Japan Workers and Remote Work: Updated Oct. 31, 2023

 Article Source: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230717/p2a/00m/0na/009000c

Article:

TOKYO -- Nearly half of respondents in a nationwide survey conducted by a career support firm say they are opposed to returning to the office as Japan leaves the COVID-19 pandemic behind, while close to half of managers raising children are considering switching jobs over inadequate remote work systems.

Tokyo-based XTalent Inc., which supports career transitions among the child-rearing generation, surveyed 1,085 clients and others aged from their 20s to 50s in June, and announced its findings on July 13.

Ideas:

Remote is controversial topic right now as there are many different opinions on what is best in and for the work place.

Some managers think only if an employee is in the office and they can see them then they are working and they might not trust remote work.

Other companies seems to be more flexible on the work-style of their employees, depending on the type of work needed. For example, there are some types of work that should and need to done in the office and or in teams in the office. Other types can easily be done at home or  coffee shop as needed.

Most likely women with children prefer a more flexible work style, but that doesn't mean they don't want to work, they just want and need a style of work that also meets the needs of their family.

Article:

The poll found that 48.7% of respondents were opposed to returning to the office, surpassing the 1.3% who were in favor of doing so and the 37.9% who answered that they were in favor of a partial return. When asked for comments, there were respondents who underscored the significance of going back, with one person pointing out that "communication with colleagues is necessary."

Ideas:

Most likely a flexible style of some work at home and some work in the office seems to the optimal approach if helps a company.

What a company doesn't want or need is a large turnover in employees or people changing jobs because the company now doesn't meet their needs.

The world of work has changed dramatically since the pandemic and remote work is here to stay.But are companies willing to embrace a different work style or are they going to go back to the traditional style of everyone in the office at the same time.

Of course there some kinds of work that require and need workers in the office and on-site but not so for all kinds of work.

Article:

The survey nevertheless highlighted a smoldering sense of dissatisfaction among the child-rearing generation regarding the move back to the office. When asked whether they were considering changing jobs or had already done so due to dissatisfaction over inadequate remote work systems, 198 of 407 people in managerial or higher positions in their 30s and 40s who were raising children answered "yes." Regarding the ideal frequency of working at the office, the most common answer was "once a week," at 26.4%. Next was "three times a month or less" at 23.7%, followed by "twice a week" at 22.2%. Less than 20% wanted fully remote jobs.

Ideas:

Unfortunately, for the most part, a company probably can't meet the needs of all child-rearing workers but a company can and should try to be a flexible as possible related to work-style choices. 

Maybe having workers come in the office, all at the same time once a week, and or a few times a month when needed and then create an environment using Zoom or Microsoft teams where teams work together online as much as possible without disruptions to families and or work priorities. And then as needed be in the office at times.

Some traditional Japanese companies might not want remote again but if they are not flexible and don't change they might lose valuable talent and or not be able to hire the best talent out there because they have outdated work life-style policies.

Even in South Korea, even before the pandemic, many large companies saw the writing on the wall and started to experiment with better work/life-style choices to make sure they can get the best talent possible.

Article:

Remote work has taken root in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, and there has been a growing rethink about conventional work styles grounded in employees coming to the office. An XTalent representative commented, "For the generation raising children, working styles that include remote work with flexible hours make it easier for employees to demonstrate their performance, leading to greater satisfaction. By implementing the ways of working that employees desire, it makes it easy to keep talent."

Ideas:

Again, remote work might not be feasible or possible for every company. For example its obviously not possible of retail work or construction work and other kinds of work. 

But for work related to the office its definitely as positive as office type workers and so on, can create a more flexible work-life-style that fits their families and or their work style.

Not all Japanese are group oriented individuals as there are just as many individual workers and thinkers who want and need to work alone instead in an office with a lot of other workers around them.

Japan is sometimes slow to change but at the same time can sometimes change very quickly. the remote work situation might be one area where the worker actually has some say or power in what they want to need for their lives instead of just staying/sitting in an office eight or nine hours a day.

Have a nice day and be safe!