Japan Teleworking: Updated May 28, 2024.

 

Teleworking in Japan shrinks after COVID, hybrid working on rise

Article Source:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240512/p2g/00m/0li/008000c

Ideas:

Telework or hybrid work might be here to stay but it won't like it was during the pandemic. It seems hybrid work is the most possible option, being some days in the office and some days at home or a coffee shop.

There are probably some companies that require their workers to work only in the office, while some companies might be more progressive and want to meet the needs of their workers as much as possible.

For example, for working women, hybrid work might be the best option especially if they have young children.

The amount of hybrid work might depend on the sector and not just the company, although the culture of the company might play a big part of it.

Of course there are some sectors or jobs that can't accommodate hybrid work or even telework. But most office type jobs are the best category for hybrid work.

Teleworking or working away from the office at 2.3 days per week seems about right, as many workers want to work from home or a coffee shop and also go to the office during the week.

The idea that workers would continue to work remotely five or seven days a week might not have been doable or even realistic as Japan is, for the most part, a group culture so working  in the office is the most likely the preferred option of  many companies, with the idea too of allowing hybrid work of one or two days a week.

At the same time, as workers experienced remote work, they might want to continue it but maybe too, not everyday but a few days a week only, and again, especially working women with children. 

Of course, again, it all depends on the company as maybe some companies need workers there everyday or the CEO of boss prefers to see office workers everyday.

Its obvious that large city centers like Tokyo, with many large companies, with a lot of office workers, will have the largest percentage of remote or hybrid workers. 

At the same time, there is a chance or an opportunity for companies to be more flexible and allow some workers to live in the rural areas and work remotely too, and maybe go to the main office once or twice a month as needed.

There are many possibilities for remote work or hybrid work to be explored. For example, families, households, can live in Shizuoka or Kanagawa and still work for a Tokyo based company with hybrid or remote work and commute to the Tokyo office once or twice a week as needed.

Have a nice day and be safe!