New Japanese Start-Up Will Quit Your Job For You

“I hate my job!”  “My boss is a jerk!”  “I found my dream job!” “I quit!”

We’ve all had times when we’ve chosen to quit a job. The difficult part is telling the boss. In our minds, we start playing the upcoming discussion with our boss, continuing to replay these conversations over and over again as we shape our “quitting” oration.

Have you ever lost sleep as you tried to conjure up a separation agreement with that human resource manager whose job is never in danger and has always seemed to enjoy past company downsizings? For whatever reason we decide to leave a job, it is still difficult to confront that person and confidently verbalize that you are indeed leaving.  

We may have rehearsed our “I quit” speech for days but just one surprise, unexpected comment or question from the person who gets to hear our well-rehearsed speech can derail us and get us totally off track, causing us to forget the pertinent points we wanted to make. So stressful!

In my research, I recently came across an interesting concept. Our friends in Japan have found the answer to this awkward quitting dilemma. Exit is a Japanese start-up company created by two friends, Yuichiro Okazaki and Toshiyuki Niino. Located in Tokyo, they will contact your employer and inform them that you are quitting.

The founders believe that a change of job environments should be a positive event. Persons who are considering leaving a position usually have a lower work productivity level, so their leaving the company allows a new person to fill the position. A new person who is actually excited to work and will be productive. The founders believe leaving a job allows clients to venture out and explore career opportunities that they will be more excited about, hopefully giving them more professional happiness.

It has long been the work culture in Japan for employees to spend their entire careers at a single organization. Also, the well-known Japanese culture of extensive work hours with little time off also factors into many people seeking an employment change.  

Although jumping from job to job is still frowned upon and uncommon, the culture may be slowly changing as more Japanese workers are willing to leave a job especially in the improving Japanese economy. They are being lured by higher wages as well as shorter work hours, allowing for a better work life balance. Who wouldn’t want that?

Here in America, when we give our final notice, there is rarely a lot of time spent by management trying to convince an employee to stay with the company. More often, it may be the unspoken “Don’t let the door hit you on the butt on the way out!” attitude from management, masked by the “best of luck to you” grimace of a smile!  

In some American companies, as soon as you give your notice, you are escorted by security to your office so you can collect your personal items and then out to your car. And if you utilize a company car, you better call an Uber or Lyft for a pick up because the company car is now off limits to you.

In Japan, it is common for a boss to repeatedly encourage or even badger the employee to remain with the company. This “encouragement” can go on for long periods of time. Utilizing the services of Exit can spare the employee of this uncomfortable harassment. One of the founders of this company had to endure such treatment when he was attempting to quit a previous job. He went through hours-long meetings with five of his superiors who wanted him to stay along with a human resource manager subtly reminding him of how much money the company had invested in him. No pressure, right?!

So, it is easy to see how there can be a demand for this unique service and many Japanese people are taking advantage of quitting their jobs in this stress-free manner. Since Exit opened in 2017, they have assisted over 800 people in leaving their jobs. Interestingly many of their clients are in their 20’s and 30’s working in many different industries and job types.  

Far from a free service, Exit will help you quit your full-time job for $450 US. A part-time severing of the relationship will cost $350 US. If you are a repeat customer, you get an additional $90 US discount.  

Once the deed is done, the client will not have to deal with the company anymore. Exit becomes the buffer between the client and the now ex-employer. Necessary paperwork and any personal effects that need to be collected are handled only via mail. Exit does not get involved in negotiating severance or any legal issues whatsoever.

On their website, the company logo shows a man leaving through an open door and the company refers to itself as a “retirement agency”! It also contains a page of client referrals.

These two grade-school friends always wanted to work together and seem to have landed on a concept that is taking off in Japan. They would like to expand their company in the future and venture capitalists have shown interest in helping them accomplish their goals.  Proof of their initial success is that similar companies have opened their doors in past months.

Although this is a very interesting concept, I doubt it will become popular here in America. Americans have no problem quitting a job for a better opportunity, higher pay, or generally less hassle among other valid reasons.  

Unlike our parents who chose to enjoy the stability of a life-long job, it is unusual now for people to stay with the same company for decades waiting for a retirement party, pension, and a sail-into-the-sunset wrist watch. After all, Americans have our own song that addresses this very issue! Interestingly, the singer’s last name is Paycheck! Click here to see what the song is.

I offer a free ½ hour introductory job interview coaching session. Contact me today to prepare for your tomorrow!