"I Know Better" Subordinate Yells at Boss... Japanese Civil Servant Disciplined for 'Reverse Power Harassment'

"Many Supervisors Hesitate to Seek Help Due to Pride"

A case of 'reverse power harassment' has occurred in Japan, where a subordinate worker bullied their superior and was disciplined for it. Given that workplace harassment typically flows from supervisors to subordinates, experts note that this case challenges conventional assumptions.

According to Kansai TV on April 28, the city of Suita, Osaka Prefecture, recently imposed a three-month pay reduction (10 percent of monthly salary) on a 47-year-old staff-level employee of the Citizens Office for routinely harassing their direct superior.

Investigations revealed that since September 2024, the employee, who had more knowledge and experience relevant to work, repeatedly spoke loudly and made inappropriate remarks toward a superior who had been in the position for about six months. It was reported that their shouting made it difficult for others in the office to answer phone calls.

Japanese experts refer to this as 'reverse power harassment,' pointing out that cases where subordinates harass their superiors are not uncommon. Kaname Murasaki, the head of the Japan Harassment Association, stated, "Many people think of power harassment only as something supervisors do to subordinates, but in reality, the reverse is not rare." He added, "The biggest issue is that many people are unaware that harassment can also go from the bottom up." He continued, "Supervisors who are victims often hesitate to seek help due to pride and end up enduring it alone."

The current Japanese 'Power Harassment Prevention Law' defines power harassment as conduct that harms the work environment, based on a superior relationship and exceeding the scope of necessary and reasonable workplace conduct. Here, 'superior relationship' includes not only job position but also professional knowledge or experience.

Murasaki explained, "In extreme cases, even a new employee could commit reverse power harassment. If a newcomer with specialized expertise pressures a supervisor who lacks knowledge in a certain field, that person could become the perpetrator." He further pointed out, "Harassment can occur regardless of rank, and many people fail to recognize their behavior as harassment simply because they believe it is 'justified criticism.' No matter how correct the point being made, if the manner and degree of expression exceed what is appropriate, it becomes harassment."

He also advised that it is important to treat colleagues as courteously as one would treat customers. Murasaki said, "If you find it difficult to change your tone of voice, try thinking of the other person as a 'customer.' If you address colleagues as you would a customer, you can reduce unnecessary slip-ups and it will have a positive impact on both workplace relationships and work itself."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.