Why do Japanese Employees Work Themselves to the Bone? Collectivism, Exploitation and Turnover in Japan

Abstract

The objective of this preprint is to propose and test a theoretical model on the relations between overwork climate, workaholism, exploitation, and turnover intentions. We aim to understand why some Japanese workers overwork themselves to the point of exhaustion, and in extreme cases, experience karoshi (overwork death). Furthermore, we investigate whether collectivism exacerbates workaholism among Japanese workers and hinders their ability to escape exploitative work environments.