サービス残業
Meaning: Unpaid overtime work — working extra hours without receiving overtime compensation.
サービス残業 is a deeply ingrained problem in Japanese work culture. The 'service' in the name is bitterly ironic — workers 'volunteer' their time for free. This can happen through explicit pressure from management, implicit social pressure (not leaving before your boss), or companies manipulating time records. Despite being illegal under Japanese labor law, it remains extremely common and is a major factor in Japan's overwork crisis.
Examples
- サービス残業が当たり前の会社なんて今すぐ辞めたほうがいい。 把无偿加班当作理所当然的公司,还是趁早辞掉吧。Si las horas extra gratis son lo normal en tu empresa, deberías irte ya.서비스 잔업이 당연한 회사는 당장 그만두는 게 나아.
- 毎月サービス残業が30時間超えてるけど、誰も文句言えない。 每个月无偿加班超过30小时,可谁也不敢抱怨。Cada mes hago más de 30 horas extra sin cobrar, pero nadie se atreve a quejarse.매달 서비스 잔업이 30시간을 넘는데, 아무도 불만을 못 해.
- タイムカードだけ先に押して、その後サービス残業するのが暗黙のルール。 先打卡下班,然后继续无偿加班,这是不成文的规矩。La regla no escrita es fichar la salida primero y luego seguir trabajando gratis.타임카드만 먼저 찍고 그 후에 서비스 잔업하는 게 암묵적 규칙이야.
Pronunciation
/saː.bi.sɯ zan.ɡʲoː/
Usage Guide
Context: workplace, labor discussions, social commentary
Tone: critical, resigned
✓ Do Say
- サービス残業は違法だから、ちゃんと記録残しておいたほうがいいよ。 (Unpaid overtime is illegal, so you should keep records.)无偿加班是违法的,最好好好保留记录。(无偿加班是违法的,你应该保留好相关记录。)Las horas extra no pagadas son ilegales, así que deberías guardar un registro.서비스 잔업은 불법이니까 기록을 제대로 남겨두는 게 좋아. (무급 잔업은 불법이니까 기록을 남겨둬야 해.)
- サービス残業なくすって言ってるけど、結局何も変わってない。 (They say they're eliminating unpaid overtime, but nothing has actually changed.)嘴上说要消除无偿加班,结果什么都没变。(他们说要杜绝无偿加班,但实际上什么都没改变。)Dicen que van a eliminar las horas extra gratuitas, pero al final nada ha cambiado.서비스 잔업 없앤다고 하면서 결국 아무것도 안 변했어. (무급 잔업을 없앤다더니 결국 아무것도 달라진 게 없어.)
✗ Don't Say
- 新人にサービス残業を「当たり前」と教えない (Don't teach new employees that unpaid overtime is 'normal' — it's illegal)不要教新人说无偿加班是'理所当然'的——那是违法的(不要让新员工觉得无偿加班是正常的——这是违法行为)No enseñes a los nuevos empleados que las horas extra no pagadas son «lo normal»: es ilegal.신입에게 서비스 잔업을 '당연하다'고 가르치지 말 것 (신입 직원에게 무급 잔업이 '보통'이라고 가르치지 마라 — 불법이다)
Common Mistakes
- Thinking サービス残業 is voluntary — while technically 'unpaid,' it's almost always done under social or managerial pressure
Origin & History
Japanese-coined English (和製英語). 'Service' here means 'free of charge' (as in サービスです when a shop gives you something for free). Combined with 残業 (overtime) to describe unpaid overtime. The term has been in use since at least the 1990s.
Cultural Context
Era: 1990s terminology, problem much older
Generation: All working-age adults
Social background: Widespread across industries, especially traditional companies
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Despite being illegal, it remains one of the most persistent labor issues in Japanese society.
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