1.
sidelined employees; employees given no meaningful work
employees who are assigned to desk positions near the window with little or no work, often as a way to push them toward resignation without firing them directly
窓際族になった。
I became a sidelined employee.
彼は窓際族にされて会社を辞めた。
He was sidelined and quit the company.
窓際族にならないように実績を上げたい。
I want to achieve results so I don't get sidelined.
JAPANESE CORPORATE CULTURE:
窓際族 reflects the difficulty of firing employees in Japan's traditional employment system. Instead of being fired, unwanted employees are given meaningless tasks.
ORIGIN:
The term comes from the practice of moving such employees to desks by the window (窓際), away from the center of activity.
CHARACTERISTICS:
- Given no important work
- Excluded from meetings
- Often older employees
- Psychologically pressured to resign
RELATED TERMS:
- 追い出し部屋 - "banishment room" (similar concept)
- 左遷 - demotion
- 閑職 - sinecure position
- 肩たたき - being pushed to resign
MODERN USAGE:
The practice has become less common but the term remains widely known.