Black company is being spread widely

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First (Black company is being spread widely)

We often hear the word, ‘black company’ on the news and web site. Black company is defined as follows;

Black company is a company that force workers to work under inferior environment. The company that we can’t recommend you to apply and or enter to in a broad sense.

・Forcing workers to work in an environment that intentionally violates the labor law or the possibility under violation of it(gray zone).

・Forcing worker to work under violation of variety law regarding business activities, or too much over work, not considering worker’s health, or refusing the worker’s rights to get insurance if something bad happened to them while working.

・Forcing workers to take an imposing and irrational burden far from real work by using power harassment that means violent enforcement as conventional way.

Quotation：ブラック企業

For more information about black company and my opinion, please click below link.

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ブラック企業 を減らすには…

Question

You can hear a conversation between two people after you play the sound. Answer the questions about the conversation.

Sound 

Conversation

Long time no see. How are you? You seem tired.

Yes. I slept a little last night since I worked overtime all night. I have taken overtime over 100 hours per month every month since I’ve entered my company.

Really? You work too much! is your company perhaps, a black company?

I have no idea. All of us workers in my company work until 10 p.m. every day and have much task to do in a day. We can’t go back home at a fixed time. Last week, I fell into the roadside due to dizziness and got carried into the hospital. Nevertheless, they forced me to come back company and work all night after that.

It must be a black company. Did you consult the Labor Standards Inspection Office?

No, I didn’t. Isn’t it a waste of time?

You should report it. Once you report it to the office, they start looking into the situation. In other words, it won’t do anything unless you report it. It’s illegal if the company force you to work overtime over 45 hours a month. The maximum overtime is 80 hours a month even if the company force you to work longer overtime with a special contract. So, you must report it! That causes the number of black company to increase since nobody complains. To withstand illegal work is not good for other workers too.

Wow. I didn’t know that. By the way, why don’t we go to a restaurant and eat steak? I have wanted to eat steak at a restaurant serving delicious food since it opened near the station.

Well. I want to go there, but I don’t have enough money since I used too much money this month.

It’s rare for you. You used to save money when you were at university. Have you become a waste consumer?

No. I went to Lego land last week, I pushed the button to Tokyo accidentally when I bought the　Bullet Train ticket instead of Nagoya since I’d never gone to Nagoya for few years and often go to Tokyo on business. That’s why.

Did you ask refund to the person in charge at the station?

No, I didn’t do it. I thought I couldn’t have it even if I asked.

You were supposed to do it.

Question

1. What was the reason why Tetsuya thought her company was a black company?
A. She has been sexually harassed by her boss.
B. She worked beyond the specified time by the government.
C. Canteen doesn’t serve steak.
D. She got carried to the hospital due to dizziness.

2. What does Tetsuya suggest her to do?
A. To take an advice from an administrative organization.
B. To take a train an hour earlier to her company.
C. Don’t put too much sugar to her coffee.
D. To propose a refund of ticket.

3. Why does Tetsuya have no money this month?
A. The entrance fee was higher than he expected.
B. He paid too much money for train fare.
C. He was pick-pocketed on the train.
D. He became a waste consumer.

Answer and Explanation

1.
Answer：B
It’s mentioned that It’s illegal if overtime work is over 45 hours a month.
A: It’s possible that it’s illegal, but it was not mentioned.
D: Although it was a fact, it was not mentioned whether falling down due to dizziness is the effect of illegal overtime in her company.

2.
Answer：A
The administrative organization mentioned here is pertaining to the Labor Standards Inspection Office mentioned in the conversation. In addition, “to consult with” has the same meaning with “to take advice”.
B and C: They’re not mentioned.
D: It’s not mentioned by Tetsuya, but Mariko suggested it to Tetsuya.

3.
Answer：B
He said “I pushed the button to Tokyo accidentally instead of Nagoya” and “It’s more expensive”.
A: There’s a possibility of regarding this as the cause, but it was not mentioned in the conversation.
C: It is not mentioned also.
D: He said ‘No’ clearly.

Let’s talk more!

What do you think about working overtime and black company?
Let’s talk about it with your friend.
How is the situation in other countries?
Ask your teacher or a foreigner about it.

Example

1. What kind of company could be defined as black company in your opinion?
2. How to deal with if your company is a black company?
3. How to stop increasing the number of black companies in Japan?
4. What is the best way to find out if a company is a black company?
5. Do you think there are black companies outside Japan too?