A Japanese convenience store has introduced an innovative work model by hiring a remote employee in Sweden to oversee operations during the night shift, reports this Friday in , the English version of Japan’s leading business and economics newspaper. The time difference between the two countries, seven hours apart, allows the Swedish worker to perform his duties during daytime hours in Europe, while covering nighttime operations in Japan.
Remote collaboration is possible thanks to a system of surveillance cameras and digital platforms that allow employees to monitor store activities, offer support to customers and ensure the establishment’s security. According to the Nikkei Asia newspaper, this model aims to address labor shortages in the Japanese retail sector, especially during night shifts, which are traditionally difficult to fill.
This approach represents a practical solution to the demographic challenges facing Japan, a country that has one of the world’s oldest populations and a declining workforce. Hiring remote workers abroad offers companies a way to reduce operational costs while expanding access to a global job market, overcoming geographic barriers.
According to industry experts, this practice has the potential to expand, as technology and digital infrastructures become more accessible and efficient. Using international remote workers not only helps address local human resources challenges, but also promotes the globalization of the job market, allowing companies and workers to connect across borders.
This work model, although innovative, also raises questions about labor regulations, data security and the adaptation of traditional functions to a remote format. However, it is seen as a significant step towards rethinking working practices in the retail sector, making it more flexible and sustainable.
Hiring a remote worker in Sweden for a night shift in Japan is an example of how innovation can be used to transform challenges into opportunities, paving the way for new solutions in the global market.
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