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Due to long working hours, I can't pay much attention to my children. I'm worried whether continuing this lifestyle is wise. However, I can't just quit, as I have to earn a living.

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Yuri Kitamura, a 35-year-old company employee working in Tokyo. Kitamura often works until 9 or 10 p.m. due to overtime work. A family support center run by volunteers in her neighborhood picks up her children from a nursery school and a child care center and babysits them at her home. (Yomiuri Shimbun)

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vagante says it all. this sort of thing won't stop until people start refusing to accept it. imo the whole "fureeta" thing is a subtle (and quite ineffective) reaction to the whole problem

but then i suspect the economy is propped up on all the free labour private companies get from their workers each week. they must get at least 30% gratis from the average employee

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We work more than our agrarian forefathers. Wouldn't it be great to have the excuse, "I can't plow in the dark."

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Japanese are taught not to refuse overtime work, it will get them on this bosses bad list and bullied by fellow workers. Thats why I love being a foreigner, at 6pm all you see is my back going out the door. My boss asked me about it, I said pay me overtime and I'll stay, if not I'm gone at 6pm. Let the sheep pretend to work until the boss decides to leave. My boss has said to me before, some nights he stays until 10pm because he knows he can and also to see who leaves before him.

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there is no reason to work such long long long overtime hours. this country is sick when it comes to its workers. no wonder the kids are not alright.

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Nothing new here. Same ol stuff going on as in 1991 when I got here. Recycled quotes I think.

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The company could employ enough workers to cover a reasonable workload and schedule, but while they have willing wage-slaves like Yuri, they probably will not.

I'm sure Yuri knows the answer in her heart. Which is more important for her and her family - her relationship with her family or the success of her company? She should consider changing her job or try refusing to do overtime.

If we are not part of the solution, we are usually part of the problem.

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