To preface, I only recently started my current job this week.
Anyway, I have to walk through a short aisle where my co-workers sit to get to my seat at the far end of the office, and today I did just that… without saying “ohayou gozaimasu”.
A more elderly member of my team (probably 60s) came over to me after I sat down and said good morning, and told me that I need to greet people when I come in, and that it’s etiquette. He didn’t say it in a nasty way but in a neutral tone, so I appreciate that.
Obviously when in Rome, do as the Romans do, so I’ll start greeting people when I go to work tomorrow. In my previous job in Japan and also overseas, people just entered the office and sat down in silence without greeting so I guess I just didn’t know better :/
Im just curious as to if this a general etiquette specific to Japanese workplaces, to *need* to greet your coworkers.
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It’s pretty normal even in the west to say good morning to your coworkers. It seems cold to just come in and ignore everyone
It depends on where you work. I worked in some places where you greeted everyone in the room when you walked in the door and some where I walked by other departments and just greeted my team.
What do other co-workers do when the come into the office?
But yeah you should greet your colleagues when you come in and when you leave. You don’t need to shout it but just as you walk to your desk say it a couple of times with a slight bow as you walk. When you leave just say ‘shitsurei shimasu’, because you are leaving earlier than others.
Bonus tip: Throughout the day, stretch and exclaim ‘tsukareta’ to indicate you are tired and working hard even if this is not true.
Yes, it’s proper etiquette. If you don’t do it you’ll be seen as rude or self-centered.
Yeah, I have to agree with your co-worker. I’m now one of the ‘elderly’ people in my company and saying good morning to the other staff, regardless of age, just feels like good manners.
What is “best” can vary a lot based on how many people are there, their ages and job titles, the layout of the office, the culture of the office and company, if people are on the phone or sitting quietly, etc.etc.etc.
That all being said, it is very hard for the following to be wrong:
Come in. At the entrance where you see people and they can see you, loud enough for everyone to hear you but not loud enough to disrupt people’s work or phone calls, say “ohayou gozaimasu” and bow slightly, then go sit down and get to work.
You don’t need personalized greeting or to go desk-to-desk. If there are people at the entrance or on another floor that you pass through, best to say good morning once to each area. Some places may expect/recommend specifically greeting your bucho or the president depending on where they are, and some places won’t. Ask someone what the normal procedure is. Your “when in Rome” attitude is mostly correct. Look at what everyone else does, and do that.
Say good morning. Don’t ignore everyone, sounds like a dick move in any country
Ohayougozaimasu when you’re first getting to the office, and otsukaresamadesu when you see them around the water cooler.
Osaki ni shitsureishimasu when you leave, but otsukaresamadesu when someone else leaves.
Otsukaresamadesu when you see someone outside the office (elevator, train, etc).
Isn’t greeting normal in every country?
I’m curious what country you come from where it’s okay not to say ‘good morning’ to your colleagues when you arrive at work? I think it would be considered rude/cold to not greet your colleagues in most countries
I pass by 3 rows of desks to my seat so I say ohayou gozaimasu to each row. It became a habit that I even say even if there is no one there. lol
I also greet all the people I pass by every morning. I don’t care if they reply or not I just do it.
When going home I usually say osaki ni shitsureishimasu to the people sitting next to me.
Get ready, the war will start soon!
It’s known, when you step into the office: おはようございます (loud and cheerful).
Leaving the office: お疲れ様です(ashamed and humble voice).
I work in an office. This is what we do:
Morning/ first time you see the person: “Ohayo gozaimasu.”
If you see them again and it’s been a little while: “Otsukaresama desu.”
If people say this to you, always reply to it. If they are going home before you you can change it to: “Otsukaresama deshita!”
When we leave: “Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu, Otsukaresama desu.” (I am sorry to leave before you, good work!) your co-workers will reply with: Otsukaresama desu/deshita. Do the same for them.
Had another foreign co-worker before which didn’t get her contract re-newed as of her lack of manners. Made the Japanese people in our (mainly) all Japanese company feel uncomfortable.
I typically say good morning in Japanese to colleagues I see on my way to my desk. It’s not like I say it to the office or announce it. And if the person appears busy I won’t bother. I mean I’m polite not rude.
At my previous job, greetings were a requirement (proper etiquette). It was pleasant to have everyone say good morning to you. It felt like people cared if you existed.
At my current job, I say good morning and I’m lucky if I get a grunt in return. It’s not a pleasant way to start the day.
My old job was mostly Japanese people, and at my current job my coworkers are mostly non-Japanese from various countries. Maybe this makes a difference. But when I worked in my home country, my coworkers were more pleasant and greeted as well. Maybe living in Japan just makes everyone grumpy.
Osu is the way
Ohayo gozaimasu!
Otsukare sama desu!
O-SU!!
Not only greetings but get your 暑いですねs ready too
The good news is that dude in his 60s sounds like a nice fella.
If you get a chance, it might be worth following up and thanking him for pointing it out.
We foreigners often get super fed up when the natives get the huff at us for things we don’t notice, so reinforcing helpful behaviour benefits everyone.
I hope you’re enjoying the new job!
Yes, this is normal behaviour that we fellow humans engage in.
When I worked in France, I shook hands [1] with all male colleagues and kissed cheeks of all female colleagues (I am a man). Took ten minutes or so every morning, plus all the cheek-kissing and hand-shaking of those who came in later. Time-consuming but good for bonding.
While I would not necessarily recommend trying this in Japan, yes, just entering the office without acknowledging your coworkers might come across as rude or antisocial.
[1] Famously, in France you don’t literally *shake* hands. It’s more of a squeeze.
The traditional JP company I worked at people would just say a quick informal ohayogozaimasu, and the group would just mutter it back quietly while sitting at their desks. Some people didn’t say it and just came in and sat down and while it was no big deal, they did kind of come off as someone who didn’t like to interact with others and there was a bit more distance between them.
Just say it to noone in particular as you’re walking to your chair, that should suffice.
Umm this is basic courtesy bro
Arrive first and sit right in front of the door.
Then pay attention to who greets you in the morning and who doesn’t, as they arrive. Make a list.
From that moment you’ll know who to greet and who to spit.
That’s just a normal thing, no? Not even Japan specific, but it’s just normal to say hello or something to co-workers when you come in. Not to every single one obviously, but if you’re walking past people you just say hello or good morning or something.