History of Diversity Promotion


Photo: The Founder Konosuke Matsushita chatting with employees

The Panasonic Group has always taken the working environment seriously, and was one of the first Japanese companies to introduce a five-day workweek in the 1960s. Since then, we have continued to respond flexibly to changes in society and strive to develop new systems and improve the working environment so that everyone can work with vigor and enthusiasm.

Here, we introduce the history of the Panasonic Group’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, focusing mainly on the Japan region.

1960s


1965

Became one of the first Japanese companies to introduce a five-day workweek.
Under the slogan of "one day study, one day rest," the concept of a five-day workweek (two-day weekend) became widespread within the company and played a major role in improving the work ethic and efficiency of employees.

Photo: Introducing the five-day workweek

Related information:


1980s


Introduced a flex-time work system that allows employees to flexibly set their start and end times according to their individual needs.

1990s


Established internal systems to support the balance between work and home life, including childcare and nursing care support.

1999

In accordance with amendments to the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, established initiatives to ensure equal partnership across the entire company, including the accelerated appointment of female employees.


2000s


2001

Established the Corporate Equal Partnership Division (Women’s Leap-Forward Division) and, identifying the need to create an organization where individuals can thrive regardless of their gender, age, nationality, or other attributes as a key management issue, promoted initiatives to encourage further female participation in management and their enhanced company life.

Held the first “Women’s Leap-Forward Forum” (Held continuously ever since under various names)

Image: Crown Received the Prize for Effort
in the Awards for Equal Opportunity Companies
(Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Photo: Promoting women as part of management policy
2004

Image: Crown Received the Top Prize
in the Awards for Equal Opportunity Companies
(Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

2005

Appointed three female directors.

Image: Crown Received the Family-Friendly Company Awards
(Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Image: Crown Received the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare
Prize for Excellence

2006

Introduced the e-Work program, including initiatives such as telecommuting, in order to support a healthy work-life balance and improve productivity through ubiquitous IT-driven work styles.

Image: e-Work logo. e-Work, A Key to Global Excellence

At the same time, broadened the scope of activities supporting female employees in Japan to include support for non-Japanese and younger employees, and introduced initiatives to further foster diversity from the perspectives of both diversity in work styles and diversity of human resources.

Held the Company-wide Diversity Promotion Forum. This forum has been held continuously ever since.

Photo: Company-wide Diversity Promotion Forum

Company-wide Diversity Promotion Forum

Established Diversity Promotion Month.

Image: Crown Received the Nikkei Child Care Support Award
(Nikkei Inc.)

Image: Diversity Promotion Month posters

Diversity Promotion Month posters

2007

Began Career Stretch Seminars for female employees.

Image: Crown Telework Promotion Award
(Japan Telework Association)

2010s


2010

Established the Global Diversity Policy.

2011

Began initiatives to foster accelerated and integrated interactions throughout the Group.

Appointed our first female executive officer.

Photo: The 8th Women's Networking Forum in Osaka

The 8th Women's Networking Forum in Osaka

2014

Began management skill training aimed at strengthening organizational leaders’ ability to manage diverse human resources.

2016

Established the Diversity and Organizational Development Promotion Office to reinforce our efforts in this area. We focused on further improving the management skills of organizational managers and revitalizing communication.

Image: Crown Received the PRIDE Index Gold Award
for LGBTQ+ Initiatives for the first time

Image: work with Pride Gold 2016 logo

2017

Launched A Better Workstyle activities by undertaking reforms which make work rewarding with the recognition that employees' job satisfaction and growth are linked to Panasonic's growth.

Image: Crown Received the PRIDE Index Gold Award
for LGBTQ+ Initiatives for two consecutive years

2020s


2021

Added Equity to Diversity & Inclusion and formulated the Panasonic Group DEI Policy.

Image: DEI Policy logo. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION—DEI Policy

(Previously the Company-wide Diversity Promotion Forum, currently renamed to the Group DEI Forum).

Image: Crown Received the PRIDE Index Gold Award
for LGBTQ+ Initiatives for six consecutive years

Photo: Group DEI Forum 2021. The moderator and five speakers are seated in the studio, with many faces of employees participating online on a large screen in the background.

2022

Image: Crown Received the PRIDE Index Gold Award
for LGBTQ+ Initiatives for seven consecutive years

Photo: Third Meeting of the Group DEI Promotion Council

Third Meeting of the Group DEI Promotion Council

2023

Image: Crown Received the PRIDE Index Gold Award
for LGBTQ+ Initiatives for eight consecutive years

Image: Crown Received the ACE Award

Photo: Awarding Ceremony of the ACE Award

Awarding Ceremony of the ACE Award

2024

Held the Group DEI Forum 2024.
Held the Seventh Meeting of the Group DEI Promotion Council.
Held the Eighth Meeting of the Group DEI Promotion Council.

Image: Crown Received the PRIDE Index Gold Award
for LGBTQ+ Initiatives for nine consecutive years

Image: Crown A voluntary community, "Psychological Safety Starts Here," was awarded the Gold
Ring prize at the third Psychological Safety Awards.

Image: Crown The Panasonic Group Alumni Community received the Grand Prize at the Cultural
Transformation of Japan Alumni Awards.

Image: work with Pride Gold 2024 logo

Photo: Scene from Group DEI Forum 2024

Scene from Group DEI Forum 2024