"No Instructions, So I Didn't Work"...The Fate of an Employee Who Waited 1000 Days for Orders

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A case in Japan has become a hot topic where an employee shows passion only for their own assigned tasks but lacks initiative, communication, and willingness to cooperate in other matters, embodying the attitude of "no instructions, no work."

On the 12th, the Japanese legal consulting firm ‘Bengoshi JP’ introduced a 2018 Tokyo District Court case in which a Japanese IT company won a lawsuit filed by an employee claiming wrongful dismissal. Mr. A was what is commonly known in Japan as a ‘Jiroe-sawon’ (literally “landmine employee”). A landmine is something that explodes when stepped on, but if not stepped on, it remains a landmine, referring to employees who are inert and stuck in a rut.

Mr. A demonstrated his abilities in areas he was good at but showed no initiative in areas he was not skilled in. He lacked communication skills and did not cooperate with other employees. Sometimes, he spent time browsing the internet instead of helping others. The company said, "Work is not given but found on your own," but the response was unexpected. Mr. A argued, "Initiative is premised on the company assigning tasks within my area of responsibility," adding, "If no tasks are assigned in my area, I don’t have to do anything. It is impossible to show initiative itself."

Unable to tolerate this any longer, the company sought a solution. Judging that sudden dismissal might lead to losing in court, they implemented a three-month work improvement plan. They pointed out various issues to Mr. A and warned that if no improvement was made within three months, he would be dismissed. Did Mr. A change during those three months? As expected, he remained the same. The company eventually called Mr. A and said, "We will give you two months’ salary and reemployment support services, so please leave." When Mr. A refused, the company dismissed him based on employment regulations. The company estimated that Mr. A, who had been with the company for eight years, had spent at least 1,000 days just waiting for instructions.

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The court that heard Mr. A’s wrongful dismissal lawsuit sided with the company. The court ruled, "Not working because there are no instructions and wasting time unnecessarily is a stubborn mindset. Since he did not follow company instructions and spent waiting time carelessly, this constitutes grounds for dismissal." The court especially noted, "Mr. A shifted his own problems onto the company and disrupted discipline and atmosphere within the organization. Considering various circumstances, the dismissal has substantial grounds according to social norms."

A company representative said, "We endured for eight years. I think the court judged, ‘Since there was no improvement for eight years, there is no room for improvement.’ Even if it were the first year of employment, I believe such a ‘Jiroe-sawon’ could be dismissed." He added, "Since sudden dismissal can be overturned by the court, it is important to take gradual steps such as implementing a work improvement plan over several months, as the company did."

Japanese netizens responded with comments like, "There’s someone exactly like this in our company," "Such dismissal is justified," and "Has the company given up on management and supervision?" One netizen said, "I mainly do face-to-face sales, but one employee goes to places without customers and does not greet them." Another said, "I think employees who do not contribute to the company’s profits should be dismissed immediately," adding, "In Japan, especially among young people, many believe ‘there is no dismissal unless a crime is committed.’ Both people and companies grow through fierce competition."

On the other hand, there were voices criticizing the company. One netizen said, "Anyone can say that work is not given but found on your own, but it is stranger that the company neglected him for over 1,000 days."

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