A banishment room (also known as a chasing-out-room and a boredom room) is a modern employee exit management strategy whereby employees are transferred to another department where they are assigned meaningless work until they become disheartened and resign.[1][2][3] Since the resignation is voluntary, the employee would not be eligible for certain benefits. The legality and ethicality of the practice is questionable and may be construed as constructive dismissal in some regions.

The practice, which is not officially acknowledged, is common in Japan which has strong labor laws and a tradition of permanent employment (where it is called "oidashi beya"). In France, the expression "mise au placard" describes this due to the difficulty of firing employees (outside of mergers), which is a moral harassment[clarification needed] and strictly forbidden.

See also

edit
  • Boreout
  • Reassignment center – External facilities formerly used by the New York City Department of Education where teachers were sent pending disciplinary processes

References

edit
  1. ^ Torres, Ida (May 30, 2013). "Japanese companies using 'banishment rooms' to push employees to resign". Japan Daily Press. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  2. ^ "BANISHMENT ROOM: Top companies under investigation over unfair labor practices". The Asahi Shimbun. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  3. ^ Tabuchi, Hiroko (August 16, 2013). "Layoffs Taboo, Japan Workers Are Sent to the Boredom Room". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2013.