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TOKYO -- The four-day workweek is gaining ground in Japan as Panasonic joins the growing list of companies embracing the idea to not only improve work-life balance, but also promote retraining and attract talent.
The Japanese industrial group recently announced that it will start offering a third day off per week to those interested. "We must support the well-being of our employees," President and Group CEO Yuki Kusumi told investors in a briefing.
Panasonic hopes to give workers more time to pursue their personal interests, whether volunteering or a side job. Details will be ironed out by each operating company.
Just 8% of Japanese companies offered more than two guaranteed days off a week in a 2020 survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Those that do are usually looking to help workers meet the demands of their personal lives, like Yahoo Japan and Sompo Himawari Life Insurance, which began offering a third day off in 2017 only to those caring for children or aging relatives.
But more companies are starting to see additional benefits to a four-day workweek. Shionogi, which is working on an oral COVID-19 treatment, will from April offer the option of a third day off per week. It wants to give workers more time to learn new skills as it makes inroads into new business areas, like health care services.
Systems developer Encourage Technologies introduced a four-day workweek in April 2021. "Younger workers value their time off, so this gives us an edge when it comes to hiring," the company said.
asia.nikkei.com
The Japanese industrial group recently announced that it will start offering a third day off per week to those interested. "We must support the well-being of our employees," President and Group CEO Yuki Kusumi told investors in a briefing.
Panasonic hopes to give workers more time to pursue their personal interests, whether volunteering or a side job. Details will be ironed out by each operating company.
Just 8% of Japanese companies offered more than two guaranteed days off a week in a 2020 survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Those that do are usually looking to help workers meet the demands of their personal lives, like Yahoo Japan and Sompo Himawari Life Insurance, which began offering a third day off in 2017 only to those caring for children or aging relatives.
But more companies are starting to see additional benefits to a four-day workweek. Shionogi, which is working on an oral COVID-19 treatment, will from April offer the option of a third day off per week. It wants to give workers more time to learn new skills as it makes inroads into new business areas, like health care services.
Systems developer Encourage Technologies introduced a four-day workweek in April 2021. "Younger workers value their time off, so this gives us an edge when it comes to hiring," the company said.
Panasonic joins Japan's budding shift toward 4-day workweek
Productivity gains and flexible approach crucial for wider adoption
asia.nikkei.com
