Creating a Comfortable Work Environment
Work-Life Balance Support Systems
Shofu has developed comprehensive support systems that exceed statutory requirements for various life events, including childcare, nursing care, and employees' own illness or injury, through enhanced leave, holidays, and short-time work options.
For example, part of the child nursing leave is paid, and the age of eligible children for short-time work arrangements has been extended.
In cases of nursing care or personal illness, where the required period of leave may be uncertain, employees may take up to 365 days of continuous caregiving leave. For personal illness, employees are eligible for one to three months of paid leave depending on the cause of illness and length of service. The Company also provides leave to support ongoing medical appointments, as well as short-time work options based on the employee's recovery status.
Support Systems for Childcare and Nursing Care
| Programs/Systems | Details |
|---|---|
| Leave for Nursing Care and Childcare (Child Nursing Leave) | Up to five days of leave for nursing care or for caring for a child before entering elementary school are treated as paid leave. |
| Measures to Enable Flexible Working Arrangements for Childcare |
Employees raising a child who has not yet reached elementary school age may select one of the following options:
Additionally, the exemption from working hours for childcare also applies to employees raising children from the beginning of elementary school until the end of the third grade. |
| Nursing Care Leave | Employees may take leave for a cumulative total of up to 365 days. |
Prevention of Long Working Hours
As part of efforts to improve the work environment and establish a more employee-friendly working hours system, Shofu has, since 2016, conducted regular joint reviews with labor representatives to monitor and optimize actual working hours. These initiatives aim to reduce total working hours and address various issues related to working time management. Based on these reviews, the Company examines and implements improvement measures.
Through these initiatives, Shofu aims to reduce overtime and holiday work, shorten overall working hours, and enhance productivity.
Overtime hours tend to increase, particularly at our plants, in response to growing demand each year. However, we are committed to improving the working environment by implementing stress checks and providing counseling services, in cooperation with our Industrial Physicians and Industrial Counselors, for employees who work long hours.
