職しょく場ばの花はな

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'.

• 昔むかしは「職しょく場ばの花はな」と呼よばれる女じょ性せい社しゃ員いんがどの部ぶ署しょにもいたものだ。

  In the old days, every department had a female employee who was called the 'office flower'.

• 「職しょく場ばの花はな」という言いい方かたは、今いまではセクハラとみなされることが多おおい。

  The expression 'shokuba no hana' is now often considered sexual harassment.