In mid-February, the TikTok account @papafromjapan, belonging to a 74-year-old Japanese man, garnered hundreds of thousands of views, explaining the term "madogiwazoku".

This concept refers to a group of employees who are transferred to less demanding positions, with their desks often placed near windows. Their daily tasks involve simple paperwork or answering a few emails. These employees are completely separated from important projects but continue to receive a stable salary.

Instead of dismissal, a common practice in Western countries, many Japanese companies choose to retain older workers who can no longer keep pace with new technology or strategies. These individuals are primarily men in their late 50s to 60s, often hired under the lifetime employment system (shushin koyo) and paid based on seniority. Companies consider them loyal employees, who rarely complain and avoid conflict.

Illustration photo: Fortune

This phenomenon reflects Japan's aging workforce. Data from 2022 shows that over 25% of people aged 65 and older in the country are still working, a figure higher than the 20% in the United States and 10% in the United Kingdom. According to a survey by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 80% of workers wish to continue working past retirement age, with 70% wanting to stay with their previous employer.

The Japanese government also promotes this trend. Authorities provide various subsidies to encourage businesses to retain employees until they are 70 years old. The World Economic Forum states that some companies have adopted models to extend the retirement age to protect employee benefits.

From a management perspective, not dismissing less competent individuals helps companies stabilize employee morale, preventing fear of job loss. Companies also leverage the decades of accumulated experience of older workers to support internal training initiatives.

However, the presence of "window-seat employees" elicits mixed reactions from younger colleagues. A survey by consulting firm Shikigaku among employees aged 20 to 39 revealed that nearly 50% confirmed their company had "older people not working". The main activities of this group often include smoking, snacking, chatting, browsing the web, or simply sitting and watching.

90% of young people surveyed stated that the "window-seat" group negatively impacts the workplace environment. They believe this situation reduces team spirit, shifts work pressure to younger employees, and increases cost burdens for the company.

By Ngoc Ngan (Source: Fortune)