サービス残業

• Reading: サービスざんぎょう
• Romaji: sābisu zangyō
• Kanji breakdown: サービス (service, here meaning 'free/complimentary') + 残 (remain) + 業 (work) → free overtime work
• Pronunciation: /saː.bi.sɯ zan.ɡʲoː/

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

1. 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。 If unpaid overtime is the norm at your company, you should quit immediately.
2. 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。 I'm doing over 30 hours of unpaid overtime every month, but nobody can complain.
3. 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。 The unspoken rule is to clock out first and then keep working for free.

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.)
• 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.)

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)

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.