Toyota Works Man to Death

(Tokyo, Japan) The Nagoya District Court has ruled that a man was worked to death by the Toyota Motor Corporation and his widow is entitled to compensation. The man reportedly had logged 106 overtime hours in one month and died of an irregular heartbeat after passing out in a factory.

Judge Toshiro Tamiya said "the relationship between his work and death is strong."

It's not clear whether the man was forced to work the overtime or not. If not, it would seem the company shouldn't be liable. Also, in my estimation, 106 hours overtime in a month isn't outrageous. Based on a 40-hour week, that's only about 25 hours per week overtime.