Workers from different generation, cultures and backgrounds hold unique expectations about work. Although Japanese employees may generally feel more dedication and devotion towards their company overall, this doesn’t mean that companies in the United States can’t strive for and eventually generate the same kind of loyalties as their Japanese counterparts.
The main issue here is the mentality passed on from the companies to their employees. The lack of respect and care that some companies in the U.S. show their employees leaves them disheartened and detached from their work, seeking to fulfill themselves elsewhere. In addition, the desire to further one’s own career instead of seeking to benefit one’s company as a whole fails to create strong bonds between employees and their employers. As a result, the majority of U.S. executives put personal and family happiness before work. They have no reason not to do so when their companies do not sincerely care for their welfare. When family comes first and work becomes a source of tension, people are more likely to take a job elsewhere.
The true strength of Japanese firms lies in their belief that the joy of working for a company can be equivalent to the joy gained from having and raising a family. They work together closely, putting their trust in each other and striving for a common goal that unites them. This is a learned frame of mind, passed on through generations of personal and observational experience. It is the mentality that produces successful companies like Chiba where the employee turnover rates are very low. Hiring and training new employees takes time and resources. When management strives toward not only the material, but also the spiritual fulfillment of all its employees, it decreases employee turnover and increases overall productivity. This is true when it comes to both employees with and without families.
If companies in the U.S. would like to secure such loyalties from workers as their Japanese counterparts then they must change the way their workforce views them. Treating employees with respect, making them feel important and involved by asking for their opinions, and providing benefits and encouragement, can instill company loyalty and increase worker productivity. It would take time and it would take sincere effort, but when people are passionate anything is possible.