Volume 2　働くということ


Find a Job You Love

Michael: Thinking about a specific difference between the two cultures, sick leave, I believe in Japan for the most part, if you get sick, the time-off that you take comes out of your annual leave. Does that happen in the States?

Ann: Not that I know of. But, you know, I have not worked in the States for a long time now and I don't know. I know when I, I was working there that, I believe they were separate. You get a certain amount, certain number of sick days and, you know, you get a certain amount of vacation.

Michael: OK, it was like that in the UK. I remember when I was working in the UK we had, I forget if it was two or three weeks annual holiday plus nine days of sick leave.

Ann: Now, that's interesting. Yeah, and I, on the other hand, one way in which the Japanese work environment is very employee-friendly is maternity leave. There is quite generous - and, then, also that you can take a year after that maternity leave, you can take a year at some reduced pay, at some percentage of your regular pay and still keep your job. And in the States, I think that it's very uncommon and is certainly not, a government, sort of, mandated thing like it is here, as I understand it.

Michael: Right.

Ann: Yeah. So what do you think, if you were choosing to work in the UK, or Tokyo, or America, where would you go?

Michael: Oh, what a question. Ha-ha. Oh, I don't know. I mean, there are benefits to each of them and, of course, there are drawbacks to each. But, of course, you know, the most important thing in all of this is you have to enjoy your work. I think it was Winston Churchill who said that if you get a job you love, you'll never work another day in your life.

Ann: That's interesting. That actually reminds me of, I think it was Picasso, I heard, said he never went on vacation. And the reason he never went on vacation is 'cause he thought what would he be taking vacation from, 'cause he enjoyed himself so much? So that's the key, right?

Michael: So that is the secret, guys, it's down to: find a job that you have a passion for and that you love.

Ann: And on that cheery note, we will look forward to being with you next time.

Michael: Absolutely. See you then. 

Ann: Bye. Michael: Take care. Bye-bye.