Court orders Y100 mil payment for suicide caused by overwork

Tuesday 03rd February, 09:50 AM JST

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15 Comments

kokuryu at 05:49 AM JST - 3rd February

Hmm, I wonder if other companies will sit up and take notice now. All someone has to do is mutter a little about suicide and they will have to give them time off, reduced workloads, etc.
some14some at 07:29 AM JST - 3rd February

Preliminary judgement, higher court may reduce compensation to Y10m and highest court Y0 and will take few years for readers to follow this case.
Asara at 07:54 AM JST - 3rd February

Japanese government have to re-educate rural policy makers and business owners that it is 21st century and slavery is not so fashionable these days something. Otherwise it is really shameful for world viewers. Well in american rural areas people are dying of cold freeze and cold community attitude so maybe it is same trend in east and west.
outofmydepth at 08:12 AM JST - 3rd February

when wukk companies learn that humans need some rest and rejuvenation time????? i get sick when i hear about death by overwork. also, the men in this country need to get some backbone.
mindovermatter at 08:57 AM JST - 3rd February

owners that it is 21st century and slavery is not so fashionable these days something

Oh, well they must have omitted the parts of that story concerning being chained to his place of work.

Ridiculous, he could have quite at any time... Sometimes a job really sux, you either make the best of it, or get a new job...
tmarie at 10:11 AM JST - 3rd February

I think the guy decided to stay and do the work. How can they charge a company for this?? The guy should have said no and suffered the consequences of that instead of working and killing himself.
chill at 11:10 AM JST - 3rd February

I wonder if companies stung by judgments like this actually pay up?
meiwaku at 11:18 AM JST - 3rd February

Not so easy to quit and get a new job here in Japan. You getted branded and it is hard to find another job. He could not just quit. He is not working in North America. He probably decided to stay and do the work because that is what he had been brainwashed to do. The company is totally to blame. I truly hope this case changes things for the better.
tmarie at 11:44 AM JST - 3rd February

I don't think you can blame just the company. Blame society for turning out sheeple who will just do what they are told without thinking for themselves. Thing is, this guy would have turned around and expected the younger guys to work the same kind of hours because he did it. It is a bullying society and when people finally reach an age where they aren't killing themselves with work, they expect the younger generation to work like they used to. It is rather selfish and things won't change unless people actually take a stance on it all.
samsarks at 12:56 PM JST - 3rd February

t marie-It will be very difficult for a jp man to make such choices especially if he is their so called "shine" or permanent staff especially if he is married.i had the same problem b4.i worked as a "shine" in a jp company just taking home a meagre salary.i faced a lot of challenges at work ,i wanted to quit but my jp wife said no cos of the benefits that come with been a shine.It almost cost me my marriage but one day i just stood up n said enough is enough.i stopped and picked on a new job ,which am happy even though i am not a shine.that is the choice i made as a gaijin.
tmarie at 02:18 PM JST - 3rd February

I don't think it is easy for anyone but often the excuse is "I can't quit because I have to support my family". Going and offing yourself means the family isn't supported so they are stuck in the same position as they would have been if the father had quit and looked for a new job. Except someone had to find the body, pay for a funeral and deal with the shame of a father who killed himself. Quitting seems like a better option. But hey, sue the company and hope for money... It is sick.
Yelnats at 03:53 PM JST - 3rd February

Maybe he decided to overwork due to the fact that he had no family life, hated his wife, his kids hated him, and he laid on the couch all day when he did have time off. Between work and home, I believe he said this sucks and did himself in. Another happy soul finds a Shinto Shrine in the sky.
tmarie at 04:15 PM JST - 3rd February

If that is the case than his wife and family shouldn't be getting any more at all.
Midnightpromise at 07:12 PM JST - 3rd February

What would the poor guy have done if he had a really, REALLY bad job? One so bad it made him quit?
Kameleon at 08:38 PM JST - 3rd February

I agree, it is his fault for not standing up to his boss.

If you make the decision to be a slave, don't expect me to pity you.

I have had many a job where I worked really hard, and got serious stress, but NEVER contemplated suicide.

The company are definitely responsible for pushing him too hard, but he is ultimately responsible for killing himself, rather than find work elsewhere.

This news is lame.