(Solution) 5OS04 Question 5 (AC 2.2) major ways in which employment and labour market traditions vary between the UK and Japan

Solution

Two major differences in employment and labour market traditions between the UK and Japan are job security vs. labour flexibility and working hours and overtime culture.

Job Security vs. Labour Flexibility- Like most other countries, Japan has a lifetime employment tradition which encourages the employees to work with one company for most of their careers leading to loyalty and stability. On the contrary, the labour market in the UK is flexible and an employee can change jobs for career growth (Wahl and Tabor Hartley, 2011). In the example, A UK based pharmaceutical researcher would switch from one company to another every few years for better pay, while the Japanese counterpart would expect his or her long-term progression within a single company.

Working Hours & Overtime Culture – Japanese employees often work long hours with unpaid overtime (karoshi risks), prioritizing group harmony. The UK promotes work-life balance, with laws limiting excessive work hours. Example: In Japan, a production manager may stay late to support team efforts, while in the UK, strict working time regulations ensure employees do not exceed 48-hour workweeks unless they opt out.

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