Panasonic has grown as a company by sticking close to its stakeholders and solving the problems they face through business. Our mission as the HR department is to foster a robust culture, organization, and people who make that process possible. In working toward a sustainable society, our aim is to achieve business growth and the well-being of our stakeholders together through the creation of inclusive, safe and healthy workplaces.
Respect for human rights is fundamental
The Panasonic Group, with its roughly 260,000 employees worldwide, is like a community. Our Code of Conduct, which guides the implementation of Panasonic’s business philosophy, declares our commitment to respect human rights and to support the values of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) in this community. We work to keep it free of discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, religion, social status, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical or mental disability or any other status in light of applicable laws. And we support employee success and the well-being of their families by encouraging every individual to express their skills and realize their full potential.
Empowering women as a force for growth
Breaking down stereotypes is crucial for understanding customers' real needs and solving social challenges through business. We believe that empowering women is an especially potent force in this endeavor. In the US, for example, we are launching a new business focused not on hardware, Panasonic's strong suit, but on software and services. Based in Silicon Valley, the team tasked with developing this business is diverse and woman-led.* We have high expectations that diverse teams such as this one will carve out new business fields for Panasonic.
*Managing Executive Officer Yoky Matsuoka, who joined Panasonic from another tech company in October 2019
Inclusive, safe and healthy workplaces
Panasonic has manufacturing operations all across the globe. As our employees grow more diverse in terms of nationality, sex, and employment status, and — in the case of Japan — grow older, we are building internal management systems that incorporate global occupational health and safety standards and also working to prevent accidents in manufacturing following a three-year plan. To address human rights and labor issues in the supply chain, the manufacturing and procurement departments play a lead role through their direct relationship with suppliers. HR, in collaboration with legal, CSR, and other business support departments, also has an important role. While these issues are complex, we are firmly committed to ensuring safety and peace of mind for all who support our business.
A world where everyone can seek self-expression
A world where all are included and can enjoy full, productive employment is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by year 2030. Panasonic is a citizen of society, and when you include all our stakeholders, hundreds of thousands to millions of people are connected to our business activities. By tackling various issues related to human rights — not only human resources development, but also D&I, occupational health and safety — we aim to contribute to the development of a sustainable society.
