Canon is sending employees homes early (5:30) twice a week, to help the birthrate of Japan. Japan has a low birthrate and a rapidly aging population and the traditional 12-hours work days did not help in that matter. At least, that’s the assumption here.
We wonder if this has any economic repercussions as well (are these hours paid or not?). Because it’s not like companies around the world aren’t asking their employees to take their vacations as soon as possible to make the books look better for next quarter.
A few years down the road, we’ll see if Canon employees where fulfilling their “duty” to the nation, or just playing tennis on the Wii. [Marketwatch]
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