A 7-Eleven convenience franchisee who shortened the store's business hours to 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. on Feb 1 will continue to operate those hours after the company told him it would not cancel his contract or issue a penalty.
The owner, Sanetoshi Matsumoto, 57, said he closed his store in Higashi-Osaka between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. because he didn't have enough part-time workers. He said he was having to work up to 16 hours a day and feared for his health. Fuji TV reported. Matsumoto was then sued for 17 million yen by 7-Eleven Japan Co for breaching his contract.
However, this week, 7-Eleven Japan Co said it would drop the suit and not cancel its contract with Matsumoto.
Matsumoto said: “By shortening business hours, I have been able to rest better at night. There must be many store owners who are overworked, so they should be able to choose business hours on their own without being forced to run a 24-hour operation.”
© Japan Today
6 Comments
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mmwkdw
A slightly better outcome following the reporting of the issue.
Though 0600 - 2300 hrs (17 hours / day, 7 days a week) is still rather a long working time for a sole operated franchise business, which, from the content of the Story I am inferring .
ShavedNuts
Maybe he can break another country-wide 7Eleven rule and start selling Slurpees.
Apple
@Garthgoyle You gotta cut the guy some slack. He said in an interview that his wife died and there's a labor shortage in Japan now that's why the store became short-handed. I'm sure those weren't in his plans when he chose his business.
Mizu no Oto
Not sure I'd want to operate a franchise. I'd take on the load of the risk at the mercy of the rules I need to fall in line under, all the while the franchisee is guaranteed a steady income. No thank you.
Garthgoyle
Or maybe they should have chosen a different kind of business. They knew very well what they were getting into before starting a 24/7 store.
Tho I agree with him in the sense he chose life over karoshi.
Joel Tucci
Oh man, where am I supposed to get underwear at 3 am now?