一般來說,很少有對話能像向雇主提辭職那樣令人感到焦慮。除非你像電影《甜心先生》(Jerry Maguire)的男主角一樣,在辭職的時候發(fā)表一段戲劇性的獨白,并且偷走辦公室里養(yǎng)的魚。對于其他人而言,如果沒有能力充分釋放我們的怒火或煩惱,我們可以將這些困難的對話外包給其他人。事實證明,有幾家公司正在提供這項業(yè)務。
在日本涌現(xiàn)出越來越多公司,代表上班族商談辭職的問題。2017年成立的初創(chuàng)公司Exit,是這個新興領域的先行者。客戶只要支付2萬日元(不到150美元),該公司就可以聯(lián)系客戶的老板,代表客戶提出辭職,不需要客戶親自到場。
2023年,Exit聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人新野俊之對半島電視臺解釋稱,創(chuàng)建這家公司的點子源自他自己辭職時遇到的麻煩,以及日本整體的職場文化。他說道:“如果你入職不足三年決定辭職,他們會讓你感到羞恥,產(chǎn)生負罪感。我[自己辭職]的時候就經(jīng)歷過一段非常艱難的時期?!彼忉尫Q,人們選擇他的服務,最常見的原因是“他們害怕老板”,或者受到負罪感的折磨。
據(jù)CNN報道,Exit的服務一經(jīng)推出就備受歡迎,由此催生了一批競爭對手,包括Momuri,這個公司名稱的意思是“我再也無法繼續(xù)下去”。但據(jù)媒體報道,Exit每年接待的客戶超過10,000人。日本的勞動力人口不足7,000萬,因此或許這確實不能代表整個社會對工作的態(tài)度。但該項業(yè)務開展地如此順利,證明了背后有更大的因素在發(fā)揮作用。
Albatross也是一家提供該業(yè)務的公司。其首席執(zhí)行官谷本慎二對《華爾街日報》表示,為什么上班族會處于崩潰的邊緣,這個問題的答案非常簡單。原因在于難以相處的老板、沒有報酬的加班和無法使用帶薪休假的文化。谷本慎二稱:“我們都知道原因?!?/p>
當前所發(fā)生的狀況,是對我們的工作方式以及我們應該如何工作這些理念的反思。新冠疫情讓全世界開始重新思考工作的意義,一些員工辭去了低薪工作,許多人希望獲得更大的靈活性。隨著市場的波動,這些福利也會隨之發(fā)生變化,但有跡象表明,更深層次的變化正在發(fā)生,例如全球范圍內(nèi)關于縮短每周工作時長的討論越來越多,而且工會在美國日益受到上班族的歡迎。
24歲的坂本佑太對《華爾街日報》解釋稱,在他嘗試辭職后,老板告訴他“正在毀掉自己的未來”,于是他找了一家辭職代理機構。他表示:“如果我繼續(xù)自己處理辭職,我可能會精神崩潰?!彼脛趧恿Σ蛔愕默F(xiàn)狀,找到了一份壓力相對較小的工作。
24歲的渡邊由紀(化名)對CNN表示,長時間工作影響到她的身體健康,由于擔心上司可能拒絕她辭職,于是她找到了Momuri。事實上,上班族們對CNN表示,辭職過程通常并不簡單,有時候還會遭到上司的騷擾。
由于疫情、裁員和社會經(jīng)濟動蕩,許多年輕上班族正在經(jīng)歷生存危機,這促使他們優(yōu)先考慮自己的心理健康。東京一橋大學商學院(Hitotsubashi University Business School)人力資源教授小野浩對CNN表示,雖然年輕人可能受夠了職場文化,但他們也更傾向于“非對抗性”的處事原則。小野浩提到了新冠疫情期間的社交孤立潮流,他表示,年輕上班族可能對工作持不同的態(tài)度,但他們可能還沒有準備好當面向老板提出辭職。
日本當前的勞動力短缺,似乎刺激了新一波職場創(chuàng)新。據(jù)美聯(lián)社報道,日本政府正式介入,支持每周四天工作制,并推出了一項名為“工作方式改革”的活動,旨在推廣靈活工作安排和限制加班。據(jù)蓋洛普(Gallup)統(tǒng)計,日本的員工參與度全球最低,只有6%,相比之下全球平均水平達到23%。
但工作狂文化和對遭到報復的擔憂似乎難以動搖,因此才會產(chǎn)生招聘機構試圖解決的負罪感。據(jù)美聯(lián)社報道,在63,000名松下(Panasonic)員工中,只有7%選擇了公司提供的新工作制。美聯(lián)社引用日本厚生勞動省的數(shù)據(jù)稱,只有7%的公司為員工提供法定休假。小野浩在2020年接受BBC采訪時表示,在日本,如果老板不休假,上班族也不太可能會休假,因為日本是一個“集體主義和等級森嚴的”社會。
Exit創(chuàng)始人新野俊之解釋稱,他提供服務的目的是讓雇主能夠提供誠實的反饋,而不是“一個站不住腳的借口”。他承認,人們總是一如既往地難以挑戰(zhàn)或直面?zhèn)鹘y(tǒng)。但這卻對他的公司有利。
他對半島電視臺表示:“我們的世界沒有那么容易修復或改變。我們的公司已經(jīng)有六年歷史,我們的客戶數(shù)量持續(xù)增多,因此我認為這意味著什么都沒有改變。即使再過100年也不會有任何改變。”(財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
日本東京的通勤者。B.S.P.I.—GETTY IMAGES
一般來說,很少有對話能像向雇主提辭職那樣令人感到焦慮。除非你像電影《甜心先生》(Jerry Maguire)的男主角一樣,在辭職的時候發(fā)表一段戲劇性的獨白,并且偷走辦公室里養(yǎng)的魚。對于其他人而言,如果沒有能力充分釋放我們的怒火或煩惱,我們可以將這些困難的對話外包給其他人。事實證明,有幾家公司正在提供這項業(yè)務。
在日本涌現(xiàn)出越來越多公司,代表上班族商談辭職的問題。2017年成立的初創(chuàng)公司Exit,是這個新興領域的先行者??蛻糁灰Ц?萬日元(不到150美元),該公司就可以聯(lián)系客戶的老板,代表客戶提出辭職,不需要客戶親自到場。
2023年,Exit聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人新野俊之對半島電視臺解釋稱,創(chuàng)建這家公司的點子源自他自己辭職時遇到的麻煩,以及日本整體的職場文化。他說道:“如果你入職不足三年決定辭職,他們會讓你感到羞恥,產(chǎn)生負罪感。我[自己辭職]的時候就經(jīng)歷過一段非常艱難的時期?!彼忉尫Q,人們選擇他的服務,最常見的原因是“他們害怕老板”,或者受到負罪感的折磨。
據(jù)CNN報道,Exit的服務一經(jīng)推出就備受歡迎,由此催生了一批競爭對手,包括Momuri,這個公司名稱的意思是“我再也無法繼續(xù)下去”。但據(jù)媒體報道,Exit每年接待的客戶超過10,000人。日本的勞動力人口不足7,000萬,因此或許這確實不能代表整個社會對工作的態(tài)度。但該項業(yè)務開展地如此順利,證明了背后有更大的因素在發(fā)揮作用。
Albatross也是一家提供該業(yè)務的公司。其首席執(zhí)行官谷本慎二對《華爾街日報》表示,為什么上班族會處于崩潰的邊緣,這個問題的答案非常簡單。原因在于難以相處的老板、沒有報酬的加班和無法使用帶薪休假的文化。谷本慎二稱:“我們都知道原因。”
當前所發(fā)生的狀況,是對我們的工作方式以及我們應該如何工作這些理念的反思。新冠疫情讓全世界開始重新思考工作的意義,一些員工辭去了低薪工作,許多人希望獲得更大的靈活性。隨著市場的波動,這些福利也會隨之發(fā)生變化,但有跡象表明,更深層次的變化正在發(fā)生,例如全球范圍內(nèi)關于縮短每周工作時長的討論越來越多,而且工會在美國日益受到上班族的歡迎。
24歲的坂本佑太對《華爾街日報》解釋稱,在他嘗試辭職后,老板告訴他“正在毀掉自己的未來”,于是他找了一家辭職代理機構。他表示:“如果我繼續(xù)自己處理辭職,我可能會精神崩潰。”他利用勞動力不足的現(xiàn)狀,找到了一份壓力相對較小的工作。
24歲的渡邊由紀(化名)對CNN表示,長時間工作影響到她的身體健康,由于擔心上司可能拒絕她辭職,于是她找到了Momuri。事實上,上班族們對CNN表示,辭職過程通常并不簡單,有時候還會遭到上司的騷擾。
由于疫情、裁員和社會經(jīng)濟動蕩,許多年輕上班族正在經(jīng)歷生存危機,這促使他們優(yōu)先考慮自己的心理健康。東京一橋大學商學院(Hitotsubashi University Business School)人力資源教授小野浩對CNN表示,雖然年輕人可能受夠了職場文化,但他們也更傾向于“非對抗性”的處事原則。小野浩提到了新冠疫情期間的社交孤立潮流,他表示,年輕上班族可能對工作持不同的態(tài)度,但他們可能還沒有準備好當面向老板提出辭職。
日本當前的勞動力短缺,似乎刺激了新一波職場創(chuàng)新。據(jù)美聯(lián)社報道,日本政府正式介入,支持每周四天工作制,并推出了一項名為“工作方式改革”的活動,旨在推廣靈活工作安排和限制加班。據(jù)蓋洛普(Gallup)統(tǒng)計,日本的員工參與度全球最低,只有6%,相比之下全球平均水平達到23%。
但工作狂文化和對遭到報復的擔憂似乎難以動搖,因此才會產(chǎn)生招聘機構試圖解決的負罪感。據(jù)美聯(lián)社報道,在63,000名松下(Panasonic)員工中,只有7%選擇了公司提供的新工作制。美聯(lián)社引用日本厚生勞動省的數(shù)據(jù)稱,只有7%的公司為員工提供法定休假。小野浩在2020年接受BBC采訪時表示,在日本,如果老板不休假,上班族也不太可能會休假,因為日本是一個“集體主義和等級森嚴的”社會。
Exit創(chuàng)始人新野俊之解釋稱,他提供服務的目的是讓雇主能夠提供誠實的反饋,而不是“一個站不住腳的借口”。他承認,人們總是一如既往地難以挑戰(zhàn)或直面?zhèn)鹘y(tǒng)。但這卻對他的公司有利。
他對半島電視臺表示:“我們的世界沒有那么容易修復或改變。我們的公司已經(jīng)有六年歷史,我們的客戶數(shù)量持續(xù)增多,因此我認為這意味著什么都沒有改變。即使再過100年也不會有任何改變?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W(wǎng))
譯者:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
There are, generally speaking, few talks that are as anxiety-inducing as a resignation convo with an employer. That is, unless you can go full Jerry Maguire with it, and go out with a dramatic monologue that includes stealing the office fish. For the rest of us, without an ability to channel our full ire or annoyance, it might be nice to offshore those difficult conversations onto others. Turns out, there’s a business, or two, for that.
In Japan, companies are springing up to have that awkward chat on behalf of workers. Launched in 2017, a startup called Exit was a trailblazer in the developing field. For 20,000 yen (or a bit less than $150), the business will call a client’s bosses and quit for them—no in-person presence required.
Exit co-founder Toshiyuki Niino explained to Al Jazeera in 2023 that the idea was born out of his own troubles in leaving his job and the larger workplace cultural norms at play in Japan. “They try to make you ashamed and guilty that you quit your job in less than three years, and I had a very difficult time [quitting myself],” he said, explaining that people most often approach his service because “they are scared of their boss,” or are grappling with feelings of guilt.
Since then, Exit has become so popular that it has spawned some competitors, including one called Momuri, which translates to “I can’t do this anymore,” per CNN. Exit, though, reportedly receives more than 10,000 clients yearly. To be sure, the labor force in Japan is just shy of 70 million people, making this group not necessarily indicative of societal attitudes towards work. But perhaps the fact that business is so swimming is a testament to something larger at play.
The answer as to why workers are reaching the brink is quite straightforward, Shinji Tanimoto, chief executive of one such service called Albatross, told the Wall Street Journal. It’s about difficult bosses, unpaid overtime, and a culture of not being able to use your PTO. “We know the reasons,” said Tanimoto.
Part of what is happening is a reckoning of sorts with notions of how work has and should be done. The pandemic set off a global rethinking of our jobs, as some employees quit their low-paying jobs, many of them on the hunt for greater flexibility. As the market ebbs and flows these benefits do as well, but there are signs of deeper changes taking place as talks of a compressed workweek gain traction worldwide and unions rise in popularity in the U.S.
Yuta Sakamoto, 24, explained to the Wall Street Journal that he turned to a quitting agency after his boss told him he’d “be ruining his future” after he tried to resign. “I would have been mentally broken if I had continued,” Sakamoto said, saying he used the labor shortage to find a less stressful job.
Citing long-hours which impacted her health, 24-year-old Yuki Watanabe (a pseudonym)said she hired Momuri after fearing her manager would reject her resignation, per CNN. Indeed, employees tell CNN that a resignation process isn’t always simple, and sometimes incites harassment from managers.
Many young workers are experiencing an existential crisis, spurred by the pandemic, layoffs, and socio-economic turmoil, which has emboldened them to prioritize their mental health. Young adults might have had enough, but they’re also more prone to be “more non-confrontational,” Hiroshi Ono, professor of human resources at Hitotsubashi University Business School in Tokyo, told CNN. Pointing towards the wave of social isolation during COVID-19, Ono said that while these younger workers might have different attitudes towards work, they’re perhaps not yet ready to quit to their bosses’ faces.
Japan’s current labor shortage seems to have fueled this new wave of workplace innovation. The government is getting involved, placing support behind a four-day workweek, a “work style reform” campaign that looks to promote flexible arrangements and curb overtime work, according to the Associated Press. The country has some of the lowest employee engagement scores in the world, at just 6% compared to the global average of 23%, according to pollster Gallup.
But the workaholic culture and fear of retribution is seemingly hard to shake, leading to said guilt that these recruitment agencies attempt to tackle. Just 7% of the 63,000 employees who worked at Panasonic took the new workweek as given to them, per AP. And only 7% of companies gave their workers the mandated day off, per the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, as cited by the outlet. Employees in Japan might be less likely to take time off if their boss doesn’t because they’re part of a society that is “collectivist and hierarchical,” said Ono in a separate interview with BBC in 2020.
Explaining that his service is made to give employers the ability to give honest feedback rather than “a weak excuse,” Exit founder Niino recognizes that tradition is, as always, hard to challenge or confront. But it happens to be good for his business.
“Our world is not that easy to fix or change,” he told Al Jazeera. “We have been running this company for six years and the number of clients is increasing, so I guess that means nothing has changed. I don’t think it will change for the next 100 years.”