Re: work times & accommodation @tokyo, WAS: Re: [tlug] Embedded linux dev wanting to find work in Tokyo.. Seeking advice.

[jim grisanzio <Jim.Grisanzio@example.com>]

David Shanahan wrote:
> > I've seen people killing themselves here for astoundingly low salaries.
> > It might explain a little bit the rise of the freeters.
> >     
>
> And literally dying. This was in the news yesterday.
>
> http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0717/TKY200807170270.html
> http://www.skylark.co.jp/news/080718_pdf/080718.pdf
> (in Japanese)
>
> The article is about the labour inspection office confirming that
> Takayuki Maezawa died from a stroke caused by overwork.
> He was working as a manager of a Skylark restaurant, but
> was only part-time or "contract" worker.
>   

This is really sad. But I know quite a few people in the U.S. who have 
worked themselves to death in one way or another (mostly in New York 
where I used to live), so the Japanese don't have a corner on the 
stupidity market with their 100 hour work weeks. To me the notion of 
extreme "hard work" is necessary for short term and extraordinary 
circumstances, like wars and disasters and such. That's where it makes 
sense. But under normal life circumstances, extreme hard work (as 
defined by 100 hour work weeks, destroyed families, suicides, drug use, 
etc) is little more than an obvious demonstration of inefficiency.

Jim
--
http://blogs.sun.com/jimgris/