Wednesday, January 21, 2009

BIG in Japan... Work Sharing

by the Sandwichman

This is how it begins. With baby steps. Experience with these kinds of programs in the past is that people learn they actually like the extra free time.
In the deep south of Japan sits the tiny island of Himeshima. Farmers cultivate delicious prawns, the rare chestnut tiger butterfly flitters around the beach and 2,400 islanders wallow in total job security.

It has been so on Himeshima for 40 years and suddenly, faced with the most alarming economic downturn since the Second World War, everyone from the central Government in Tokyo to the country's biggest industrial conglomerates is desperate to copy its secret: work sharing...

Tactics for hard times as Japanese turn to job-sharing

Business groups split over work sharing

Helping Employers Cut Hours, Not Jobs

Business bigwig suggests work-sharing schemes to cope with tough times


"the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job..."

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