The word shangpantsu ("nine-to-fivers"), which comes from Japan, originally designated white-collar workers, but more broadly speaking it means anyone with a job, including blue-collar laborers and "pink-collar" working women.
Basically I feel that anyone who works, executives included, belongs to the shangpantsu. Figured this way, some 7.7 million of Taiwan's 19 million people are "nine-to-fivers."
Pressure on working people comes chiefly from several directions.
The first source of stress is role confusion. For example: if I have to report to too many "in-laws" in my work and each manager has different standards, then this creates pressure.
Next comes workload. To lower costs and raise profits, some companies have been streamlining their work forces, to put it nicely, or exploiting labor, to put it another way. Another situation is where poor management produces an uneven distribution of labor, causing certain people to be overworked.
The third source of stress is expectations, both one's own and those of others. Studies have shown that the higher a person's educational level, the greater the pressure that he or she feels from expectations.
Comparing job stress here with that in Japan, the U.S., and other advanced nations reveals that our management is deficient. Ninety percent of the businesses on Taiwan are small or mid-scale, and employee benefits are insufficiently comprehensive. Some people say that Chinese all want to run their own businesses, and one of the reasons is that workers lack a sense of security.
There are also people who believe that personal relationships are a major source of stress in Chinese society.
My view is that the Chinese have a national trait of thinking, "if you're not for me, you're against me," a characteristic which education has been unable to eradicate to date. That's why there's such a strong tendency to form "cliques."
Because they differ in personality and experience, people faced with the same situation or event feel stress differently. Whether or not they feel it can be seen from several signs.
To take myself as an example, I felt the most pressure when I returned to teach after getting my doctorate and had to begin adapting to new surroundings. People who write for a living, when they have writer's block, may grow pimples, get oily hair, have droopy eyelids, and look gaunt and haggard--all physiological reactions to stress.
It also appears in behavior: in "verbal violence," in frequently being late, in not taking part in activities, in resenting others' interference, in feeling reluctant to go to work, in often taking leave, and the like.
If "nine-to-fivers" feel stress, what channels can they seek to relieve it?
First, I think one must learn to say "no," to give yourself time and space of your own. "Self-knowledge" is very important. My personal goals are to live happily and be healthy; my family life comes first. I won't do anything that disturbs family harmony.
Also, I think that many people forget their former teachers. In fact, teachers are a good place to turn to for help.
Next is one's environment. A change in the work environment can give a person inspiration and help solve problems.
It's also important to have a good friend. When you ask people for help or advice, they're often quite enthusiastic. So sometimes you might as well play the role of the "weaker party."
Finally, you've got to have recreation. Some people think that there's no place to go when you live in the city these days. But actually, as a co-worker once told me, you don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy high-quality recreation in Taipei on the weekends. You can listen to a lecture on Saturday afternoon, watch a film at a videotape viewing center in the evening, and go to a museum or art exhibit on Sunday.
Some people take recreation too seriously. It doesn't necessarily require a place with "green hills and blue water." I would redefine recreation as an escape from the routine.
[Picture Caption]
Superficial interpersonal relationships are a source of stress for nine--to-fivers.
