#Japan #Tokyo #Gender Diversity #Persol Career #paternity leave

Significant Milestone Achieved in Male Paternity Leave

In a landmark accomplishment for workplace equity, Persol Career, a leading career service provider in Japan, has achieved a remarkable milestone: 50% of eligible male employees have taken more than one month of paternity leave. This achievement comes from thorough preparation and dedicated support systems, allowing 92 out of 182 eligible men to embark on extended family leave before the target date of March 2026. The company's push for inclusive parental leave also aligns with governmental strategies aiming for a national male paternity leave rate exceeding 50%.

Background of the Initiative

The Japanese government has introduced targets for increasing male participation in paternity leave, yet several barriers remain, such as stigma associated with taking time off, lack of workplace understanding, and concerns about career advancement post-leave. To combat these issues, Persol Career has initiated various strategies to increase participation rates, achieving an impressive 84.3% of all male employees taking at least one day of paternity leave in the fiscal year 2024.

The company has actively promoted an extended leave culture since October 2021, emphasizing the necessity of robust engagement from fathers during their children’s early years. The initiatives included annual feedback loops to progress towards their ambitious goal of attaining a 50% rate for taking paternity leave lasting over one month by FY 2025.

Core Actions for Promoting Extended Paternity Leave

To effectively promote this engagement, Persol Career has implemented several key actions:

1. Comprehensive Guidance Resources
The company strategically disseminates information regarding paternity leave procedures through a well-structured internal portal containing detailed guidance documents and explanatory videos. This comprehensive resource thoroughly addresses the administrative requirements and post-return career considerations for employees.

2. Empathy in Parental Roles
Persol Career launched an online concierge service that allows employees to have personalized one-on-one consultations with trained HR professionals. This service has seen over 100 employees utilize it in the fiscal year 2024, seeking assistance regarding concerns related to parental duties, paid leave, and similar issues affecting balancing work and family life.

3. Experiencing Restricted Work Patterns for Managers
Recognizing the challenges posed by parenting responsibilities, the company conducts workshops for managers to help them experience the reality of restricted workflows caused by childcare and family needs. These workshops, which include a week of no overtime work, encourage managers to empathize with their team members and rethink work schedules to promote better work-life balance.

Voices from Employees on Paternity Leave

The personal testimonies of employees reveal profound insights gained during their paternity leave.

• - Employee A (77 days): Documents his experiences through a 'paternity diary,' segmenting the leave into phases, which helped maintain clear family schedules and bond with his children. He emphasized making common use of services like childcare centers to ease domestic burdens.
• - Employee B (182 days): Reflects on the importance of being present as a conversational partner within the family, which he found was more vital than he anticipated. He noted an ongoing commitment to increasing family dialogue post-leave.
• - Employee C (96 days): Utilized the leave for sorting domestic tasks and engaging with parenting communities, enhancing his overall organizational skills and connection to local resources.

Future Outlook

Kyoko Kita, Executive Officer at Persol Career, acknowledges the achievements in parental leave obtained thus far but recognizes the continued need for education and cultural shift within the organization. While many employees find flexibility through remote work or hybrid models, the company must also emphasize paternity leave as a dedicated time to engage with the family.

In this fiscal year, the understanding workshops will be expanded to more managers, not only those in senior roles. The objective is to increase awareness and empathy toward working conditions that accommodate diverse family obligations. By fostering a workplace culture where everyone can embrace their unique working styles, Persol Career aims to create a supportive environment where each employee's circumstances are understood, creating a resilient and collaborative organization.

About Persol Career

For further information, visit Persol Career. The company, dedicated to empowering individuals to seize their working potential, provides various employment services, including 'doda', the job transition service, and 'doda X'. With a mission to enhance societal value through bolstered working conditions and advocating for gender diversity, Persol Career continues its commitment to a society where every individual can find joy in their work lives.