Japanese company offers "heartache" leave

1. Geekazoid
   January 29th, 2008 at 12:54 am

   Actually I think this is a good concept. I personally knew two people that dated at work, and they were in the same department and work schedule. It was hot and heavy, and he broke up with her after a year or so. It was not pretty to say the least, and it really negatively affected the department. The lady was quite unwell and was prone to emotional fits and outbursts. I mean, it's not good when you start screaming uncontrollably at your co workers for no fault of their own.

   So regardless of what others may think this is a good concept and an example.

2. dd
   January 29th, 2008 at 1:17 am

   I agree, actually - I don't know about it being worse with age (I'm 30, btw, and last breakup was 5 months ago) but when it happens, it can affect work pretty negatively. Motivation is down, emotions are on edge. I'm not saying it should be long, but a couple/few days to recenter isn't a bad idea.

3. Kraka
   January 29th, 2008 at 2:04 am

   Depends on the culture.
   I don't think anyone gives a damn in America.
   As people get older in America, they start to care even less about everything except for how their face looks and how thin they are and whether their ED pills work or not.
   Real relationships mean nothing in America.
   Marriage means nothing in America - Divorce comes as naturally as buying a new car or house.

   May be in Japan there is still the old cultural stigma of the loner, that happiness is in the family, etc etc - but then again they've adopted Western ways and letting people divorce left and right, so being FREE is just a euphemism there and here in America, now?

4. Amy
   January 29th, 2008 at 10:14 am

   Man, I could have used this last week! I got pretty brutally dumped by my boyfriend after 14 months together. I was a wreck for days, and actually took a vacation day the Monday after the breakup! I couldn't possibly have come to work, as I was crying all day and couldn't eat or function normally. It felt like I was mourning a death, which is why I think this "heartbreak leave" thing is such a wonderful idea. If we can take bereavement leave why not heartbreak leave?

5. Minty
   January 29th, 2008 at 11:20 am

   Pftt! You can give them all the holidays or leaves but Japanese ppl will drag their body to the office no matter what. Let's look at the newly implemented case of Paternity Leave. Yes, fathers are granted paid leave when the newborn comes. BUT! Only 1 in 200 male company workers took paternity leave in 2004 http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/381128

6. ted
   January 29th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

   Kraka, I'm not sure whether to laugh with you or at you for that comment.

   You can't seriously be that hateful or bitter, can you? Did some American chick dump you?

   Anyway, it's probably a good idea, but what next? My-Goldfish-Died day? People have to learn to cope in the world. It doesn't mean you don't care, but pulling yourself together for work can be helpful at times of stress. Taking one day off just means you have no excuse not to be fully productive the next day - "You had your day off - get back to work!"

7. Nicholas Dollak
   January 29th, 2008 at 7:17 pm

   I second #6 (ted) re: #3 (kraka). Although cultural mores are also a factor, it varies with the individual and his/her situation. Some Americans, to be sure, are callous about the whole thing --- but you can find people like that anywhere. I was born and raised here in the USA and every breakup I suffered was horribly painful and miserable. The most recent breakup (a little over a year ago, after a 16-year engagement and 4 marriage attempts) was the only mutual one; I told her I'd had enough of her delaying & excuses, and her "runaway bride" stunt was the last straw. She felt sad, but knew it was her own fault... and felt a little relieved.

   However, even though I had permission to take the day off for my honeymoon, I decided to go in to work. At least I could have a sympathetic ear, listen to other people's breakup stories... and it sure beat sitting around all alone on my honeymoon.

8. Aramax
   January 29th, 2008 at 9:06 pm

   I can see how this could turn ugly if the company employed someone who's part of a swinger guild and use every person in his or her group to get the day as often as possible.

   I wonder if you can get the day off a second time with the same partner... Sometime people just fix up their relationship with their partner after a breakup.

9. MoonCake
   January 30th, 2008 at 7:56 am

   @Kraka- i still care... your generalization is wrong, my friend.

   you shouldn't get special treatment becfause your heart is broken. take a vacation day if you're really not up for coming in to work. my last break-up was the worst, especially because my mom died a month after it. i was lucky enough to take a week off for my mom's death AND to mend my broken heart, but i didn't expect any special treatment because i was sad about my breakup. it's all part of not bringing your home-life to work. but then it could be argued that maternity/paternity leave is personal, but sometimes people just don't want to see a woman's water break and hear her labor-induced screams down in the cafeteria.

   @minty: only a small % of men granted paternity leave here in the US take the offer as well. interesting, because we were just talking about this subject in my sociology of gender class the other day. most men don't take paternity leave because they don't want to be seen as "weak," as if being weak takes away a part of their man-hood. some men may not take the days because they need the money, understandable, but they should at least take some of the time to help their mate. it's funny how men act sometimes... an act that could "take away manness" in front of his buddies would score big points with his spouse... the things they do to make an impression. women too, but they're a completely different story and there's not enough comment space to cover that one.

10. MoonCake
    January 30th, 2008 at 8:02 am

    just remembered maternity/paternity leave is a paid absence... i'm stupid. but my points still stand! haHA!

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