First of all, I only know what's going on in Japan and The United States. And I have found one basic difference between US and Japan is;
The Middle Class Crisis----something that people talk a lot here in US. but you don't hear that much in Japan.
First, Japan---"over time pay" is a labor regulation in Japan. Which is a time and a half standard (double pay for over 80 hours/wk). Even these "salary men" are contracted based on 40 hour per week standard. What majority of people who live outside of Japan wouldn't know is that they ususaly leave thier office at 5-6pm, but they go out and and have some drinks with thier clients and bosses after work, which is also considered as "work". Even more, playing golf with them on weekend is also considered as thier "work". Many white collar workers in Tokyo would commute for 1-2 hours everyday, so that's why to most of people, Japanese business men are not staying home with thier family.
Union is very active in Japan, unless you're a P/T worker, you are pretty much working with a company with a labor union (hey, I was a factory worker in Tokyo back in the 80's and was a union member even the company was so small---about 15 people). We used to have our slogan like, "let's be more like a French!", which encoureged ourselves that the averge people in France work 1600 hours a year as to 2000 for us. For the union members, we have a guaranteed double pay (called it "bonus") on June and December, and 15% raise every year. Strikes are rare these days, but the most famous strikes are the transportation union members, known for having a strike over 10 cents.
Now here in America----Overtime, and other basic labor regulations are the same, but they may not commute 2 hours every day. However, many Americans are not seeing thier family also. Why? Because lots of people (especially in the middle class) have 2 jobs. Ok, if you're the only one who brings income to your home, then that's not too bad, but how about you and your wife, both have 2 jobs? Overcrowded daycare centers, kids making troubles because they are so often not under adult supervision are the common social issue here in the US. And top of this as you may know, about 60% of American cannot afford thier health insurance. Even they work 2 jobs. That's reality of what they call it "The Middle Class Crisis of USA". Right now we only have 3 types of job available. 1) Minimun wage job, 2) Professional management positions and 3) Military. As immigration talk spreads across the country, many Americans are forced to be left aside because the minimun wage jobs are taken by the immigrants and most of Americans are not motivated to take it. Some of them fine thier new "no-home" home on streets. This even got worse in this past 20 years due to out sourcing issue, many jobs went to Mexico, China or India. Many of them couldn't get any other choice but to join military or get a job at a Wal Mart.
What's different between US and Japan or the rest of world is that once you live here in America, you're on your own. You might get a section 8 and food stamps to get by, but these supplies are very slim. Like living in Japan, you're guaranteed to make a living if you don't mind to say "good shot!" to your boss that you hate at a golf couse on Sunday morning, but here in America, you need to be a creative to get your life going. If you can do that, it wouldn't be that hard as you might think to be the next Donald Trump.
The truth is, many of might think that Japanese work too long and too hard, but virtually speaking, you don't have to do anything, they just let thier life flow. But in America, you need to get your *** moving, otherwise people will leave you behind.
