Why Japan wants its citizens to try a 4-day workweek

The government launched a ‘work style reform’ campaign that promotes shorter hours and other flexible arrangements along with overtime limits and paid annual leave. Japan, a nation so hardworking its language has a term for literally working oneself to death, is trying to address a worrisome labor shortage by coaxing more people and companies to adopt four-day workweeks.The Japanese government first expressed support for a shorter working week in 2021, after lawmakers endorsed the idea. The concept has been slow to catch on, however; about 8% of companies in Japan allow employees to take three or more days off per week, while 7% give their workers the legally mandated one day off, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.Hoping to produce more takers, especially among small and medium-size businesses, the government launched a “work style reform” campaign that promotes shorter hours and other flexible arrangements along with overtime limits and paid annual leave. The labor ministry recently started offering free consulting, grants, and a growing library of success stories as further motivation.“By realizing a society in which workers can choose from a variety of working styles based on their circumstances, we aim to create a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution and enable each and every worker to have a better outlook for the future,” states a ministry website about the hatarakikata kaikaku campaign, which translates to “innovating how we work.”The... Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2024-09-02 14:15:57 UTC ]
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Inspired by John Green, bookstores celebrate Esther Day

Esther Day is celebrated on Aug. 3, the birthday of teenager Esther Earl, with whom 'The Fault in Our Stars' author Green became acquainted before she died in 2010. Earl suggested the holiday center on 'the kinds of love that are too often overlooked in our culture: love among friends and... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Job Moves: August 4, 2014

Lucy Danziger, most recently editor-in-chief of "SELF" magazine, is joining Ballantine Bantam Dell in the newly created position of editor-at-large. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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News Briefs: Week of August 4, 2014

Harlequin sale to HarperCollins closes and more in this week's publishing news briefs. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Picks: Books of the Week, August 4, 2014

This week, "Bad Feminist," Bridget Jones meets Carrie Bradshaw, and a kingdom of ice. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With Five Days Until Independence, Six Measures of Tribune Publishing's Future

It's do or die time for Chicago Tribune and its sibling newspapers.On Aug. 4, Tribune Publishing Co. will be on its own, after parent Tribune Media Co. hives off its print properties. While Tribune Media will remain privately held, the new publishing company will start trading the next day on... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harlequin Results Down; Sale to Close in Days

With Harlequin’s sale to HarperCollins expected to be completed before the end of the week, the publisher reported a decline in sales and earnings in the second quarter of 2014. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookPeople Celebrates National Bookstore Day (Only at BookPeople)

Next month the Austin bookstore is creating its own day to celebrate its independence with free books, activities, and cake. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nielsen Book: Total book market declined 4% in 2013

The overall book market including print and digital fell by 4% in 2013, according to Nielsen Book... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pearson Cutting 4,000 Jobs as First-Half Sales Decline

Pearson Plc (PSON), the publisher of the Financial Times, said today it will have cut a total of about 4,000 jobs in the two years through 2014 and reported a sales decline of 6.5 percent for the first half. The cuts are equivalent to about 10 perc ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2014 Man Booker Prize Longlist Features 4 Yanks

The first Man Booker Prize longlist after opening to world English writers includes books by four Americans, six Britons, two Irish writers and one Australian. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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App Report: Every Day Is a Food Holiday

Happy Junk Food Day! There's a food-centric holiday for every day of the year, and a newly updated app from Food.com collects recipes to celebrate each and every one of them. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book Sales Rose 4% in First Quarter

Trade ebook sales rose 4.3% in the first quarter of 2014 to $387.9 million, according to AAP's monthly StatShot report. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tribune Publishing confirms Aug. 4 spinoff date

Tribune Publishing will spin off from Tribune Co. on Aug. 4, the new publishing company confirmed Tuesday. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicago Indie Bookstore Day A Huge Success

Despite torrential rains, the first Chicago Independent Bookstore Day on July 12 was a huge success that exceeded all expectations, participating indie booksellers told PW. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicago Mayor Sets City's Independent Bookstore Day

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel issued an official proclamation earlier this week, declaring Saturday, July 12 to be Chicago Independent Bookstore Day. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House to Sponsor California Bookstore Day

Just days ahead of Chicago Bookstore Day on July 12, California Bookstore Day, which inspired it, announced a new sponsor. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ALA 2014: Librarian by Day, Novelist by Night

Three librarians with novels published in 2014 gathered at ALA Vegas on Saturday afternoon to share their experiences as authors navigating the library world and vice versa. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sanrio Launches Hello Kitty Reading Day

To mark Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary, licensor Sanrio and its publishing licensees are planning the first Hello Kitty Reading Day this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicago will be home to an Independent Bookstore Day

Nine indie stores so far have teamed up to hold a Chicago Independent Bookstore Day this July. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tracking Amazon: '10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse' Bests 'Hard Choices'

After J.J. Smith's appearance on the "Steve Harvey Show," the author's "10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse," published in February, moved from #42 to #2 on Amazon's bestseller list, pushing Hillary Clinton's memoir down to #3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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