Last Day of Working in Japan....Look at my "office"

One of the first things that people generally ask me about the differences between working here in Japan as opposed to the U.S. On my last working day at the headquarters of a large and famous Japanese company, I snapped a picture of my workplace. There are so many differences in the working culture, but one of the most pronounced is captured in this picture.

In the US, I always worked in a private office. I know that I've been quite fortunate in that regard, but even for those who don't work in offices, most office workers have a cube...with some walls and some privacy. We also usually have personal phone lines and operate quite independently.

The reverse is true in Japan...the office space is one big office...there is little personal space...and absolutely no barriers between you and the next person. There is a communal telephone line, and generally the youngest or least senior person in the group is responsible for answering the phone and directing the calls toward the other members in the team.

It would be easy to say that one system is good while another is bad, but it's more important, I think to realize the merits of both systems...interesting!

Workplace Workings: Do the dishes!!

I was amused when my co-worker informed me yesterday that it was her turn to do the dishes...I seriously thought she was joking at first. But this was no joke. She was actually referring to the fact that everyone in the office takes turning washing and drying the coffee cups and makers each day. She knew it was her turn because she'd been passed a little marker from the person who'd done it the day before. There are janitors here, they come and empty the trash but the idea of pitching in to this degree is a new one to me....

Workplace Workings: The Smoking Room

I'll start out by saying that I'm not a smoker. I'm also not really bothered by smoking. I often don't notice it, and I generally unbothered by it's presence. That being said, I am fully aware of the danger of second-hand smoke and think it's a good thing that it's so harshly regulated in the US...no complaints from me. However, for those who are smokers and are troubled by the lengths (often literal) they have to go to take a smoke break, you are in luck in Japan. You can still smoke in restaurants and bars, there is a smoking car on the train, and right down the hall from my office there is also a smoking room. While my co-workers who smoke back in the US have to exit the building and often walk a significant distance away from it (no joke in the arctic cold of Pittsburgh) - my colleagues here in Japan can simply stop in to the room on the way to the bathroom...how interesting!

Presidential Matters

Although it may not be apparent in my blog, I'm actually here in Tokyo to work. I am super lucky to be here and have had the opportunity to to do many exciting things. I've met a lot of great people and participated in some really innovative and international programs. Last week, I attended Innovation Leader Training and worked with an impressive group of Toshiba international managers. After a week of interesting presentations and group discussions and reviews, I got to be a part of group presentation to Nishida-san, President of Toshiba!! For more details, check out the Toshiba website at: http://g-web1.toshiba.co.jp/cgi-bin/kouhou/enews/president.cgi

P.S. Information is in Japanese...good luck with that!

Inflexible Flex-Time

Here in Japan, I'm working at a large national company...they own my company in the US and I'm participating in an exchange of sorts. Back home in Pittsburgh, one of the visible benefits of our workplace is the opportunity to enjoy flextime...which basically means you came come in at a time that is suitable for you as long as you are at work within the core business hours and stay the requisite 8 hours. I looove flextime...and I hate waking up early. Even when I do wake up early, I must admit, I still can't get in early mostly because I take the time to eat breakfast, catch up on the news, check emails and generally prepare myself to face another day at work. All that being said, I'm not a slacker and have no problem staying late to get my work done. The beauty of flextime is that you can work around a schedule that fits your life as long as it doesn't harm your productivity. Overall, the work day is very flexible - from when you leave, to when and if you take lunch, and when you leave.

In my preparations for moving to Tokyo and my new position, I asked about flextime and was assured that it was in existence. 8:30 seemed to be the general start to the day, which was ok...I knew that I should make an impression and aim for that time...at least at the beginning. Imagine my surprise, however, when I came in at around 8:50 on my first week after printing out some documents at my apartment (I hadn't yet been hooked up to the printer at work) and was met with questioning looks and a sense that all was not okay. I won't go into detail, but I will say this. If you are coming to Japan, and more specifically, if you will be in my position soon - do not believe the hype. Flextime here does not necessarily mean the same thing it does where you are coming from...do not take that fact for granted.

Flextime for me means being here before 8:30 and taking lunch in the 45 minutes that are designated lunch time - and if I ever forget, the bells and the fact that the lights go down during that period are helpful reminders. It also means, that around at 5:00 when the end of the day bells sound, I am encouraged to leave....interesting take on flextime, I must say...