The Employee Who Doesn't Quit Despite Major Failures—The 'Reasons' Why Neither Bosses Nor the Market Fire Them

The work I have been involved in over the past few years has not been running smoothly, and my boss is constantly scolding me for it. I attempted to introduce a new system, but it hasn't taken root in the workplace, and it hasn't produced the results we expected.

Since I had been working on it for over a year and there were no other employees familiar with the system, my boss appointed me to be in charge. However, it wasn't something that could be handled by one person on the side, and the day arrived to release it to the workplace while it was still in a low-quality state. I feel terrible for the employees I have inconvenienced.

Because of this, I am often told, 'Your failure is a loss on the level of tens of millions.' When calculated as an annual cost, it does indeed come to that amount, so what they are saying is correct, and I have no rebuttal.

Seeing me get scolded while such large figures are thrown around, my colleagues and subordinates have started saying things like, 'I don't know how you keep your mental health intact.' It is true that when large sums are mentioned, the feeling of having made a major failure becomes overwhelming, and it goes beyond the point of reflection. I have seen many employees blame themselves and quit.

However, while I am concerned and reflecting on it, it is not to the point where my mental health is failing (saying this might get me scolded even more).

This is because, at the time, I felt I had 'done everything I could,' and I do not view this as a failure caused by my own incompetence or lack of effort.

And even when I was being scolded, I always listened while thinking, 'If you're going to say that much, why don't you just fire me?' When the workload becomes too much, I also feel like quitting. If the market were efficient, I would be fired sooner and be able to challenge myself in a new environment.

Even so, the fact that they just keep heaping words of blame on me means they haven't thought of any other options, so I end up spending my time basking in the fact that my employment is being protected. Perhaps the reason the Japanese economy isn't prospering is because dismissal regulations are too strict and the labor force isn't fluid.

I believe that Japanese employees are in an extremely weak position, with low compensation and large deductions for social insurance premiums and taxes. However, (whether that is good or bad is another matter) the risks are also extremely low.

Since I have chosen this path, I think it is a waste of life to feel excessive risk and blame myself just because I made a terrible mistake. Of course, it is best to challenge yourself and succeed.

There are impossible challenges in this world. It would be great if we could overcome them, but the fruits of that success go to the management and shareholders, and they are not passed on that much to the employees.

I have seen many employees who take this seriously, worry about it, fall into depression, and end up quitting.

If there are people who are so serious that they are afraid of failure and get hurt, then please, stop doing that. I want you to grasp your role calmly and cultivate a healthy state of mind.

By the way, please do not misunderstand: I am also very enthusiastic about making my next endeavor a success.