Japanese companies are paying older workers to sit by a window and do nothing—while Western CEOs demand super-AI productivity just to keep your job
Fortune
by Orianna Rosa RoyleFebruary 27, 2026
About half of Japanese firms have an “old guy who does nothing.” Colleagues say they take many breaks, idly chat, browse the web, and stare off into space.
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Originally published on Fortune on 2/27/2026