Toyota Camry hybrid lead engineer died from Karoshi (overwork)
Lending a bit of credence to recent allegations made by The National Labor Committee regarding workers right abuses by Toyota is the recent death of a lead engineer on the Camry hybrid project. Although the man died back in 2006, the Japanese Health Ministry has just now ruled that the man died of karoshi, which is a Japanese word meaning death from overwork. This ruling will allow his family to receive benefits from his ex-employer. The 45-year old man is survived by a daughter and his wife, who recalls her husband working long eighty-hour work weeks, along with frequent nights and weekends. Just prior to his death, he was working on shipping logistics related to the Detroit Auto Show, a trip he missed by just one day. Toyota responded to the ruling by saying that it would monitor its workers health more closely. Thanks for the tip, Ledwinka![Source: AP via Yahoo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
BlackCanary 4:12PM (7/09/2008)
He could have quit or is Toyota like run like the prison camp building the Bridge over the River Kwi? Please this group is a pro-union organization going after Toyota. The unions will not be happy until no one makes a car in the US or Canada.
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Kingus 4:25PM (7/09/2008)
Things are a bit different in Japan. Lengthy hours and unpaid overtime is common, one cannot easily change jobs either. Students are hired and stay with the company for the rest of their life.
Japan could use some union movements imo.
baffledu2 4:29PM (7/09/2008)
First .. It is beyond obvious you have no, zip, zilch, nada, understanding of Japanese society.
Second .. The Labor Relations Committee refered to is in Japan not the U.S. This isn't about some pro-union conspiracy you twit.
Third .. Americans died and were beaten in Flint Michigan and other American cities in the establishment of unions so you might have a decent work week, decent wages, health care, etc. The absurd trashing of labor unions by ignorent individuals who consider their fellow American workers to be the enemy is a sad comentary on the times.
You just keep drinking that anti-union kool-aid.
tankd0g 4:30PM (7/09/2008)
Although this guy was probably management, workers are unionized in Japan. It's just not the money grubbing corrupt union that you know and love.
BlackCanary 4:34PM (7/09/2008)
Klingus - Lengthy hours and unpaid overtime are common in the US as well - if you are salary.
Kingus 5:16PM (7/09/2008)
As far as I know, they're still compensated with extra time off, etc. I live in Canada though, so i can see it being tougher in the states.
Kingus 5:42PM (7/09/2008)
also Americans can easily move on to other companies.
BlackCanary 5:58PM (7/09/2008)
I rarely work less than 45 hours. With past companies I routinely worked over 50 and up to 70. I never received compensation of any form for my extra time. I worked hard to achieve my goals and hit my numbers. I make more money every year than I made the previous year (not counting the cost of living increases) based on my hard work and merit. If I count graduate school and the homework I often work 70 hour weeks. I dont know many successful people that complain about working long hours. Try owning your own business and see if you work 40 hour weeks. Ask a farmer about "comp time" or days off.
Tai 6:19PM (7/09/2008)
This is common in Japan. My host father was a engineer for a paper company. He would come home near midnight then go back to work at about 7am. I only saw him on the weekends. And no, he didn't get overtime pay.
azzo45 7:09PM (7/09/2008)
Black Canary: You are comparing apples & oranges. Who cares how many hours you work uncompensated... you are making that choice.
The indy farmer is a small businessman & if you run a store or some small enterprises you understood the "extra" effort it would take to succeed.
Factory workers didn't go to college... the ones that do are given management opps, or supervisor roles. Their union negotiated a work + compensation schedule. These guys are paid to do a job & management knows if they change things they have to pay for those changes.
Just because you are in a situation where you have to constantly bust -a$$ to keep your lifestyle should not have you looking down at workers who do it a different way.
Even if ALL these employees adopted your attitude & work ethic... wouldn't change the fact that there is only so many people to be bosses & the majority of the staff who perform the work. Big business needs a group of low to moderate education (& drive) levels... its how the work gets done without huge turnover.
why not the LS2LS7? 7:39PM (7/09/2008)
baffled:
This guy appears to be white collar. They aren't covered by unions and aren't paid for overtime in the US or Japan.
johneboy 8:16PM (7/09/2008)
Can you give me a specific reason that makes you anti-union? I know it seems to be a popular movement on this website, but I would like more specifics on the negative impact of unions on society. Also, unless you are your own boss, if you make more every year, you will be 'downsized', because the boss will find someone to do your job for half as much.
Jon55 11:41PM (7/09/2008)
@BlackCanary:
Wow, you must be a blast at parties.
/sarcasm
Seriously though, did you want us to read in awe at your post? Were you expecting compliments or something? I hope you really love what you're doing, because otherwise you are wasting your time. Do you work really hard because you're no fun?
BlackCanary 11:48PM (7/09/2008)
I work hard because I like to make money.
Louis Duran 2:09AM (7/10/2008)
BlackCanary... sounds like you're still young. Your work ethic is commendable, but in the end not sustainable. If you plan on retiring at 40 maybe, but I doubt you're going to be able to work like you do with a wife and kids If you do, you'll be lucky if they recognize you when you come home.
I was like you in my 20's and wised up a bit in my 30's. As I approach my 40's I hope to finally have a sensible work-life balance if not for me, at least for my family.
Enlightened_One 4:13PM (7/09/2008)
That is just sad. That means he worked half the week straight. That leaves 88 hours to sleep and be with his family. If this guy slept 6 hrs a day he is down to only 42 hrs to himself. Horrible!
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mk 4:22PM (7/09/2008)
I know the drive to support one's family is strong, and very admirable...
But there has to be some sense of proportion. Working on the Toyota Camry Hybrid is not worth leaving your family without a husband and father.
There are times every once in a while, when I have to ask myself if the extra sacrifice is really and truly worth the cost. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.
I would wager, this time, it wasn't worth the sacrifice.
At some point, you just have to say no, I won't do that.
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tankd0g 4:31PM (7/09/2008)
I doubt there was any point he thought his job was going to kill him.
RJ 7:51PM (7/09/2008)
Well, unless he died of a heart attack, otherwise you don't just suddenly die of stress. It's years of contiunous and painful mental and physical strain, which may affect your dietary and excersizing habits, before your body can't take it no more.
mikomi 4:22PM (7/09/2008)
My condolences to the family. Unfortunately, karoshi is a common problem in Japanese society.
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