Karōshi is a Japanese term that refers to death from overwork. It is typically used to describe cases where employees have worked themselves to death, either through physical exhaustion or mental stress.
The term first came into use in the early 1970s, after a spate of highly publicized suicides by employees of Japanese companies. Since then, karōshi has become a significant social problem in Japan, and has been linked to a number of other social ills such as depression, alcoholism, and divorce.
While karōshi is often used to refer to death from overwork, it can also be used to describe other negative health outcomes that are the result of excessive work. For example, karoshi-byō is a term used to describe employees who have become sick as a result of overwork.
There is no single cause of karōshi, but it is often the result of a combination of factors such as long working hours, unrealistic job expectations, and a lack of support from employers.
What causes karoshi?
Karoshi is a Japanese term meaning "death by overwork". It is used to describe the phenomenon of workers dying from overwork, or committing suicide as a result of overwork.
There are a number of factors that can contribute to karoshi, including long working hours, unrealistic deadlines, and a lack of support from employers.
Karoshi can have a devastating effect on workers and their families, and it is a problem that is increasingly being recognised in Japan and other countries with high levels of work-related stress. What is the Japanese term for death by overwork? The Japanese term for death by overwork is karoshi.
How do you solve karoshi?
There is no single silver bullet to solving karoshi. The best way to tackle the issue is to take a holistic and multi-pronged approach that includes the following elements:
1. Improve work-life balance
This can be done in a number of ways, such as introducing flexible working arrangements, providing more support for employees with young children, and encouraging employees to take regular breaks during the day.
2. Reduce work hours
One way to reduce the incidence of karoshi is to reduce the number of hours that employees are expected to work. This can be done by introducing shorter work days, longer weekends, and/or more paid vacation days.
3. Improve job satisfaction
Employees are more likely to experience karoshi if they are unhappy with their jobs. To improve job satisfaction, employers can focus on creating a positive work environment, providing opportunities for career development, and offering competitive salaries and benefits.
4. Increase support for employees
Employees who feel supported by their employers are less likely to experience karoshi. Employers can increase support for employees by offering employee assistance programs, stress management training, and regular check-ins with employees.
5. Educate employees about karoshi
Many employees are not aware of the risks of karoshi. Employers can help to educate employees about the signs and symptoms of karoshi and how to prevent it by providing information and resources
Why are people in Japan so overworked?
There are several reasons why people in Japan are overworked. One reason is that the country has a very high population density, which means that there are more people competing for jobs. This makes it difficult for companies to fill all their positions, so they often require employees to work longer hours.
Another reason is that the Japanese culture places a high value on hard work. This means that people are often expected to work long hours in order to be considered successful. Additionally, many Japanese companies have a “lifetime employment” system, which means that employees are expected to stay with one company for their entire career. This can lead to employees feeling like they have to work harder in order to keep their job.
Finally, the Japanese government has a number of policies that make it easier for companies to require employees to work long hours. For example, the government does not require companies to provide overtime pay, and it also does not limit the number of hours that people can work in a week. As a result, many people in Japan work extremely long hours, which can lead to burnout and other health problems.