large companies with over 50,000 employees each so it's almost inevitable you'll meet someone who works at the same company. Thank god I am out of the dating pool!

[@solitarelee6200]

I was looking for this comment, I was like, the fundamental misunderstanding here is with the word "party." It means someone brought cake to the snack room and during an already-scheduled (or if you're lucky, extra) 10 minute break, you can snag a slice.

[@pikachuattack542]

How can flirtation come across as harassment?

[@solracer66]

@@pikachuattack542 It's all in the eye of the beholder and that's what makes it difficult to know what is acceptable and what isn't (assuming you're not a creep of course) so the best rule of thumb is don't ever go there. Besides even if the flirtation is acceptable to both parties often it isn't to management and they can be quick to jump in and fire one or both parties even if nothing wrong occurred.

[@Lumilan]

Every job I have had holds "going away" parties for people leaving the job, it's usually on Fridays at lunch time. You hang out at the restaurant for an hour or two, but aren't expected to return to the office unless you have something pressing to attend to. I live in the US and work in IT and this is the only way I have ever known it!

[@CTHD13]

One thing you fail to mention is that a lot of American clients WANT you to be their buddy. If you can make jokes to them that land, they’ll like you more and want to hire you more. So it’s also a skill we have to practice.

[@GremoriaParadise]

I hate that part, the random strange buddy system is weird as hell, Japan is better none of that

[@bitonic589]

​​@@GremoriaParadisedo you guys just enjoy sadness?

[@Fitzy0245]

Also, depending on the company and the type of business you are doing the “relationship” is sometimes extremely important. Being able to have a good relationship and even a friendship can go a long way in helping the business relationship.

[@mariak5096]

Workplace romance isn’t necessarily forbidden (assuming both of you are equal in your positions), but it’s generally discouraged because it can make things awkward/unprofessional at work, especially if the relationship doesn’t work out. Also, email culture might seem casual but I can tell you from experience that we overthink every word. 😂 There’s a very delicate balance of professional and friendly in terms of attitude and language, and it depends on the person you’re talking to as well. I think I’d rather have very strict standards of politeness, than to constantly be guessing if my phrasing makes me sound too stiff or not stiff enough. 💀

[@m00zs23]

This. I think American email friendliness is its own type of formality 😅

[@moongoddess1978]

Yeah, when I had Japanese clients, the emails were okay. It was a bit weird being called firstname-san. But they were very nice and straightforward. The time zones were opposite, so I did my best to consolidate information to avoid a back and forth. NO ONE prepared me for meeting Japanese businessmen in person. They bow and present their card to you like you’re the Queen of England. It’s AWKWARD when you’re a lowly customer service representative! AND American who only has bowed after acting in a play. The sales representative explained it to me later. I felt so bad that no one had told me, so all I had done was take the card because they looked ready to hold the pose all day if I didn’t, and I said “Thank you” and brought them to the conference room to meet my boss. 😅

[@ernestogastelum9123]

was the meeting in the US or Japan? if it was in the US, then the Japanese are the ones who need to adapt on how business is done in the US and vice versa.

[@moongoddess1978]

@@ernestogastelum9123 USA

[@Pragabond]

@@ernestogastelum9123 Lol I think there's plenty of room for both groups to adapt to the other regardless of where it took place. At least if its a matter of just visiting and not planning on sticking around to run a business overseas.

[@EzraM5]

Yeah this is pretty much all true. It does seem kinda weird to be all buddy buddy with clients, but in America, this is what's known as "building rapport" with clients. It's a good business practice to make these relationships with clients and other businesses so as to be able to network with them among other things. It's kind of its own resource in a way, here.

[@ErikPT]

Trust me the Chinese are experts because business requires familiarity before even expecting any contract guidance

[@phillystevesteak6982]

its kind of manipulative. even if it has its benefits. instead of letting the product of service sell itself, youre essentially softening people to you overtime through a false persona - as a means to an end; a fake friend of sorts. its kind of gross the more you think about it. but i can understand thinking its normal growing up in this culture

[@GastricProblemsHaver]

Americans building parasocial relationships with their IT guys and not idols....

[@stupidmonkey089]

@@phillystevesteak6982 eh, there's nothing really gross about it. saying the product should sell itself is nonsensical. if products were easy enough to completely understand there wouldn't be sales reps. and then that fact that for any product there are dozens of options that more or less do the same thing, so a friendly human element can be the only real differentiator

[@phillystevesteak6982]

@stupidmonkey089 self itself without social coaxing I should say. On its own merit in a professional manner, not buttered up superficially

[@TheScratchingKiwi]

New Zealand office workplaces have 'morning teas' at least once a week. Not a normal morning break, a sit-down in the tea/break room with your workmates eating cakes, biscuits, scones, muffins everybody brings. Normal morning break is 10-15 minutes. 'Morning Tea' can be 45 minutes. Also, there is a tradition in some companies of a 'workplace shout' where the boss pays for everyone's lunch. Usually it is something like barbecued sausages, meat pies, fish and chips, KFC (all expensive foods). And yes, a 'shout' lasts longer than the 30-60 minutes a normal lunch takes. You may be wondering, do people have to work overtime to catch up the hours? No.

[@aiiiia9971]

That is amazing!!! I wish that was something in the States rafggh 😭

[@kevinerbs2778]

I'm not use to seeing the word KFC & expensive together even though I know it is expensive now. I remember when it was cheap, now I feel old thinking about it.

[@EdKolis]

I used to work at a company in the US where we'd have a "lunch & learn" every few weeks. The company would provide food for everyone and someone would present something educational relating to our line of work. Those were always pleasant!

[@SirSethery]

Company loyalty is a really bizarre thing to me unless you know the owner personally or have a real stake in the success of the company. 99.9% of the time, the CEOs and shareholders couldn’t care less about you as an employee.

[@leviticuscornwall9631]

To be fair most companies have a “do not date coworkers” rule, but it’s hardly ever enforced

[@thodds68]

it is kinda ridiculous to keep one of the most human traits in check. imagine telling someone to not socialize

[@ruralandroid4984]

And if you ask anybody they'll tell you not to shit where you eat

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@thodds68It’s not the dating they’re worried about. It’s the awkwardness and drama if they break up.

[@AirbornChaos]

@@thodds68 Most US companies do that too. Unless you're talking to a customer, shut up and get to work!

[@willythemailboy2]

I've worked in places that have a "can't work the same shift" policy and one that had a "can't work at the same location" policy. If two people started dating one of them had to transfer to a different store.

[@thegayagenda420]

i work in restaurants so the work culture is very laid back and casual so you end up drinking and partying with your bosses. however, work relationships are prohibited which is funny because you’ll always have coworkers who are hooking up no matter what. it’s only problematic if you get caught 😂

[@314rft]

It's a double edged sword though, since actual work hours can be SUPER stressful, especially when the restaurant is narrow and doubles as a full blown bar in later hours and its one of the local places to get SUPER drunk at (at least in my experience).

[@honeybelle1203]

I feel like a lot of the Japanese work social rules were how it was in America too once upon a time, but younger generations are forming a newer, more casual way to go about workplace things. I'm not sure if you could call your boss by their first name some 50 yrs ago, unless they said themself they were ok with it.

[@kgoblin5084]

This is very true, & can be observed by simply watching old films. 'Bosses' used to have much more social prestige. On the other hand, we have NEVER been quite as formal as the Japanese are... consider that using someone's given name can be considered rude even amongst casual, equal social-status acquaintances... & they practice this from childhood. (Watch your choice of anime with young children in school... note how they address each other). Plus American individualism has always VERY much been a thing... even if you used to call your boss 'sir' that didn't mean you thought it was OK.

[@Gestrid]

​@@kgoblin5084> Watch your choice of anime... Yep, that's true. Most characters will call each other by their last names unless they're _very_ close. An example of this is Izuku in My Hero Academia, who calls all his classmates by their last names. That is, all except Bakugo, who he calls by the nickname "Kacchan", which is a combination of the first part of his first name ("Katsuki") and the Japanese honorific "-chan".

[@BKScience812]

In academia, you still call the boss by their last name. A few prefer first names if you work for them. Some feel that they earned the title of doctor and want to hear it.

[@zandaroos553]

@@BKScience812this is very much person to person and department to department. Econ has a lot of private sector bleed over for instance so I don’t think I’ve ever formally talked to a professor in that field.

[@Candyy248]

Yeah, this is just an outdated thing 🤷‍♀️ But Japan is ahmmm... Too traditional 🤷‍♀️

[@moonbright9]

My husband once got into trouble at work for being too polite in his emails because the client complained he sounded sarcastic and passive aggressive by being polite instead of casual. And we didn't refer to our boss by her first name. We called her the "Old Slag" 😂

[@miladragon]

On number 4, it's definitely not unthinkable. It's only really problematic if one has some degree of power over the other -- like if he had said, "I started going out with my assistant/woman who works for me", then he'd get that reaction from the American, but not really otherwise

[@SquidsMackenzie]

ehh, this is one of those "your mileage may vary" things I think. Dating a coworker isn't exactly strange, but also the phrase "don't dip your pen in company ink" didn't come from nowhere, you know.

[@kgoblin5084]

Some companies straight out ban dating as a matter of policy. Others have specific provisions to manage conflict of interests... eg. spouses can't work in the same department & 1 can't be the supervisor of the other. Yeah, it isn't unheard of but it most certainly isn't considered routine anymore

[@laurie7689]

@@kgoblin5084 Yeah, both my husband and I worked at the same US Post Office. He was a regular carrier and I was a sub-carrier. A regular carrier works one route only and is the official carrier for that route. Since the post office is open 6 days a week and full-time is generally 5 days a week, each regular carrier has a sub carrier who works that route at least one day a week, plus any off days the regular carrier takes. Sub carriers are trained on at least 2-3 routes. Being the spouse of a regular carrier, I was forbidden to sub on my husband's route. To do so would've been seen as improper and against policy. The US government is very strict about that sort of thing.

[@GastricProblemsHaver]

A lotta people in America have stigmatized becoming close with your coworkers at all, for various reasons

[@airthrowDBT]

Its unthinkable because its extremely stupid for a man to put his job in a woman's hands by pursuing her at work. One report to HR because she isnt attracted to him and its game over.

[@elustran]

Part of the reason for friendliness in American work culture is because you'll often have colleagues help you out at later points in your career, whether that's old managers, employees, clients, or customers. Those all become people you might recommend for a job, hire, or be hired by at later points in your career. For people with demanding jobs, those are often also your social circle, not just coworkers.

[@Bargadiel]

As an American I see things this way: life can generally be difficult for everyone, so why not find ways to make it more fun for other people when we can?

[@fernarias]

You missed the best ones; driving to work, leaving early, long lunches to run errands, 12 plus holidays throughout the year, going home at 5 everyday (overtime is unusual), client takes you to lunch.

[@PaladinHD]

Dang, what job do you have? *cry laugh emoji*

[@Gn-dc5lb]

​@@PaladinHDthat's like any office job with a nice manager 😂 makes a world of a difference

[@mistingwolf]

12 holidays? Sounds like a dream! I've been at my company for 12 years, and only last year they closed for Xmas, and this year we get Xmas Eve, Day, and NY Eve off. Not weeks, mind you, just those three days.

[@saikimayu]

I have had a lot of jobs in the U.S. and none of them gave any of those things. Many jobs have zero holidays, the longest lunch I've ever had was 30 minutes, and people fight for overtime opportunities so they can have a chance to make more money. Jobs like you described exist, but they are a small minority.

[@vickerfinal]

@@saikimayu wrong , there are a lot of jobs like that

[@Imagino1234]

Canadian here, but a number of these norms also apply. I'd like to add a caveat that office romance, while tricky, varies from situation to situation. For example, if both romantic partners work at different departments of the same company, there would be little issue as it would likely have little effect on the work being done. If it's the same department and both are equal rank, they may have to speak to someone in Human Resources (HR) to sort things out without causing too much trouble. If it's a leader and a direct subordinate, that is where everyone would see red flags. No matter the case, if the relationship sours and there is excessive drama at the workplace, that is where you get an HR nightmare; relationship drama does not help everyone else trying to do their jobs. It's for that reason dating coworkers, especially in the same department, is generally frowned upon, but different departments may have some leeway. When in doubt, speak to HR. As for changing jobs for better pay, there were studies done that shows that changing jobs every two years (on average) increases your lifetime earnings more than just working at the same company and waiting to get raises. The caveat though is that you, as the worker, still need to do a good job and maintain a good track record, lest you quit and can't get hired elsewhere due to former employers saying you're not a good worker.

[@EdKolis]

Well, you also don't want to quit your job until you have a new one lined up. You never know how long it will take so even if you have some savings you can't count on that getting you to your next job. Which leads to a discussion of scheduling job interviews around your work schedule; you have to be careful in the US but I bet you have to be even more careful in Japan what with the focus on loyalty!

[@Retro_Jet]

Mark my word, if I find a plaid shirt EXACTLY like that, I will search for a black wig and dress up as Sora for Halloween

[@E4439Qv5]

If you were committed to the bit, you would ask the barber for the _Naruto_ haircut.

[@Retro_Jet]

@@E4439Qv5 Hmm you’re right!

[@R3_Live]

With regards to frequent job changing, it actually isn't always the employee who leaves. It's very common for people to just lose their job due for silly reasons beyond their control. Even for things like budget cuts. Essentially people feel comfortable changing jobs easily because the general culture is that they are expendable.

[@aaronspeedy7780]

Woah is voice recognition really used for like emails in Japan? In America, it's really only used occasionally for texting.

[@joeythreeclubs]

I hear typing in Japanese is hard because of how the language works

[@trapvulcan]

Most likely using for translations. They sometimes need to deal with international clients, I suppose.

[@ImRezaF]

​@@joeythreeclubsclearly you have never type in japanese keyboard setting. It's not all that different.

[@doggypi1532]

It takes a few extra steps... But once you get used to it, it becomes easier~

[@kiah9085]

I think part of the friendliness with clients is because it’s also considered part of your job to make the customers day without the work aspect as well. All of my reviews I get really really high in the attitude area as a plus by talking to costumers like I know them already, and you can get in trouble for not smoking or joking enough with a customer. Customers according to the company at least like to feel like they made your day better by just existing near you and are a delight to be around. If you’re overly formal it’s just something you have to do and not for them specifically (even though they already know it isn’t just them) and makes them think you care about their individual wants and needs more than the job. Customers always right

[@GamingHeroTetsuya]

Yeah, it's definitely a totally different environment, that's for sure. I still remember back during my high school days talking to a manager of a video rental store and noticed he was wearing some anime socks. I noticed the character, so I brought it up during our interview and found out he was an anime only fan, so I decided not to spoil anything from the manga, and he appreciated that, lol. We also talked about some other franchises and games as well after the interview was over. I can't imagine a conversation like that taking place in Japan, even if applying for an animation studio, lol.

[@TheOrangeRanger]

The work itself is already stressful enough. Being too formal with coworkers and supervisors would only make it worse.

[@noah1502]

honestly one of the main reasons i fear moving to japan is the work culture.... currently i work in america and 1/2 the year is really busy, but the other 1/2 of the year is sitting on our asses, getting ice cream and going home early..... i couldn't give that up....

[@burrybondz225]

Bro americans work more per capita than the japanese. That is without counting the hours the illegals put in. If you count those than americans working hours dwarf almost any top developed country. You just have a good job.

[@wanderingyouth5953]

#4 was the most interesting. The whole romance in the work place is very discouraged here in the USA due to liabilities that could lead lawsuits. Companies just don't want to get into legal trouble if your romance doesn't work out or get's out of hand.

[@Pragabond]

I am so confused as to why people think a work relationship going south could in any way lead to legal action being taken. I've never once heard of that happening in any shape. I think that's at the very least not even a secondary concern when it comes to that. Workplaces care because it can very often lead to interpersonal issues and complicate things if you guys are fighting or broken up...not court dates lmao

[@-Subtle-]

You missed a big one: vacation days. In Japan, you're required to have 10 and can even have more than 20 IN ADDITION to the 16 public holidays (which are usually paid. )

[@CherryCo.Studios]

Can you do a video about the Student-Teacher relationship aspects in Japan vs. America? Because some anime and manga portray romance between a student and a teacher to be...something that can actually work? Whereas in North America that is, like, 50 Different Levels of Illegal (even if the students are in university and can legally consent)... Whenever you hear about a Student-Teacher relationship in North America, it is...like...the biggest scandal ever, so shows like Card Captor Sakura and Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch just become super uncomfortable to watch...! 😰

[@pykexue1299]

What an incredible video. It made me laugh, while being informative. I love this format.

[@ferretyluv]

You’d never go out willingly with your boss. Nomikai aren’t a thing here. Any place that enforces it is a red flag. You only joke with clients if you know them. When meeting for the first time, it’s formal. It would be fantastic if we had that kind of job security where we could work someplace our whole lives but we can’t. Nobody does promotions anymore, nor do they offer training. You have to come knowing everything already.

[@Zetact_]

2+ years of experience required for "entry level" positions. I've seen the opening go as high as 7.

[@JoshSaysStuff]

Two of my favorite teachers in Japan told me at an enkai that they were dating, but I had to keep it secret. I only had two weeks left before moving back to the states, and I didn’t let ANYONE know. It turns out that if the school found out, one of them would be transferred to another school. I hope things worked out for them!

[@bimbodhisattva]

I never stop seeing your profile picture as Zamasu from DBS at first glance no matter how many times I've seen it before hahaha

[@proginthebarn]

Thank you very much for your videos. I had so much fun watching them. ❤

[@firestuka8850]

At a grocery store , a large automated floor cleaning bot came by me and I made a Duke Nukem reference. The dude beside me laughed cuz I did it in my best Duke voice and recognized it. We laughed out the cookies isle. We just don't overdo formality. It's not fun. It makes unnecessary stress.

[@absolutium]

Formality is about respect for circumstances.. It is like wearing a uniform it represents purpose.. Would you trust a cop in leggings saying sup bro you know how fast you were going?

[@Cephrain]

​@@absolutiumI wouldn't trust a cop either way, but yes, it'd certainly be less intimidating if they spoke like that.😏

[@absolutium]

@@CephrainThere is nothing more Intimidating than incompetence.. don't forget that.

[@casualtom82]

Yup, dating coworkers can indeed be problematic and is often advised against. We use phrases like, "Don't dip your spoon in the company coffee," or, "Don't dip your pen in the company ink," and my personal favorite, "Don't sh*t where you eat!"

[@pallmall8452]

I so needed this today, actually tearing up, thank you.

[@fruitfulconnoisseur]

#4 In the US when women's rights reached the workplace human resources H.R. had to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace and it got complicated. On top of that if you were in a relationship with a co-worker both would continue working there. If there was ever a dispute between them or a break up it would affect their work causing problems for the company.

[@ermixonscraziesttheories]

And straight up forget about a relationship between a boss and a subordinate. There are so many potential issues with that one, most companies ban it outright.

[@ronhutcherson9845]

Yep. Our workplace romance rules are actually rather Japanese in how they make you ask, “How does this affect others?”

[@keard558]

Japan is very sexist so it'll catch up eventually. The shame women for taking maternity leave and pressure them to come back to work as soon as possible otherwise they'll be replaced or have bad job performance review. Every culture has its downsides

[@kiskili9577]

True, some places in the US, workplace romance is one of the quickest way to being unemployed across both Men and Women.

[@zibbitybibbitybop]

Huh, #4 is interesting to me. I live in the US and work for a large insurance company, and I know at least three married couples who met while at work at that company. This must vary with the company, or maybe with the generation, I dunno. Also, I wear casual clothes 24/7 because I'm a software developer and nobody gives a crap about dress codes in my field anymore. It's pretty great. 😂

[@basedcheese1]

Probably a "not recommended" thing.

[@cnett486]

No.4. Yeah quite a lot of people have problems with office romance. Interestingly, I've known a few people who met at work, and are even married to a former coworker.

[@shugyosha7924]

If there's one Japanese work culture that's still shocking to me as a foreigner, it's Bonenkai (忘年会 / "forget the year party"). Literally every company does this and some companies are actually insane. My company for example, my first Bonenkai we went to a bar, a restaurant, a girls bar, a hostess club, an oppabu (like hostess club but you can kiss and see and touch), a nightclub, and a restaurant where you eat with random girls. It lasted all night and everyone got properly trollied. Edit: Oh yeah, and today is actually Bonenkai day haha.

[@somnaw]

#6 this can vary quite a bit, especially if the employee has been in the military. Military people tend to be more formal and they address it using an ending that civilian people might not understand, which may lose some of the formality to non-military people. For example, I was trained to use R for peers and VR for people above you or clients. If you don't know what that stands for then you wouldn't understand it meant respectfully versus very respectfully

[@TheMakoyou]

I have worked with Europeans (Germany, France, Italy), people from USA, people from South America (Colombia, Brazil), and Asians (China, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines) in the past, and I thought people from the United States were the hardest workers. Germans never work overtime, even when they have only five minutes left to finish their work. Other countries were more or less the same. Many people from the United States would stay on for 30 minutes if they had 30 minutes left to finish.

[@vaxrvaxr]

Probably true. However overtime is seen as a long term net negative in Germany, so if a company does it, it will be seen as a disorganized and cheap workplace. It's also technically illegal in the long run. Within work hours, the Germans take the work very seriously. There is less chatting and killing time than in many other countries.

[@TheMakoyou]

@@vaxrvaxr That's exactly what the Germans was. It's like they hate waste. And they are loyal. They have been faithful in giving Christmas presents to the company every year. I got the impression that the South Americans were very talkative. In Asia, I thought Filipinos and Thais were serious. The Chinese were never on time. In such a situation, as a Japanese, I thought Americans (USA) were the easiest to work with. I felt that we had just the right feeling that we could complement each other because we had different areas of excellence and areas of deficiency. Germans were a little more difficult to work with.

[@niavellir7408]

Americans don’t understand there is life after work, they rather let the corporation suck their soul dry every second

[@FunnyParadox]

That's because we (Europeans) have way stricter labor laws, if your work day ends at this time, your work ENDS exactly at this time, not a minute after lol

[@aiiiia9971]

This is facinating! Your videos are such a fun way to learn more about Japanese culture while also having a laugh 😂

[@caryeverett8914]

The Japanese work culture you're describing is very similar to American work culture 70 years ago. It was a gradual process over the past 2-3 generations. Bosses/clients started to find the ritualistic formality to be kind of more fatigue than anything else, and they came to the realization that everyone involved enjoyed their lives more if they just dropped it. As for switching jobs frequently, it was actually an employer initiated trend. Employers for some reason, came to the conclusion that hiring outside the company was superior to offering promotions, because the company wouldn't have to deal with politics over why one person got a promotion over other people, and made it easier to defend against claims of potential discrimination. As a result, every company was trying to poach employees from other companies to promote. It's a very backwards situation we have wound up in. Employees changing jobs every 2 years are basically just adapting to the environment that employers have created. And since every company is valuing poaching new employees over their own employees, none of the companies care that you've held 4 jobs in the past 6 years, because from the moment they hire you they are already looking for the next person to poach. The entire situation truly is fucked up. Most employees would happily not be constantly pressured to find new jobs without worrying about the latest outside hire replacing you or getting your promotion/payraise.

[@ToastyMozart]

The short version is that some tax code changes around the early 70s made it way easier for the executives and shareholders to gobble up profits. So funding for things like pensions and raises were diverted to the higher-ups' pockets. Meanwhile it's much easier for HR to make a case for hiring a new employee at market rates rather than paying an existing (underpaid) employee significantly more than before for the "same" work they were already doing.

[@Valerie93]

卵が好き

[@FallacyBites]

A lot of the informality in American culture, and in work culture has developed in the last 40 years. It used to be unthinkable to refer to bosses, clients, or teachers by their first names in the 80s.

[@RobH73]

Lol love this format. How do you put out like 15 banger videos a day

[@senink]

Because of my reading processing problems I have to keep pausing, but you’re really fun to watch!

[@ConnortheCanaanite]

In American business practices it’s fairly common to at least attempt to build and maintain a relationship with your clients that mimics friendship and familiarity. This is because it sort of creates a blind spot for the client, it makes it seem like your business isn’t simply trying to use the client for profits. This act of building a friendship can also give you business, simply because you’re actually friends or they desire to support you because of this. This also makes it more difficult for the client to pull out of the business relationship, as this is now a friendship and thus creates a psychological dependency. Furthermore, this can make it so that the client will even fear doing business with another company or salesperson, as that could even be seen as a risk. It’s like asking whether you’d trust your friend or some random person for a serious task. In a sense, it can be somewhat psychologically manipulative.

[@somnaw]

The reason for number 3 is that companies stop offering pensions long ago in the US. Also pay raises don't keep up with how much they will offer to recruit new people. This means that in order to make a decent wage you have to switch jobs until you reach more of the height of your career path. At that point it slows down and gets harder to find somebody better once you find a good company

[@kazumayagami7093]

It's been a few years since I saw your video. I was one of your subscribers when you only had couple of hundreds of sub. Glad to see you doing great.

[@vivianidelacerda9708]

I like when you change characters like that. Good post.

[@NJDJ1986]

Alright it's the return of Mike Hawk experiencing US work culture with a plaid Japanese worker, & he's having a good bonding with his boss Jack Whole!

[@bloodynessie1]

Number 4 when it comes to romance is a line I won’t cross. It becomes problematic when you break up and hate that person. I’m one of those people who can’t do it. Its awkward to see an ex at work. 😅

[@bddogcatball]

Great content!

[@Dude-etiquette]

The five minute smoko breaks every hour, the longer lunches, finishing exactly on time if not earlier, the constant gossiping, on the phone, saying that’s not part of my job description, and ultimately doing 30 mins of work but spreading it across the day.

[@Deathkunaset]

I can only speak on my own experience, but I feel like the more "relaxed" type of work culture that North Americans experience come from some form of mutual or unspoken understanding off stressors and mental health in life, and both or all parties are just trying to feel more comfortable or relaxed to ease the stress.

[@DaniZeAlmighty]

4:03 japanese sora read the email in perfecto english accento, sora is american confirmed

[@DuniaTrollAnda]

1:12 dude. This line was perfect. Gonna use it for my client too.

[@xgoom1234]

Happy Holidays, Sora!

[@TimesChu]

It's interesting, because if you act too formal in business or school relations in America, you can be seen as rude, or at least overly stiff. I have been teased for writing too formally in my emails before.

[@Pallibasher]

Here in Canada, staying in a job for 2-3 years is pretty normal... actually if you stay in one job "too" long, it will make potential employers suspicious, like "is this person any good if they couldn't get a promotion or different job in so long?"

[@doclouis4236]

I wonder if you'll make a video highlighting the differences between American and Japanese business hours? I feel that it's an interesting topic worth making a video on and the comments section will have some interesting discussions.

[@Kvelasquez.6384]

I LOVE UR CHANNEL ❤❤❤

[@teshyatan7346]

"do you treat a meal with your boss the same as going to buy a Nintendo Switch with friends?" Geeez Satoshi calm down! Why do you take your job so seriously as a Japanese person!?

[@eckoecko13]

お主の原作はいつも凄い＾＿＾

[@Quincy35191]

I've hit reply on an email with my manager, and director cc'd on it saying "they don't think it be like it is but it do".

[@Fitzy0245]

I work as a Purchasing Agent at an airline in the US, speaking from the side of the client I can say that the friendlier the relationship the better. You are more willing to go to the (vendors or brokers in my case) that you feel you have the best relationship with, especially if you feel that you can trust them. Some of my brokers I am actually friends with and hang out with on the weekends and work never comes up. Of course both parties have to understand that business is business and just because we are friends doesn’t mean they will always win the deal; but a better relationship allows you to be a little more blunt and not beat around the bush. Also, when it come to the more relaxed environment the US seems to have with superiors and clients, I think a lot of that is partly because employers know someone is more likely to stay if they like the environment even if they could be paid more somewhere else. Also, it allows people to be more open and direct without beating around the bush and filling emails full of fluff and get to the point.

[@polarfamily6222]

TLDR Americans are more relaxed and not as easily offended.

[@starsmarien4827]

I would watch an anime with this plot. Sora could make one your timing and directings good

[@Arkiasis]

Number 3 is sadly a necessity since most raises are 2% at best. Also birthday parties are not a thing at jobs lol. The only "parties" are more so luncheons or say a "team building event" like say a company bowling tournament. And yeah you call everyone by their first name. Friendliness is seen as better than excessive formality. But it also results in passive aggressiveness too. Like the "Fix those TPS reports" from Office Space. "So yeah, if you can do that. That'd be greaaaaaaat." Also I find the higher someone is, the more casual their emails. I often email something to say the Director of the Department and his replies are "Thx sent from my Galaxy"

[@xcheeltroncoso2002]

Hmm, the first one is kind of surprising for me… the second one, I think it depends on the workplace… the third one, …huh??! Japanese people don’t switch jobs?? Even if their current jobs make them feel sad during work hours?? Fourth one, I always thought workplace romance is a thing here in America..! Fifth one, I think it’s more like a sharing thing… or a morale boost..? Sixth one, I think it’s to get clients to feel comfortable with the workers…

[@matthewjay660]

Sora, sorry for my 2nd post, but I'm ALIVE because my parents met and FELL IN LOVE AT WORK. They have been married 49 years. It's NOT forbidden to have a workplace romance. 🇺🇸🤝🇯🇵

[@ToastyMozart]

Admittedly US workplace culture was very different 49 years ago.

[@dirasparagus4215]

Should turn this into series

[@evilsharkey8954]

At work parties are usually pretty short, 15-30 minutes, depending on the event. Retirements of long time employees tend to be longer.

[@ToastyMozart]

Yeah a half hour and a $25 sheet cake from the grocer is the usual office "party" here. Maybe an hour and pizza delivery if it's a bigger event, or a potluck for Thanksgiving.

[@sHiNcHaN12850]

Everything aside , why TF is a Canadian guy making a Japanese reaction video about Amerikah?

[@Chibi1986]

As strange as USA work culture can be, personally, I'd enjoy experiencing Japanese work culture for a week. I hear it's way harder than most think, or hyped up to appear so.

[@Keepone974]

Believe, I've spent 4 years in Japanese companies, it sucks. And I was in the more "cool" tech field. Also coworkers always fucking backstab you.

[@Chibi1986]

@@Keepone974 : News to me. What causes that mentality?

[@Keepone974]

Putting the company above all else. If you mess up something, people won't hesitate to report you promptly to your boss anonymously etc. No workers' solidarity and the usual "never talk directly to the culprit and delegate" when dealing with problems.@@Chibi1986

[@johnnychopsocky]

Hearing about the whole "stay overtime even if your work is complete, because others are staying" and "mandatory post-work gatherings" stories about Japanese work culture have determined that I would never volunteer to work in a Japanese office setting.

[@zibbitybibbitybop]

@@johnnychopsocky This stuff is the reason I'll never work for a Japanese company in Japan, even though I speak fluent Japanese and I've always wanted to live in Japan for a while. I like having a life outside of my job, thanks.

[@reki1843]

I was told I was too serious in my first week in the job. 😂😂😂😂 Here in America, casual talk/friendly talk is very common to both our clients and our bosses. It makes us seem more approachable and makes them feel more comfortable talking to us. The hard part is adjusting to their Vibes, you have to pick up negative queues quickly and lead the conversation so it doesnt go south.

[@ChimeraLotietheBunny]

Being a mix Asian Filipino recently in Us work culture different form Philippines. This is definetely eye opening when I study different cultures already felt not a culture shock but culture AWE

[@asddsa9468]

america and japan are like two ends of a political spectrum.

[@SpareMango]

An important part of American work culture is in America coworkers will say shockingly edgy things and make messed up jokes

[@imderanged5402]

But the American workplace "birthday party" is usually just stale cupcakes in the break room.

[@RarebitFiends]

Haha, for #4 we even have a saying: "Don't dip your pen in the company inkwell."

[@NorseGraphic]

Sora, there’s a reason for Americans to befriend clients; first,it’ll “hook” them to the business-partner and make it unthinkable for the client to feel snubbed, disrespected and start looking elsewhere. And, it’s forbidden to initiate workplace romance, even here in Europe. We have a saying about this; “Don’t eat where you shit”. With accusations of inappropriate behavior, most men avoid women at work, except when it’s work related, and they never speak “in private” with women, always having a colleague at the meeting, or with open doors. The cause is #metoo There’s a lot of strange things in Japan, like not leaving work before the boss leaves, even though you might have done everything work related. Forced to participate after work with your boss, wasting valuable time. And not to mention the house-yakuza changing from sweet innocence to a fire breathing dragon….. 😬

[@flyte707]

I'm sure if it's a anime company they can joke about rasengan with a client 😆

[@darthbiker2311]

There was this couple at work who were already together long before I started working at our company. They were on the same team, the guy cheated on the girl, they couldn't stand each other afterwards, their teammates were torn between the two of them, and they both ended up resigning. That is as worst as a workplace romance gone bad can get. Fast forward a few years, the girl was invited back and she reapplied. She and I ended up on the same team. I liked her a lot, so I informed our supervisor about it. I wasn't following some protocol, my team lead and I were just best buddies because we used to be colleagues but she applied for a promotion before I did. I told my team lead about my plan to date the girl and expressed my willingness to be moved to a different team if she had any issues with it. She said there were none and wished me luck.

[@samanthaghostlady]

From the UK. When it comes to emails, it is formal if you are talking to a customer, such as the end user of a product or service. Dear Mr or Mrs and their surname, thank you for signing up for your new electricity deal, and so forth. But if it is between work colleagues, or you are doing a business meeting or chasing an order with a supplier, we tend to use first names. Not seen a birthday party here myself in working hours, but we do tend to bring in cake on our own birthdays which we eat during break time. Going out with a meal with the boss, it depends on the venue. I had my 10 year work celebration along side others that also did long services, and we all dressed formally as the restaurant was a very upmarket one. But on another occasion, the whole office went out to Annies burger shack for friday night meal once and we was dressed casually.

[@ericyeahbaby3875]

I hope everyone you know is ok after this terrible earthquake. You really seem like a nice guy

[@Ricewarrior01]

Companies will have a policy discouraging in-work relations, but the majority of them will not care if it's between lower level employees. Only when it involves someone in management/leadership positions is when people will start asking questions.

[@unskilled822]

your english is really good, i've seen that english pronunciation is kinda confusing for japanese but some of them can do it very well

[@PC-tan]

Hey @sora the troll. I remember reading something about from Komodo (they are a Japanese company) tyey talked about their work experience with Valve (an American company) and mentioned how different it was, so evod the stuff that Valve does would be very unthought of in Japan (srudf people would never do). It was interesting hearing about that since it shows how tgere can be a big difference.

[@hpufo]

In Japan most jobs pay the same and pays more based on seniority so it makes little sense to switch jobs. Also in Japan jobs can't fire you after 6 months, while in America they can fire you at any time for any reason including no fault of your own(layoffs) so it makes little sense to be loyal to a company when you can get better compensation elsewhere.

[@PhthaloGreenskin]

In some states, they don't even need a reason to fire you. They can just let you go.