David B. 4d ago

Things I will never understand with neither Anglos nor Japanese people: having job-related events (like talks, etc) on weekends or meetings at lunch time.

When I'm suggested a meeting during lunch time, my answer is a clear, plain and simple "hell no!" (also, I'm not available during lunch break, even if I'm very obviously in my office).

⤵️

#LifeInJapan #WorkLifeBalance

Show threadDavid B. 4d ago
Weekend events are trickier because I sometimes want to attend, but... it's the fucking weekend!!!! I usually just don't mark them anywhere. If I remember, I go. If I forget, it means I had more important things to do.
Show threadgullevek ☢️ 🇯🇵4d ago
@David Gets even fuckier if you work in an international company and there is only New York time or London time and people expect you to attend meetings at 2am
Show threadDavid B. 4d ago

@gullevek In that case "fuck off" is a very appropriate answer in my opinion. Remember that regardless of the nationality of your company, Japanese laws apply. Even in Japan, I'm pretty sure that a meeting at 2am is frowned upon if your work hours are mostly regular.

It reminds me of a story of a Dutch person working for a US company, in the Netherlands, but whose new manager was based in the US, and ⤵️

Show threadDavid B. 
@gullevek And the manager acting 100% like an American manager, getting pissed when the Dutch staff was not replying to his e-mail he had sent after Dutch work hours or weekends, and such. The guy laughed when the manager threatened him. The manager reported him to the HR. HR (based in the Netherlands) laughed too...
Apr 3 at 3:13amWeb