Businesses in Japan are helping employees resign without directly confronting their employers, reflecting demand among workers who fear conflict or pressure at the point of departure. The services, known as resignation proxies, contact companies on a client’s behalf and can complete the process within about 15 minutes, according to DW.
One young man described by Tokyo labour consultancy Leadbrain searched for such a service after facing daily verbal abuse at a real estate sales company. He wanted to leave quietly, avoid burdening his parents and limit the effect on how colleagues viewed him.
Albatross, described as one of the leading providers, helps about 450 people leave their jobs each month. It charges roughly €120 for a full-time employee, and says most clients are young professionals in service and manufacturing jobs. Chief executive Yuka Hamada said requests can involve allegations ranging from physical violence to sexual harassment.
A survey by consulting firm Shikigaku found that about one in three Japanese workers aged 20 to 49 had experienced some form of workplace harassment. Hiroki Nakamori, an associate professor at Rikkyo University, said resigning can feel like disappointing others or betraying expectations built up through continued service.
The practice is sometimes associated with “bakkure”, a Japanese term for disappearing from a workplace without notice. Hiroshi Ono, a human-resources professor at Hitotsubashi University Business School, said people who disturb workplace harmony are often not appreciated, making some employees feel they should simply disappear without creating a disturbance.
The agencies nevertheless present the process as a way to preserve social obligations. Hamada said clients may still want to convey thanks or a farewell through the agency. Albatross also advises people who intend to vanish to clear their desks and remove personal belongings before leaving.