Support for Every Individual: Diverse Work Styles and Work-Life Balance
Support for every person means helping each and every individual, with their diverse individualities, to face their challenges. We are working to help people achieve a healthy work-life balance by creating an environment and structure that allows them to choose diverse and flexible work styles.
This page focuses on initiatives in the Japan region.
The Panasonic Group supports each and every employee in various scenarios as shown below.
People with Disabilities Employing Workers Post Retirement LGBTQ+ Gender Equity
Support for a healthy work-life balance
As part of our efforts to create an environment in which diverse human resources can take on challenges and flourish in the workplace, we are committed to supporting our employees in achieving a healthy work-life balance. While it is necessary for individual employees to take a proactive approach in balancing work with childcare or nursing care, it may not be possible to overcome this challenge alone, and requires the understanding and support of the workplace, including superiors. We have also prepared guidebooks that explain the various systems to help employees achieve a healthy work-life balance and which outline the relationship between managers and staff. By doing so, we aim to support employees in continuing their careers with peace of mind, regardless of their situation with childcare or nursing care.
Promoting e-Work and establishing a new remote work system
We have been promoting e-Work as an efficient work style that is not restricted by time or location, and have introduced a remote work system for approximately 40,000 employees. In response to the strong push toward utilizing remote work and the penetration of new ways of working using IT and digital technology due to the impact of COVID-19, we established a new remote work system in April 2021 as a new way of working that does not necessarily require employees to come to the office. Over 10,000 employees are now making use of it for more than half of each month.
Supporting diverse and flexible work styles
We have revised our systems to allow all employees to take annual paid leave in half-day or hourly increments, regardless of their work style or position. In addition, we have also made it possible for employees to take leave for personal reasons during working hours and to allocate their leave for this purpose, thereby supporting more diverse and flexible work styles. By accelerating the adoption of diverse and flexible work styles, we aim to improve productivity and realize a better work-life balance for employees.
Support for employees during pregnancy and childcare
Childcare systems
Before pregnancy
During pregnancy
Leave before and
after childbirth—
childcare leave systems
Systems for raising
children while working
Career support for employees during pregnancy and childcare
We use the Guidebook for Supporting Work-Life Balance (Work and Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare) to promote understanding of the company’s systems. This guidebook also serves as a management guide for supervisors, promoting communication tailored to each employee’s circumstances, from pregnancy through to the childcare period.
Support for employees caring for a family member
Support for employees caring for a family member
We use the Guidebook for Supporting Work-Life Balance (Work and Caregiving) to promote understanding of the company’s systems. This guidebook also serves as a management guide for supervisors, promoting communication tailored to each employee’s circumstances, from the stage before they start providing caregiving to after.
Nursing care seminars
Since FY2017, we have been holding seminars at each of our business locations and offices to raise awareness of the need for basic knowledge and preparation for balancing work and nursing care, as well as to promote understanding and foster a workplace culture among those in positions of responsibility through the seminars.
We have also been holding online seminars for employees and managers since FY2022.
*Definition of terms used on this section:
- Fiscal year: from April 1 to March 31 of the following year (e.g. Fiscal 2021: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021)
Website for Helping Strike a Balance between Work and Caregiving
This website provides a summary of internal and external support systems and basic information available to employees at each stage of nursing care, from the stage before they start providing caregiving to after.
In addition, we have established a nursing care consultation service in partnership with a company specializing in nursing care, and have a system in place where employees can consult with them at any time about their nursing care concerns.
Action plan on the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children
Formulation of action plan leading to support for raising the next generation
We have formulated an action plan in accordance with Japan’s Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children. We aim to be a company that contributes to supporting employees in balancing work and childcare/nursing care, to making great strides in the advancement of women’s activities, and to supporting the development of the next generation.
Examples of systems supporting a healthy work-life balance
Flex-time Work System
A flexible work-hour system that does not designate mandatory “core hours” when all employees must be present
Childcare Leave
A non-consecutive total of two years of leave that can be taken until the end of the April following the child’s start at elementary school
Work and Life Support Program
A flexible work system for those raising children, or providing nursing for family members, that includes short and flexible working hours; half-days; as well as adjustable, fewer-day working weeks; and other appropriate schedules
Family Support Leave
A leave system that can be used for a wide range of events, including care or nursing of family members, or attending a child’s school events
Child-Rearing Support Café Point
A system by which the Panasonic Group covers some of the costs for childcare, such as extended daycare and daycare for an ill child
Child Planning Leave
A system of leave for fertility treatments
A Comprehensive Program for Supporting a Balance between Nursing Care and Work
- Holding of seminars and launch of a portal site with information concerning nursing care
- Counseling for employees facing the prospect of nursing care, and support for related procedures
- Company support for part of the daily costs of nursing care through the Nursing Care Support Café Point
- Ability for employees to take leave days up to a total of 365 days per person requiring nursing care, with payment of 70% of wages plus an allowance for the employee-borne portion of social insurance premiums for leave totaling to no more than 183 days