#Japan #Lemon Association #Welfare Services #Kinokawa

The Lemon Association's New Initiatives for Employee Welfare

The Lemon Association (Lemon Kai), headquartered in Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture, is set to enhance its employee benefits starting April 1, 2025. This initiative includes a salary increase and additional vacation days for its workforce across 84 facilities and four headquarters, encompassing both full-time and part-time employees.

A Commitment to Fair Compensation

The foundation of this pay raise is aimed at reassessing fair compensation for employees, elevating their motivation, and facilitating the overall revitalization of the organization. While the national system for service improvement adds wages for select occupational roles, the Lemon Association is going beyond these regulations. It has decided to establish unique allowances for employees from departments not covered by national grants, thereby implementing a broad-based salary increase across the board. This aims not only to correct disparities arising from differences in roles and placements within the organization but also to create a more flexible and sustainable operational framework. The association believes that fostering an environment where employees can work securely, both economically and mentally, enhances the quality of support provided to its users.

Expanding Leave and Vacation Policies

Recognizing the importance of work-life balance, the Lemon Association has scrutinized its holiday policies continuously. As a result, the total annual leave days will increase to 122 starting in 2025, marking a significant addition of 10 days over the last five years.

Additionally, the organization is introducing a special leave called 'Inclusion Leave' to support its vision of achieving social inclusion. This new policy encourages employees to expand their horizons and engage with diverse values, which are crucial for realizing the association's goals. The initiative reflects a deep-seated commitment to ensure employees can rejuvenate their minds and bodies while emphasizing the significance of personal time in a sector often criticized for inadequate vacation allowances.

A People-Centric Organizational Approach

Welfare work necessitates an empathetic connection with those receiving support, but it is equally essential to prioritize the well-being and happiness of the staff providing that support. The Lemon Association is dedicated to cultivating a workplace where employees can lead fulfilling lives while enjoying long-term job security.

Adopting flexible work arrangements that cater to employees' life stages and nurturing an environment that respects personal time are believed to contribute to high-quality welfare services. The association is committed to continuously improving employee treatment to promote a sustainable organizational operation aimed at enhancing work-life harmony.

About the Lemon Association

The Lemon Association operates various educational and welfare services, including childcare facilities like 'Raymond Hoikuen' and 'Lemon no Ko Hoikuen', as well as English programs and after-school clubs. Guided by the motto ‘Beyond What You Think’, it strives to foster environments that encourage active participation and meaningful dialogue for both children and adults.

Moreover, the association also extends its services to disability welfare, offering developmental support for children, employment assistance, group homes, and has opened the 'Social Inclusion Village' in Nara Prefecture in 2023, designed as a comprehensive community space that embodies its mission. With a network of 84 facilities across 12 prefectures, the Lemon Association dedicates itself to tackling societal challenges while aiming to create shared social values where cooperation and connection thrive.

Organization Name: Lemon Association (Lemon Kai)
Chairman: Takataro Maeda
Headquarters: 240 Kowada, Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Website: www.lemonkai.or.jp

Services include:

• - Raymond Children (authorized nursery, certified kindergarten, public nursery management)
• - Lemon no Ko Hoikuen (small-scale nursery)
• - Kid’s & More (corporate childcare, preschool, after-school club)
• - Lemonade Kids (developmental support for children)
• - LIIMO (employment transitional support)
• - Management of Raymond College, Raymond House, participation in various industry-specific projects including a toy museum, and more.