Nobody at subway station in Tokyo for first train after two staff oversleep

I'd give them a warning and let them resume their duties. It's not like anyone's life was in danger. But if they did it a second time, I would have to show them the door.

My, my, my! Aren't we all from perfect societies with perfect employment records! The crap subway and station employees have to deal with would amaze and it hardly ever gets reported - Oh, except when a couple lost their lives going into carriages during the Aum Shinrikyo subway attacks….

This sounds like a reason to automate the station opening.

Couldn't customers press a big button marked "Attention, Staff!" when no one showed up? With comm system?

There were two employees at one place I worked who alternated sleeping during night shift when they were both supposed to be awake and monitoring. Til one morning the supervisor walked in at start of his shift, and one employee was snoring in the chair with his feet on the desk and the other was snoring on the portable mattress they'd brought in. Didn't fire them only because it would have to be explained to the customer. But he chewed the heck out of them.

Employees shouldn't be exempt for the "delaying the train system" fee - these two employees should pay JR (regardless of the reason)!

Nobody at subway station?

Nobody is my friend. Nobody loves me.

Probably recent university graduates.

Japanese don't get fired. They are power harassed into quitting. Companies here don't like to have a rep of firing people.

Heck.... hopefully they don't do the normal Japanese thing and over analyze what happened.... seems to me whatever they have been doing works quite well except for this one occasion.

34 5 AM commuters? More like 34 5 AM weeknight alkies who missed their last train!

mainichi:

According to Tokyo Metro, the two employees were on the night shift, and were responsible for opening the station for the first train of the morning. ... were both napping in the station's staff sleeping quarters. When an alarm they'd set for 4:30 sounded, they apparently turned it off and went back to sleep. The men have been told to take measures to prevent a reoccurrence ...

How would they get to work in time to get ready for the first train, if they have to be there before the stations are open?

Mamachari?

Hours are too log if a back sleeping room is needed. Try sending people home once in a while to get a life.

How would they get to work in time to get ready for the first train, if they have to be there before the stations are open?

Disillusioned : In Australia, all train staff are put on a breathalyser machine before they start work. They are given three chances to fail then they are fired.

DaDude : Well, I have been giving breathalyzer tests to train drivers in Australia for 10 years and we do it daily before the start of the shift.

THREE!?!?

disillusioned, according to your claims the work force would be all fired by Friday!!

Hours are too log if a back sleeping room is needed. Try sending people home once in a while to get a life. This is no way to live happily. All work and no play...

Sack the control center Guys , they were not in control , bad system no check in control , the poor guys who over slept should get a bonus for finding the fault in the system . :o :) :o :) ..

I've always wondered how they manage to work those superhuman hours - especially in the very early morning. Well, we're all human! :)

whatever excuse the guys had, they more than likely will get reprimanded by a 50% salary cut.

They were both late? Sounds like they were both taking a nap together.

More stories like this makes me wake up on time .....

John Galt wins the internet. :)

It makes sense they both overslept if sharing the same room. Perhaps sabotaged by an alarm clock that failed to go off. In any case they sound sleep-deprived!

@ Disillusioned. I have been driving trains in Australia for seven years, and only once in that time have I been put on a breathalyser.

Well, I have been giving breathalyzer tests to train drivers in Australia for 10 years and we do it daily before the start of the shift.

Japan needs more news like this. Enough kidnappings and murders. I love this story!!

I'm sure booze and karaoke were to blame.

Finally Day Light Saving Time perhaps they thought?

Haha. They were sleeping inside the station back room. I guess the first train's arrival woke them up.

Someone can live three hours away from work , oversleep and get to work 5 minutes late. Doesn't mean they live 5 minutes away.

Those who live closest to the office where I work are the ones who are always late. Those who live far are usually the first ones in.

Cute story :)

wow of all countries this could happen to, Japan the least expected!

@ Disillusioned.

I have been driving trains in Australia for seven years, and only once in that time have I been put on a breathalyser.

I'd be fired within a week in that job, nowt surer

Wow both of them on the same day.. I feel sorry for the two commuters who got off and were 'stuck on the dark platform'. Must have been pretty frightening

This is literally priceless.

Looks like they need a sleeping car in the station for staff usage.

blame it on being drunk...works for everything else.

In Australia, all train staff are put on a breathalyser machine before they start work. They are given three chances to fail then they are fired.

blame it on being drunk...works for everything else.

They weren't oversleeping, they were 'under awake'. But I tell you, this country is going to the dogs!

Were they oversleeping together? ;p ;p

best wishes at new job, they better get one with better working hours though

LOL! Never heard of it in any other country. These two guys probably got fired.

Another myth shattered.

Good lord....do they understand they are Japanese? Japanese don't sleep the work is way more important, unbelievable they must be 90% foreign. This is why imergration is a bad idea;-)

You are fired!