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Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
Sun Sep 30, 2012, 10:56 PM Sep 2012

Karoshi -Working yourself to death.

Last edited Mon Oct 1, 2012, 01:45 AM - Edit history (1)

The Japanese have a word for it. It is "karoshi". Literally working yourself to death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karōshi

It has been the subject of lawsuits for decades in Japan. Why is there no such acknowledgement in the US which actually spends more time working per person than Japan now -with less vacation?

Primarily men bear the burden of this. Another cost of forcing responsibility on men for the bulk of the family income.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Karoshi -Working yourself to death. (Original Post) Bonobo Sep 2012 OP
i have mixed feelings on this, for some people work is enjoyable loli phabay Oct 2012 #1
My advice would be to stop doing that. lumberjack_jeff Oct 2012 #5
nah my job dosent matter i just need to do stuff loli phabay Oct 2012 #7
I get that, I hate idleness too. lumberjack_jeff Oct 2012 #8
ive always worked every hour of the day for every job ive done sometimes 2 or 3 jobs loli phabay Oct 2012 #9
I come from the "Follow Your Bliss" school of thought. Warren DeMontague Oct 2012 #2
Man, if I had done that... Bonobo Oct 2012 #3
Yeah, like I said Warren DeMontague Oct 2012 #4
Men are disposable. 4th law of robotics Oct 2012 #6
My wife started working for a Japanese company in Indiana a few months ago. caraher Oct 2012 #10
 

loli phabay

(5,580 posts)
1. i have mixed feelings on this, for some people work is enjoyable
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 02:17 AM
Oct 2012

my misses knows that i would happily work 20 hours a day 7 days a week if i could and drop dead there as well. its not that her and the kids are bad or anything i just love working. PS i dont do vacations, and she hates that fact but they go and sometimes ill tag along for a couple of days but then im back to work.

 

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)
5. My advice would be to stop doing that.
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 10:59 AM
Oct 2012

It's not good for you, your family, your community or the person who can't find a job because you're working for two.

Everyone I've known who described themselves in the way you just did was crushed and lost when their job went away.

If I were king, I'd make overtime double-time, and triple-time after 60 hours a week. Businesses would then hire the people they need to get the job done.

 

loli phabay

(5,580 posts)
7. nah my job dosent matter i just need to do stuff
Tue Oct 2, 2012, 05:45 PM
Oct 2012

Even on days off ill spend fourteen hours working on my property. For me i just cant be idle if i sit for more than ten minutes i get the heehies and need to do stuff.

 

lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)
8. I get that, I hate idleness too.
Tue Oct 2, 2012, 06:52 PM
Oct 2012

I can read a book while lying in bed, but pretty much no other time.

I'm just saying that people who take their personal identity from their job and how many hours they dedicate to it are at risk.

 

loli phabay

(5,580 posts)
9. ive always worked every hour of the day for every job ive done sometimes 2 or 3 jobs
Tue Oct 2, 2012, 07:18 PM
Oct 2012

at the same time, i really just need to do stuff as idle hands are the work of the deil.

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
2. I come from the "Follow Your Bliss" school of thought.
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 02:31 AM
Oct 2012

Easier said that done, of course, especially nowadays.

Bonobo

(29,257 posts)
3. Man, if I had done that...
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 02:34 AM
Oct 2012

Seriously, I would still be selling bags of weed that I cleaned on the album cover of "In through the out door"

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
4. Yeah, like I said
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 03:39 AM
Oct 2012

easier said than done. Still, I know people who have completely subsumed their entire soul and existence to have the right job and the right size paycheck. It's like, but you're miserable- what's the point?

 

4th law of robotics

(6,801 posts)
6. Men are disposable.
Mon Oct 1, 2012, 12:46 PM
Oct 2012

If you want people to care then women need to start dying in large numbers.

Just another male privilege.

/notice how stories will just say "15,000 people died today" if it's only men. But then "15,000 people and FOUR WOMEN (!!) died today" . . .

caraher

(6,278 posts)
10. My wife started working for a Japanese company in Indiana a few months ago.
Thu Oct 4, 2012, 02:38 AM
Oct 2012

The Japanese men pretty much never go home. And there does seem to be an expectation that anyone who is not an hourly employee will work many hours beyond the nominal 8-4:30 they officially say they expect them to work.

She's been working ridiculous hours for a month or so now. In some ways it's an excellent job, but this might prove a dealbreaker.

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