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Japanese unique words related to work style

Type of work contract

Part time - Arubaito (アルバイト)

Arbaito(アルバイト) originally comes from the German word Arbeit, which means work. It is often called Baito (バイト) for short. While Arubaito staff work for a fraction of the time full-time workers do, in some situations, because they are direct hire staff, they are also eligible for various company benefits, including paid vacation. Sometimes the word part(パート) may be used, which is a synonym for Arubaito. However, there’s no clear distinction between them from a legal point of view.

Tips: If you work as Arubaito/Part for the same employer for over 6 months and you work more than 80% of working days, you may apply for the paid vacation.

Outsourced worker - Gyomu-Itaku(業務委託)

Gyom-Itaku means an outsourced worker or subcontractor. This type of contract doesn't give you any work protection or paid vacations. Working as a Gyomu-Itaku in Japan practically means to be self-employed or rather to be operating as one’s own business.

Fixed-term employee - Keiyaku-Shain (契約社員)

Keiyaku-Shain is typically hired for short periods of 3, 6, or 12 months. Except for unusual circumstances, neither the company nor the employee has the right to break the contract before the agreed-upon time is over.

Just as regular employees, contract employees are usually enrolled in the insurance packages and often work full-time. With a good performance record, it is even possible to be promoted from contract to regular employee.

Transportation expenses are covered by the company, but contract employees do not receive other benefits or pensions that regular employees get. Bonus payments are uncommon and could be small in case they are paid.

Permanent employee - Sei-Shain (正社員)

Normally Seisyain is working full-time and with unlimited contracts. Benefits of regular employment, aside from job security, include higher salaries, higher salaries, opportunities for promotion, insurance coverage (social, employment, etc.), allowances, bonuses, and various benefits like maternity leave, etc.

Sei-Shain is the only contract type of Seiki (正規), which indicates regular employees. All contract types other than Sei-Shain are called Hi-Seiki (非正規). In these 20 years, the number of Hiseiki workers are doubled.

Source: 「非正規雇用」の現状と課題 (Situation and issues of Hiseiki by MHLW）

Due to the tough economy, even Sei-Shain can't stay careless. Otherwise, the company will either ask you to work less to look for other jobs.

Related News: Japan's Mizuho to introduce shorter work week in response to coronavirus

Dispatch worker - Haken-Shain (派遣社員)

Haken-Shain, generally called Haken (派遣) is not employed by the company they work at. Instead, they have a contract with staffing agencies. Haken staff can work in one place for a maximum of three years. Once the contract at one company is over, the staffing agencies will usually introduce the next job.

Salary is typically paid on an hourly wage system. For some cases, transportation costs are covered, but not always. Other allowances are possible but depend on the staffing agencies. Regulations regarding paid vacation days and whether you can get employment insurance also vary by company.

Haken-Giri (派遣切り) is the term for layoffs of Haken staff.

Types of work style, not contract

Kaji Tetsudai (家事手伝い)

Kaji means housework. Tetsudai means to help or support. In the old days, we imagine that the family is rich. The nuance is she is rich and no need to do anything until she gets married.

Tips: It was not that uncommon for the young lady before getting married to claim Kaji-Tetsudai as an occupation before (maybe a few decades ago?). These days, people prefer to have an occupation. If someone temporarily assumes a position only until getting their desired position or job, it is called Koshikake (腰掛け), which means chair in Japanese, indicates that they will not stay there for a long time.

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Kojin-Jigyo-Nushi (個人事業主)

Kojin (個人)=Individual, Jigyo(事業)=business, Nushi(主)=owner, hence it means self-employed or freelance. They usually work under the limited contract such as Gyomu-Itaku. UberEats delivery workers are categorized as Kojin-Jigyo-Nushi.

Zaitaku Kinmu (在宅勤務) / Telework (テレワーク)

Work from home. 在宅 mean staying at home, 勤務 means working. It was not a common work style before Covid-19, although the government had been encouraging it for more than a decade. For example, Japan Telework Association was established in 1991.

Jitan Kinmu (時短勤務)

Working short time officially. In general, this is offered as part of the parental leave for regular employees. Very common for the working mother but not that much for the working father.

Sengyo Shufu (専業主婦 & 専業主夫)

Homemakers. Both are the same pronunciation in Japanese. 主夫 for male, 主婦 for female. Sengyo (専業) means full-time, but we imagine homemakers without it.

Freeter (フリーター )

Freeter is a term for people who lack full-time employment or are unemployed, excluding housewives and students. The term originally included young people who deliberately chose not to become salary-men, even though jobs were available at the time. Freeters may also be described as underemployed. These people do not start a career after high school or university, but instead, earn money from low-skilled and low-paid jobs.

MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: 厚生労働省) defines Freeters as people age from 15 to 34 years old. The total number of people who meet one of the following:

1) Being employed as Part or Arubaito.

2) Not employed but looking for the job as Part or Arubaito.

3) Not an active population but looking for the job as part or Arubaito.

NEET (ニート)

Not in Education, Employment, or Training. The classification originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1990s. In Japan, the classification comprises people aged between 15 and 34 who are not employed, not engaged in housework, not enrolled in school or work-related training, and not seeking work.

Nomad (ノマド)

Digital nomad. Originally from a French word. It indicates the workers who don't have an office or fixed place to work. Lately, remote worker (リモートワーカー) is more common.

Fukugyo (副業 & 複業)

Both are the same pronunciation and mean having a second job besides the main job. 副業 is commonly used. 複業 is used when there is a third job or fourth job to highlight. 複 (Fuku) stands for multiple.

プータロー (Puu-Taro)

Japanese slang for unemployment. Short-form is プー (Puu).

Workation (ワーケーション)

Work + Vacation. This term became famous when the Japanese government has launched a stimulus program to promote domestic travel.

Related news: Japan national park facilities upgraded with "workation" in mind

Like Like Celebrate Support Love Insightful Funny Comment Share 2 Comments Tadayuki Akagi, graphic

Tadayuki Akagi

🌱 研究×人材育成｜未来の研究者を育てる大学教授 🌍 若手の海外挑戦を応援｜UJA理事｜留学推進イベント企画 🧪 生命科学×教育｜福岡工業大学学科長｜博士(医学) ☕ 研究も日常も豊かに｜観葉植物と珈琲好き

これは面白いリストですね。私も日本語特有の表現を探してみたいと思います。そこから日本固有の文化や考え方が見えてきそうですね。

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Type of work contract

Part time - Arubaito (アルバイト)

Outsourced worker - Gyomu-Itaku(業務委託)

Fixed-term employee - Keiyaku-Shain (契約社員)

Permanent employee - Sei-Shain (正社員)

Dispatch worker - Haken-Shain (派遣社員)

Types of work style, not contract

Kaji Tetsudai (家事手伝い)

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Kojin-Jigyo-Nushi (個人事業主)

Zaitaku Kinmu (在宅勤務) / Telework (テレワーク)

Jitan Kinmu (時短勤務)

Sengyo Shufu (専業主婦 & 専業主夫)

Freeter (フリーター )

NEET (ニート)

Nomad (ノマド)

Fukugyo (副業 & 複業)

プータロー (Puu-Taro)

Workation (ワーケーション)

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