When individuals are employed, they agree to follow certain rules and guidelines. In private sector jobs, there’s often more flexibility, while government jobs typically require strict adherence to regulations. This case from a Japanese government office highlights the importance of fair employment practices.

In a surprising turn of events, employees in Japan successfully sued their employer for requiring them to arrive at the office five minutes early for a daily meeting. This practice continued for three years until a new boss took over, prompting the workers to demand overtime pay.
Five Minutes Too Early
According to the South China Morning Post, government employees across various Japanese cities were instructed to arrive at the office at least five minutes ahead of their scheduled start time for a meeting. This directive, issued on February 26, 2021, in Ginnan Town, Honshu Island, affected 146 employees. They were expected to be present at 8:25 am, while their official start time was 8:30 am.
 

The mayor at the time, Hideo Kojima, implemented this policy with the caveat that failure to comply could result in demotion or dismissal. The order was to come into effect on March 1, 2021. Although Mayor Kojima resigned from his post in February last year and this policy was subsequently revoked by last March, the employees sought compensation for their consistent five minutes of daily overtime. They took their case to the Japan Fair Trade Commission in December 2023, demanding three years’ worth of overtime pay.

In a landmark decision last November, the commission ruled in favour of the employees, ordering the government to pay them 10.9 million yen (approximately Rs 58,41,004). While the compensation is yet to be disbursed, the case has sparked widespread debate on social media, highlighting the significance of fair labour practices and employee rights.