2016 Autumn HOYA Helpline The Workplace Incident Q&A
"We picked up some examples of the incidents which might be easy to happen in our workplace. Isn't there the similar situation in your workplace?
If there is the similar problem, please do not leave the matter unsolved.
First of all, please discuss it with your coworkers, superiors, or HR etc.
within your workplace.
In case you were not able to solve the problem within your workplace,
please contact HOYA Helpline.
Moreover, let's check the HOYA Business Conduct Guidelines once again in this opportunity!"
Q1 My superior forced me to do unpaid overtime and to work on holiday without the allowances. Do I have to put up in this situation?
A1 No, we don't need to obey the superior's instructions in such a case. Despite the actual overtime work or holiday work, the superior should not create a situation where the subordinates cannot declare the actual overtime and holiday work on the attendance sheet by telling the subordinates to reduce the overtime work because the subordinates work too much overtime.
In addition, it is prohibited to manipulate to reduce the overtime hours by clocking out the time card before you actually finished the work, or by continuing the work after the clock-out. It is also prohibited to manipulate to reduce the overtime hours by writing the longer break time than the actual break time. The unpaid overtime and the unpaid holiday work are not only the violations of HOYA Business Conduct Guidelines, but also the violations of the Labor Laws.
Recently, the unpaid overtime is subject to the harsher criticism from the society. The company must calculate the unpaid wages and retroactively pay them to the employees. Such a manipulation might be done in consideration of the company's profit or the cost reduction, but will definitely cause the disadvantage against the company. Therefore, please record the attendance sheet correctly!
Q2 When the production manager changed, new production manager told us to ship out a defective product that does not pass through the product standard, as a good product into the market. I wonder if this is OK.
A2 It is not OK to let this pass regardless of knowing that the product is out of the predetermined specifications or deviated from the product standards. If such a product has gone onto the market by mistake, we will loss the trust of our customers and society and will be a serious problem. We should immediately consult the superiors or HR in the workplace and we need to warn the production manager that has given such instruction. Each of us should have the pride for the product. Also, we should recognize that we have a responsibility to ensure the safety for our customers and society.
Q3 The superior is sending me mobile messenger (the communication apps) those content has nothing to do with business. The superior asks me a private thing, so it bothers me. Also, the superior invites me for a drink frequently by using mobile messenger. It is hard for me to reject the superior's offer. However, I wonder whether I need to keep this relationship with my superior about the matter that is other than business.
A3 In such a case, you do not need to keep this relationship unwillingly. However, there is a difficult situation to reject the superior's offer straightforwardly from the side of the subordinates in any case. Therefore, the side of the superior has to understand such a situation and refrain from such an action. Furthermore, the superior should not force the subordinates to disclose the personal information about the mobile phone number and SNS. The superior must refrain from making a contact to the subordinates about the non-business matters by using SNS as much as possible. The superior should communicate the necessary business-related matter in the workplace.
Q4 The superior has threatened the employees in the department by using his own authority. The superior is saying that he will dismiss you if you don't listen to what the superior says. Even though there is some problem about the business, the superior doesn't take the responsibility, but the superior blames the employees in the department. The employees can not consult the superior because they are afraid that the superior will yell at the employees. Do I have to put up in this situation?
A4 In such a situation, please contact HR or the superior of the related superior in the workplace immediately and solve the problem. There is the suspicion of the power harassment of the superior who says the comment like this. We should keep the workplace environment where each of us can demonstrate the maximum ability. If the subordinates are scared of the superior's comments and behaviors and then, the subordinates cannot consult with the superior, there easily occur the mistake on the business. Even though the mistake was made by the subordinate, the superior should not relentlessly blame the subordinate for a long time. Instead of that, the supe