[ptbrock]

Just my 2 cents on the whole issue. I just so happen to be a salaryman myself, so here it goes:

As far as life-long employment goes, it is by no means guaranteed but i still feel it is more stable than in other parts of the world. I work in the financial industry, quite possibly the worst place to be these days, but, unlike my friends at US companies, I really don't worry about loosing my job. MMM alluded to it a bit in his last comment, but in Japan i feel you are far more likely to have a hiring freeze than actually see people got laid off. Of course that doesnt hold true for hourly/contract workers, but they don't really qualify as salaryman.

Regaring overtime, nyoririn got it spot on: you're guaranteed a monthly amount based with the expectation that you will work a set number of hours on each work day. Anything in excess of that becomes paid overtime. As far as "executives" are concerned, i'd like you to find me a country anywhere in the world where executive overtime pay is standard. Don't worry, i won't hold my breath waiting. Other people's comments about regular unpaid overtime also hold true: there are some things you have to do (or at least will be expected to do), particularly outside the office, that don't count. Office nomikai is a good example. Some nights you really just want to go home and rest, but if the boss wants to go out drinking, you will probably end up going too. And to the 二次会. And if you're really unlucky to the 三次会. But by no means is off the record work related activities like this are a japan-only thing.

The hours can certainly be long, but many companies (mine included) have recently made a point to let employees have the weekends off, barring major deadlines and such. I spend monday through friday making a living, then saturday and sunday enjoying the fruits of my labor. It's not easy, but that's why they call it work.

And, if you ask me, being a salaryman beats the hell out of being a fleeter any day of the week.