Many Japanese companies have workers working overtime for more than 80 hours every month. These statistics contributes to a controversial occupational hazard called “karoshi”, or “death by overwork” in the country. In October, a woman’s death after clocking in 159 hours of overtime in a month made global news. The incident happened in 2013.
To help solve this growing problem in their country, Taisei, a Japanese office security and cleaning firm is planning to test out their solution to force overworked employees to go home. They plan to launch drones through offices after hours and blast music to anyone who stays. The music is the popular scottish tune “Auld Lang Syne”.
This solution attempt may be a simple attempt and may not solve the root cause of the problem–which is the immense pressure that many Japanese employees feel that they have to perform at optimum efficiency all the time at work. Also, it has long been frowned upon for Japanese employees to leave the office before their boss or colleagues. But hopefully, it will be able to give employees, as well as companies a “signal” that they be pushing themselves/ their employees beyond their limits.
Source: The Japan Times
Sometimes, work doesn’t also end in the office because of technology. Employees are now capable of accessing their online office tools through mobile email, and the internet. This occupational hazard isn’t only happening in Japan, but in many parts of the world as well. Work-life balance problems are growing, and should be solved at the root cause. While these problems are still yet to be solved, it’s good to know that there are companies like Taisei that are trying to solve the problem in any way they can.
Taisei plans to launch their drones in April for their own employees, and then spread their services to other firms later in the year. According to Taisei director Norihiro Kato, “You can’t really work when you think ‘it’s coming over any time now’ and hear ‘Auld Lang Syne’ along with the buzz,”
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