expression, noun
female office worker (dated, often patronizing); office flower
Dated idiomatic expression referring to a young female employee valued for her presence and charm rather than her work. Often carries a patronizing or sexist tone; labeled 'sensitive'. The literal meaning is 'flower of the workplace'.
昔は「職場の花」と呼ばれる女性社員がどの部署にもいたものだ。
In the old days, every department had a female employee who was called the 'office flower'.
「職場の花」という言い方は、今ではセクハラとみなされることが多い。
The expression 'shokuba no hana' is now often considered sexual harassment.
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
Variant using 華, which can carry a more glamorous or showy nuance.
A metaphorical phrase combining 職場 (workplace) and 花 (flower), likening a female employee to a flower that brightens the office. The exact origin is unclear, but it reflects traditional gender roles in Japanese workplaces.