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© KYODOSeven-Eleven Japan to end some 24-hour operations amid labor crunch
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oldman_13
Simple, hire more foreign labor to staff these positions!
I know there are foreigners that already work these types of jobs.
Yubaru
Huh? First? There is a Lawson I drive by on my way to work every morning that is closed from after midnight until 6AM. Started on October 1st.
ushosh123
Its just supply and demand
Do the hustle
They’ll have to change the name of the company to 3.5/5.5
This is the result of one of Abe’s failed arrows. The one where he was going to address the childcare shortage and get more women back into the workforce. There are plenty of housewife’s who would gladly take positions in convenience stores, but are unable to due to a lack of child care facilities. Plus, the cost of childcare is more than the pay for a shift at a convenience store.
InspectorGadget
Low pay and semi-rural settings.
Why would you run it 24/4 when the only profit you are making most nights is from selling the staff bento and coffee on the night shift?
Mauro Mdns
Seicomart have being doing this for years in Hokkaido, even in Sapporo, most of the stores closes at night.
zones2surf
Its interesting to me that they haven't looked at a SA-type model, with a few jidohanbaiki with sandwiches, bentos, and the like that can be stocked for the overnight hours.
Perhaps they have and it just isn't cost effective.
No Business
Pay ¥2000 per hour and, amazingly, you'll see the "labor crunch" evaporate!
Yubaru
The franchises are contracted to stay open 24/7 and if the franchise owner is unable to keep the store open, the headquarters of 7i holdings will send staff to the franchise to assist.
However, the labor costs for these workers is over double what the franchise pays to it's own employees, so the owners are losing money by staying open.
It's a rip off no doubt!
Wesley
Re-program car-making robots to serve the customers at these convenient shops.
indigo
this shows clearly a economic slow down. the fact come back to the reality.
right move from 7/11. need to adapt the business to the need.
towingtheline
The real issue is a non-attractive offer (i.e. very low pay). Make a better offer (i.e. a reasonable living wage) and the labor crunch will cease to exist. Who wants a shitty job paying 850 yen an hour. seriously come on.
Strangerland
From a business perspective it may be more profitable to close the businesses at nighttime.
garypen
Even if there were enough workers to staff overnight positions, if the revenue during those hours does not cover the cost of remaining open, then the franchisees shouldn't be forced to stay open during those hours.
By forcing them to stay open, they are forcing them to lose money, which doesn't seem like a fair and equitable business arrangement.
I'm sure that many more than 200 locations could safely close from 12am to 6am, without major inconvenience to consumers.
wtfjapan
Japan has run out of workers, now the crunch starts
total BS Japan has plenty of workers, what Japan lacks are companies that are prepared to pay a decent wage to keep their staff long term, it could be worse they could pay their staff 400 yen hr and then get them to grovel for tips to make up the rest
wtfjapan
From a business perspective it may be more profitable to close the businesses at nighttime.
I agree, but then those business that dont close will probable get those customers that normally shopped at the business that decide to close. If they want to shut then fine Ill just spend my money at the combinis that choose to stay open at night
Himalayan
I didn't know Japan started new VISA system in April.
mmwkdw
I wonder, does the plethora of Convenience stores make Japan a safer place (for Women) - as there's always somewhere relatively Safe to go to in a time when you may be otherwise concerned ?
If we start seeing a huge number of Stores close, will there be a larger rise in Crime in those areas ?
shogun36
If high schools would end their absurd "no PT work" for students nonsense rules, you would at least get more people to cover the swing shift. And oh yeah, actually offer a decent wage. There are enough workers out there, you just have to entice them to work for your company.
mmwkdw
I think the idea of "no PT work" for HS Students was to ensure that they had time to study... but I think a better rule should be no Smartphones, and instead tracker devices with simple call facilities.
Smartphones have resulted in the total Dumbification of Students Globally.
BackpackingNepal
Too bad now I have to keep extra quantities which i wouldn't even know where i have kept.
It was so refreshing to walk nearby 7-11 just to buy little things at 2am.
Sh1mon M4sada
About time. 7-11 should take a look at their namesake.
Personally, locking in operating hours as part of franchise negotiation is much more sensible. Those who can make it work will do so anyway. Those who can't shouldn't be forced to. Win win all round, except for Mr 7-11's ego of course, because it has never been commercial to him, just his ego.
Madden
I can't imagine they get more than a few customers per hour during the late night shifts so yeah from a business perspective it probably makes sense, and I'm sure the ones that do get enough traffic from busy areas will stay open. Maybe one option would be to close off all but a small part of the store selling some basics and have it be self-register? Or just run vending machines as one commentor had said. I'd imagine there's enough data to know what kind of items sell well at night, although I suppose alcohol sales would have to be restricted and that surely must be a sizable percentage!
Jonathan Prin
@wtfjapan
Japan has plenty of workers
Total BS
I wonder if you know what is demography.
Best occupations (most paying and/or most enjoyable) will get the worries the last.
when you have the choice (2 work proposals for one worker), You know were NOT to work as a "simple" worker : construction, caregiver, agriculture and restaurant.
afanofjapan
7-11... 7am to 11pm
If they want to force their franchisees to stay open 24-7, then they should change their name to 24--7.
Kumagaijin
Today's 7-Eleven worker should be equivalent to your well paid factory worker or postal worker of the 1970s. They provide many services and work hard. If they were paid a decent salary and benefits, perhaps there wouldn't be a labour crunch.
wanderlust
There are too many of them. In some cities, in a one hundred yard radius, you'll find a FamilyMart, a Lawson, 2 7-11s, and Mini-Stop. Competition is fine, but the sales do not support so many outlets.
FizzBit
Seems to me 7-11 followed in the footsteps of McDonald’s and became a real estate company as well as convenience stores. It’s the only thing that makes sense when they’re so close to one another, along with the Ctrl-Print economy and easy loans.