collegemom16

A Japanese labor bureau has ruled that one of Toyota Motor Corp.'s top car engineers died from working too many hours, the latest decision against overwork in Japan, where stoic acceptance of extended overtime has long been the norm.

The man who died was aged 45 and had been under severe pressure as the lead engineer in developing a hybrid version of Toyota's blockbuster Camry line, said Mikio Mizuno, the lawyer representing his wife. His identity is being withheld at the request of his family, who continue to live in Toyota City where the company is based.

Top Toyota Engineer Died From Overwork - AOL Money & Finance

kelsmom

I just heard about that on our local news report. How very sad. Unfortunately, the way the US car companies are cutting back on engineers ... you just might end up seeing similar tragedies in our country. While it may not be a "cultural thing" to work as much as that engineer did, it is becoming a necessity in order to keep a job.

BunsenBurner

I'm forwarding this to my H. He needs to re-educate himself about the health benefits of not working every weekend and evening. @$&* BlackBerry!

b@r!um

Does anyone happen to know what the regular work week is in Japan?

20 hours of overtime a week, especially if it includes weekends, on top of a regular 40 or 50 hour week does not sound like it would kill an otherwise reasonably healthy person.

kelsmom

I suspect that the stress may have resulted from being given a task that was impossible to do in the time given. Unlike my H's old boss, who would say yes to everything & just not worry about what didn't get done (!), this gentleman most likely considered it his duty to finish as requested ... felt disloyal and ashamed when he was unable to do so.