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Madogiwa-zoku – The Tribe by the Window
Have you heard of Madogiwa-zoku?
A Japanese workplace term that describes employees—often senior or long-serving—who are kept on payroll but given no meaningful work, symbolically seated “by the window.”
Origin: Emerged in Japan during the post-bubble era when lifetime employment made layoffs difficult.
Associated Theories: Psychological Contract Breach, Career Plateauing, Motivation Theories, Organizational Justice.
HR Lessons: Instead of sidelining talent, organizations can leverage reskilling, job redesign, mentoring roles, and structured retirement planning .
This phenomenon is not just Japanese—it reflects what we today call quiet firing or disengagement. For HR professionals, it is a reminder that people are not costs to be sidelined but assets to be nurtured.
Let’s build workplaces where every individual feels valued, purposeful, and respected.
Please note that all HR Words have been Sourced from Google/Wikipedia and I copy from different places, edit using ChatGPT and share with everyone while learning something new everyday. Image Source ChatGPT
Have A Great HR Day
Regards
Dr. Vishal Verma
