This paper reports the findings from a qualitative study which investigates the level of work attitude and role stress (role ambiguity and role conflict) experienced by local hired Japanese staff in Japanese companies in Australia. The findings revealed that work attitudes of local hired Japanese staff were similar to those of employees in Japan. Role stress experiences of local hired Japanese staff refer to dissatisfaction with both Japanese expatriate staff and non-Japanese local staff. Three sources of their role stress experiences were also identified. These were lack of English language competence, source of recruitment, and cultural background. Each source is related to a particular type of role stress
