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We are considering reducing the number of employees who must live away from their families. Among the options being tested is a plan to replace residential transfers with business trips to deal with our tasks.

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Akito Mizuno, president of sporting goods maker Mizuno Corp. Relocation of employees within companies or to affiliated firms has long been common in Japan, but more employees are reluctant to be transferred away from their children or elderly parents.

© Asahi Shimbun

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

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When I first came to Japan, I stayed temporarily near Shin Osaka station. Most of the residents were white-collar single middle aged men living in apartments. I later found out they weren't single but had been transferred by their employers away from their families (tanshin-funin). Yep, it was a depressing neighborhood alright -- with a thriving sex industry.

In Japan, work is more important than family. It's good to see progressive moves like these.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Transfers of employees has always been institutionalized bullying to make the employees demonstrate they prioritize their work over their families. It frequently serves no purpose above this and many new enterprises do well without having to do it at all.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

My friend was transferred immediately after a disagreement with his boss. Missed his daughter’s jr high school , high school and part of her university before he was brought back. The family is back together now and doing well, but those years have just been lost-with no great benefit to the company.

i hope many companies change this system.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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