Feature 2: Work Style Reform
Work Style Reform “Kaeru Project” Currently Underway
Launch of telework trial: offering a “work from anywhere” work style
It is expected that an increasing number of employees will have time limitations due to childcare, nursing care, or other needs. Although childcare has an end, it is difficult to see when nursing care will end, and in terms of age, employees have an increasing chance of facing the need to provide nursing care as they progress in their careers. Employees with time limitations must rethink conventional work styles, and if there are few work style options, some of them have no choice but to leave the company. We aim to prepare for these issues by building a working environment where employees with diverse work styles can work as well as other employees, and use their capabilities to the fullest.
In order to achieve maximum results in a limited time, we utilize telework for some tasks, improving efficiency by working in an environment where employees can concentrate. Another aim is to provide tools that enable efficient work in a limited time.
I used a tablet device at home to prepare documents and check emails.
I was on a business trip to a branch near my house, and on that day I was able to reduce the commuting time by utilizing telework and going directly to the branch and back to my house. By using telework, not only was I able to concentrate on my work without any interruption from phone calls or having to talk with my colleagues, improving efficiency, but I was also able to take care of my child dressing up and having breakfast before the start of my work. With telework, I am now able to balance between my work and child care, coming one step closer to becoming a great father.
Towards revitalizing regional work style reforms
In July 2017, we held an information exchange meeting by building a network between companies actively committed to work style reform in Mie Prefecture. Each company shared its initiatives, creating a culture of work style reform in the prefecture by learning from one another.
Our “Kaeru Project” and work style reform network activities were highly appreciated and won the Best Practice Award (top prize) in the Mie Work Style Reform Promotion Company Governor’s Awards. We were chosen from among 48 companies in Mie Prefecture striving to promote work-life balance by reviewing work styles in order to create a comfortable working environment for everyone.
We held a Work Style Reform Seminar primarily targeting management at small and medium-sized enterprises and HR managers. The seminar included a lecture by the governor of Mie Prefecture, and fostered a culture of work style reform in the prefecture.
In the latter half of the seminar, we invited staff from the Mie prefectural government and Bureau of Labor as advisors and held working groups on work style reform, where participants exchanged views towards overcoming challenges.
＜Work style reform working groups＞