The suicide of a 38-year-old manager at a 7-Eleven store in Oita Prefecture has shed light on the severe overwork at Japan’s convenience stores. This tragic event has led authorities to rule the death as a work-related accident. The manager, who had worked six consecutive months without a day off, left behind a disturbing suicide note. In it, he described the harsh working conditions that led to his demise, highlighting the toll of unrelenting work hours.
In July 2022, the manager ended his life, leaving a note filled with despair. He wrote that long hours without breaks were a norm, and that no matter how hard he worked, the workload felt unbearable. He also mentioned that managing a convenience store felt like being exploited. His tragic death has ignited a conversation about overwork at 7-Eleven stores and its connection to employee health.
The manager’s family is calling on the convenience store’s operator, 7-Eleven Japan, to take responsibility for the working conditions at its franchisee locations. According to his family, the manager was a full-time employee at a 7-Eleven store that opened in 2015. The store’s owner was responsible for managing employees and customer issues, but the situation changed in 2019. When the owner opened a second store, he instructed the manager to take on the role of store manager.
The manager soon found himself overseeing every aspect of the store’s operations. From ordering merchandise to hiring staff, he was solely responsible. He frequently had to come into work at the last minute to cover shifts for absent employees. As his responsibilities grew, the manager could no longer take time off. His wife, who married him in March 2021, said that during the year and four months they were together, he rarely took a vacation.
Despite the store’s work rules allowing employees one day off each week, a separate agreement allowed workers to work on five holidays each month. As a result, there was no upper limit on consecutive workdays. His wife explained that after working late, he would receive work-related phone calls, disrupting his sleep. His sleeping patterns deteriorated, with the manager only getting around two hours of sleep per night for half the week. Over time, he began to experience symptoms of depression, including a loss of appetite and restless nights.
In his suicide note, the manager expressed regret, apologizing to his wife and children. The family claims that his mental health issues were caused by the overwhelming pressure of his work, which ultimately led to his decision to take his own life. His wife has filed for workers’ compensation, citing overwork as the cause of his mental disorder. According to workers’ compensation guidelines, a period of about six months of intense work leading to a mental illness is considered a significant psychological burden.
The local labor office confirmed that the manager had developed severe depression just one day before his suicide. They also noted that the manager had not taken a single day off in the six months prior to his death. Authorities explained that the continuous work was necessary to keep the store operating smoothly, particularly since it was a 24-hour location. The owner of the store, however, claimed that the manager had other personal issues beyond overwork. This claim was dismissed by the labor office, which ruled that the manager’s death was indeed work-related.
The manager was employed by a store owner who held a franchise agreement with Seven-Eleven Japan. Despite being aware of the manager’s work hours, the company did not take responsibility for labor management. When the manager’s family questioned the company’s role, they were told that the store owner was fully responsible for complying with labor laws. The head office emphasized that with thousands of franchise stores in Japan, it was impossible to monitor each store’s work conditions individually.
A lawyer representing the family argued that the head office should have been more proactive in addressing labor issues at its franchise locations. They pointed out that the head office receives data on working hours from franchise stores and even handles employee wages. The family believes the head office could have intervened to ensure the manager did not work excessively long hours.
The tragedy has brought attention to the severe working conditions at Japan’s convenience stores. In a 2019 survey by the labor ministry, nearly 30% of employees at franchise stores reported working almost every day. Additionally, deaths linked to overwork at convenience stores have been documented.
Seven-Eleven Japan’s parent company, Seven & i Holdings, has yet to comment on the labor office’s decision. A spokesperson for the company stated that the management of human resources is the responsibility of individual franchise owners, not the head office. However, the ongoing debate over overwork at 7-Eleven stores continues to highlight the need for better oversight of franchise operations and employee well-being.
The tragic case of overwork at 7-Eleven serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unregulated work hours. It calls for urgent changes in labor management practices at convenience stores, particularly those operating 24/7. This case also underscores the importance of corporate responsibility in protecting the mental health of workers, especially in high-stress environments.
