Sex/Age discrimination at Honda

[Elizabeth]

I don't mean to single out a particular employer if anyone has connections with Honda, but a Japanese friend living here in the states (female, mid-30's, slightly overweight but not too bad looking) just got work at a Japanese-managed lawn mower parts plant and has had the misfortune of being placed with an extremely tempermental, unethical supervisor who has flat out threatened to fire her if and when younger, more attractive women come along. Which they have recently and so she's very concerned about being able to keep the job even in a case where she already has a family, so there's no danger of resignation due to marriage or pregnancy.

Naturally I have heard of women facing 'overt discrimination' without recourse in the Japanese workplace -- but is it usually this blatant or does it all depend on the gracious personalities of your management ?

 

[Kamisama]

I would like to recommend this lady obtains a voice recorder to spy on her boss and then turn them in.

Need a Digital Voice Recorder? Here Are 8 We Love

It's all about the boss.
Some bosses are snooty and bipolar.
Some bosses are power freaks.
Some bosses are nice and helpful towards their employees.
Some bosses just keep to themselves and drink alcohol when they get home leaving the staff to figure out stuff on their own.

Many bosses in America are complete fools.
I once saw a boss at mcdonalds fire a lady on the spot infront of customers(i was one). that was a stupid move for the boss, i didn't see her there again.

 

[Elizabeth]

Thanks for the advice and link Kamisama. I know bosses from hell can be anywhere and I don't have any data or statistics to show that Japanese are more discriminatory, in fact a man this morning assured me Japanese never fire anyone without a good reason. . The only thing left is talk to the woman in question for the other side....and stop criticizing my own supervisor for being much too nice....

 

[ffrost_nova622]

bout the boss

I don't mean to single out a particular employer if anyone has connections with Honda, but a Japanese friend living here in the states (female, mid-30's, slightly overweight but not too bad looking) just got work at a Japanese-managed lawn mower parts plant and has had the misfortune of being placed with an extremely tempermental, unethical supervisor who has flat out threatened to fire her if and when younger, more attractive women come along. Which they have recently and so she's very concerned about being able to keep the job even in a case where she already has a family, so there's no danger of resignation due to marriage or pregnancy.

Naturally I have heard of women facing 'overt discrimination' without recourse in the Japanese workplace -- but is it usually this blatant or does it all depend on the gracious personalities of your management ?

well people like him u shoudlnt be even working for (the bastard)
i dislike men who only judge the women on the outside for job hiring n other stuff (typical dicks.... :box: :auch: )

oh yeh n if ur friendgets fired...she can then slapp the crap out of the guy because she no longer works for him! ::

 

[GaijinPunch]

in fact a man this morning assured me Japanese never fire anyone without a good reason. .

Is this in Japan, or the states? Firing people in Japan takes an act of God. The fire-ee can very well sue the company undergrounds of "getting fired." As such, your severance package is usually pretty good if you're a full-time employee. If you're a part-timer, you're kinda screwed.

 

[Elizabeth]

Is this in Japan, or the states? Firing people in Japan takes an act of God. The fire-ee can very well sue the company undergrounds of "getting fired." As such, your severance package is usually pretty good if you're a full-time employee. If you're a part-timer, you're kinda screwed.

It was someone at a small/medium size software company in Tokyo. And your explanation makes sense. From what I understand, the system has been crafted to suit the philosophy of most managers as well that it is more advantageous work with employees, rearrange positions and responsibilities if things don't seem to be working out in the effort to find a comfortable niche for both sides rather than sow insecurity and distrust through firing. Although just as predictably, I suspect very few laid off employees ever see their employer in court either.

The woman now working for Honda in the US also made the distinction between smaller companies in Japan that were more likely to fire without cause (chanto ni shita riyuu de wa arimasen) than were larger firms, I suppose due to less formal oversight and the increased importance of personal rapport between employee and employer (?) at small companies.

 

[Ewok85]

Here in Aus you need a good reason, 2 warnings for that reason and 3 weeks notice. Unless you go out of your way to get fired your safe - if your not casual or temporary that is...

My boss is awesome, work in a call center and we all have his mobile and home number - got a problem? Ring him, 24/7 he will help us out. Top bloke!

 

[GaijinPunch]

Fired and laid off are different things, but even getting "fired" is really difficult in Japan (again -- if you're a full-timer). My department was laid off at Xmas 2 years ago of a large American financial institution's Tokyo branch. (Hint -- 2nd largest bank in the US). To avoid any unnecessary nastiness, I wound up getting 8 months severance, and only worked there for two years. Started my next job 3 days later.