TABLE OF CONTENTS
labor pains and the gaijin boss
Labor Pains and the Gaijin Boss
“This is an invaluable reference for anyone facing the challenges, rigors, and dangers of hiring, compensating, managing, motivating Japanese.”
George Fields
Author of From Bonsai to Levi’s
1984
(The Japan Times)
JPY 2,945
(The Japan Times)
JPY 2,945
Words of Appreciation (7 signed client testimonials)
“Author’s” Remarks
xiii
Part I Overview of Japanese Labor Laws and Practices
1
Recruiting, Paying, Managing and Firing in Japan
(Journal of Japanese Trade and Industry, January/February 1984)
1
Bringing Japanese Management and Labor Relations to Life
(Journal of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), December 1978; originally an address given at the Annual U.S.-Japan Businessman’s Council)
12
Japanese Labor Rules and Practices
(1980 series of five articles in The Japan Times)
16
It’s a Good Idea to Stay Out of Court
16
It’s Hard to Fire Employees
20
Collective Bargaining Tips
24
Unions at a Big Advantage
28
How to Settle Disputes
33
Part II Managing Poor Performers Out of Your Company
(1982 series of 13 articles in The Japan Times based on an address to the American Chamber of Commerce on February 12, 1982)
37
Introduction-Reducing Staff and Controlling Labor Costs
37
The Law and Dismissal-Good Work Rules Help
41
Discharge With Strategically Phrased Work Rules
45
More on the Art of Disciplining, Demoting, Firing
49
Bluff With Confidence When Firing
53
Switch to a Japanese Compensation Package
56
Reward and Punish With a Japanese Salary Table
60
Combine Bonus System With Salary Table
64
Use Probation, Training, Job Rotation and Transfer to Your Advantage
67
Hire Marginal Employees as Temporaries on Contract With Separate Work Rules
71
Orchestrate a Massive Staff Cutback
74
Additional Tips to Protect Management Interests
77
Questions and Answers
80
Part III Tips Toward Successful Management of the Japanese
87
Inside Tips to Make the Foreign Manager Successful
(The Japan Economic Journal, former name of Nikkei Weekly, June 10 & December 16, 1980)
87
Avoiding Radicalization of Labor and Unions in Foreign Firms
(The Japan Economic Journal, former name of Nikkei Weekly, December 23, 1980)
97
ABCs of Communication Between Westerner and Japanese
(The Japan Times, December 7, 1980)
100
Part IV Five Case Studies for Foreign Managers in Japan
(1981 series of five articles in The Japan Times)
105
Discharging an Employee
105
Management’s Legal Rights and the ‘How-To’ of Transferring Reluctant Employees
112
Bargaining, Strikes and Split Unions
117
Probationary Period
124
Handling a Labor Crisis
130
Part V Labor Relations, Government Insurance Programs and Vocational Training
(1981 series of articles in The Japan Business Law Journal)
135
Unions, Labor Relations and Labor Participation in Management
135
Labor Legislation and Regulatory Apparatus
146
Employment Policy and Programs
161
Systems of Health Insurance
179
Systems of Pension Insurance
186
Workmen’s Accident Compensation Insurance
194
Vocational Training-an Introduction
202
Vocational Training Policies and Administration
211
Public Vocational Training Programs
223
Part VI Fresh Perspectives on Work and Management
223
Who Says the Japanese Work Too Hard?
(Look Japan, November 10, 1981)
223
People Management Is What It’s All About
(Look Japan, July 10, 1980)
238
Japanese-Style Management-a Bag of Special Tricks?
(Dentsu Japan Marketing/Advertising, Fall/Winter 1982)
246
Why Japanese Management Always Wins
(NHK Television interview, Winter 1980)
254
Part VII Selected Summary Articles
267
Labor on a Leash
(Tradpia International, Summer 1982)
267
Who Gets Fired?
(PHP, March 1983)
273
Productivity at the Workplace-a View From Tokyo
(School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University, ILR Report, Fall 1983)
285
