Africa-Press – Namibia. • HUILENG TAN
ACCORDING to recent reports, electronic conglomerate Panasonic is the latest major company to announce a four-day working week for interested employees in an attempt to move away from a workaholic culture.
“We must support the well-being of our employees,” Panasonic chief executive Yuki Kusumi told investors at a recent briefing last month.
Known for its intense work culture, corporate life in Japan can be so unforgiving that dying from overworking is not unheard of. In a bid to improve the country’s work-life balance, last June the Japanese government recommended that companies allow staff to opt for a four-day working week, reported German broadcaster DW.
Kusumi said the company is looking to support diversity as some workers may have side jobs or personal interests apart from their primary employment, according to the public broadcaster NHK.
The company is also moving toward more flexible work arrangements. This includes encouraging more employees to work remotely and allowing workers to decide if they want to transfer to another city without their families, a common corporate practice in the country.
Panasonic joins a handful of Japanese companies introducing a four-day work week, including pharmaceutical firm Shionogi and systems developer Encourage Technologies. Both will offer the option from April, according to Nikkei.
About 8% of Japanese companies offered more than two days off a week in 2020, Nikkei reported, citing an official survey.
Last week, San Francisco-based e-commerce start-up Bolt permanently switched to a four-day working week after a trial saw improved productivity and work-life balance.
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