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High Season For These Services Starts Now, Driven By Professionals Who Fear Direct Confrontation With Bosses Or Do Not Know How To Communicate Their Departure
While Brazil prepares for Holy Week, Japan is counting down to Golden Week, an extended holiday that takes place at the end of April. But what draws attention is not only the rest. It is what comes right after: the so-called “May illness.”
The phenomenon has a name in Japan: gogatsubyō. Translated as “May disease,” it represents a kind of post-vacation syndrome, common among Japanese workers. The effects are clear and recurring: an increase in depression cases and a significant number of resignation requests.
The Syndrome And Its Impacts
Golden Week acts as a trigger. After this short period of rest, many workers face a difficult return to routine. The pressure, exhaustion, and weight of Japanese corporate culture end up generating emotional crises. The result is the search for an exit.
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But the most curious detail is how this happens. In Japan, there are companies specialized in resigning for workers. Yes, that’s right: the employee pays someone else to communicate their departure to the employer.
Resignation Requests: A Service That Is Expensive
Right after Golden Week, the demand for this type of service increases. Some of these companies receive up to 150 requests per day during this period. Throughout the season, the number can reach 11,000 requests.
However, the service is not cheap. Prices range from 20,000 to 50,000 yen, corresponding to values between R$ 2,000 and R$ 3,000. In exchange, the hired company contacts the employer, communicates the employee’s decision, negotiates the departure, and also offers support in case of problems during the process.
Why Does This Happen?
The explanation lies in Japanese work culture. There is an extreme value placed on loyalty to the company. At the same time, the relationship between employee and employer can be very difficult. This makes the act of resigning something loaded with emotional stress.
There are reports of bosses tearing up resignation letters. And often, the discomfort is so great that the employee prefers to stay in the job, even unhappy, rather than go through this situation.
Excessive Working Hours And Mental Health Contribute To Resignation Requests
The situation worsens with the heavy routine. About 20% of Japanese workers between the ages of 30 and 40 work 49 to 59 hours per week — without paid overtime. Another 15% work more than 60 hours a week.
This excess in working hours, combined with psychological pressure, has serious impacts. It is estimated that the number of work-related suicides in Japan reaches about 3,000 per year.
With information from Xataka.
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