JPN Paradox 10 | Seniority and Ageism in the Workplace

When seniority is valued, but age becomes a liability.

In Japan and across many parts of Asia, seniority is deeply valued.

There is an underlying belief that the more years you have under your belt, the more knowledge you carry. With that comes a certain level of authority and responsibility.

In many organizations, promotion and pay still follow this line of thinking.

As people age, their position and salary tend to rise accordingly.

At the same time, the legal system in Japan generally protects employees, making it difficult for companies to terminate employment. So when restructuring becomes necessary, companies may call for voluntary resignation. In some cases, individuals are quietly encouraged to step aside.

These processes often include one key criterion: age.

The logic is simple. The older you are, the more you earn.

So as part of cost-cutting measures, you become the one to be let go.

This is where I start to wonder...

What happens when those with the most experience and knowledge leave?

Those who remain are often more junior. They may not yet have the leadership experience or training required to step into more complex roles. Productivity, decision making, and collaboration can all be affected.

And what about those who choose to stay?

Even if they remain in the organization, how does it feel to continue working knowing they were once encouraged to leave?

What does that do to motivation, trust, and engagement?

If restructuring is intended to reduce short-term costs, what are the longer-term costs that may not be immediately visible?

In a culture that respects seniority, why are individuals sometimes pushed aside because of the very thing that earned them that respect?

And isn’t this, in effect, a form of age discrimination?

What if restructuring were based on performance rather than age?

Is it time that the laws changed?

To be clear, I am not arguing for one side over another.

Organizations need to evolve, and change is often necessary.

But maybe what also needs to evolve is how we think about employment in general.

What has been your experience?

***JPN Paradox series is not an indictment of Japan. It’s an invitation to explore perspectives, to reflect on what may seem paradoxical across different cultural and social contexts. By making these tensions visible, we hope to spark dialogue and deepen understanding. We’d love to hear your perspective.***