It's been a month since the third state of emergency was declared.

Telework is spreading as the government calls for a "70% reduction in the number of employees", but it turned out that many companies have implemented it once but have now canceled it.

In a survey conducted by a private research company, Tokyo Shoko Research, on more than 9800 companies nationwide in early March, 3754 companies answered that they are "currently implementing" teleworking and teleworking. The rate was 38%, an increase of 3 points from the same survey conducted two months ago in January.



By company size, 69% of companies have capital of 100 million yen or more, while 33% of companies have capital of less than 100 million yen, and the implementation rate is high for large companies.



However, 1725 companies, or 17%, answered that they had implemented it after the spread of the new coronavirus infection, but have canceled it now, suggesting that there are problems with working from home and continuing teleworking.



When Pasona Research Institute asked about these issues in multiple answers to more than 1,000 people who had worked from home last October, nearly half of them cited "securing opportunities for team communication" as a business issue. It became the most.



Regarding domestic issues, "improving the Internet environment" was also close to half, at 47%.

Set up "Team Day" and continue teleworking

There is also a movement to adopt unique rules in order to overcome the challenges unique to telework and continue in the future.



Commercial vehicle manufacturer Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus will be able to work up to 2 days out of 5 weekdays, except for those who work on the production line from January, and all the rest will be teleworked. Included in the rules.



Not only office workers but also engineers are targeted.



However, many employees commented that "teleworking does not allow good communication between bosses and colleagues."



Therefore, the company has also introduced a new rule that all members of each department come to work together and set up a "team day" when they work face-to-face.



The aim is to promote teleworking efficiently by creating "real" communication in which bosses and colleagues discuss things that they notice or do not understand at work.



In late May, a team day was set up for the department that develops the new bus.



Due to the state of emergency being declared in Tokyo, the event was held online on this day, but about 10 engineers participated and the employees who had just moved from the region said, "The overall situation of parts development. I don't know how to handle the software to understand the problem. "



Takayuki Ito, General Manager of Bass Development Department, Development Headquarters, said, "Even if I work from home, I can do it on my computer, so there is no functional problem, but when I work from home, I sometimes feel lonely." Team Day " So, I try to have a quick conversation with everyone. "



In addition, Rena Kawachi, general manager of the Human Resources Division, said, "I think about how better it is to be told" I have to do it "rather than being told" I can do it. " We also need coercion. "

Telework employees "I feel a little difficult"

Yoshihiro Fukushima (56), an engineer who participated in Team Day of the Bus Development Department, moved to the head office from Toyama prefecture, where he was assigned to work alone last month, and is teleworking at his home in Yokohama.



The eldest daughter who works for an IT company is also teleworking, and since they handle sensitive information that leads to each other's corporate secrets, Mr. Fukushima has a storage space that stores chests of drawers, and the eldest daughter teleworks in a place separate from the living room. doing.



Mr. Fukushima can only go to work twice a week according to the work regulations.

It took more than an hour and a half to commute to work, so I feel that the burden has been reduced, which is a merit.



On the other hand, he has just moved and wants to learn how to handle software and systems in the new department as soon as possible, but he says that teleworking cannot catch up.



Mr. Fukushima said, "You can easily ask questions if you meet face to face, but there is a little hesitation when you are online, and I feel a little difficult to proceed smoothly." ..

Continuation of telework What are the three points?

Kenichiro Yuda, who is familiar with the actual situation of telework, has listed three points for continuing telework.



The first is "from where you can".


Mr. Yuda said, "It is good to start from the people who can do it, the departments that can do it, and the time when they can do it, and spread the cases of those who can do it in the company. Now that we can do it, we are prepared to try it little by little so that even small and medium-sized enterprises can easily proceed. "



The second is "combine the latest tools".


Mr. Yuda said, "There are many useful tools that can be used for free, such as visualizing the work of team members with an application that manages schedules. The telework promotion departments in each local government can compare tools and consult with them. We also respond. "



The third is "consciously increase opportunities for conversation other than work."


Mr. Yuda said, "At one company, we are trying to create a sense of unity by doing gymnastics and exercising together at 3:00 pm. Through these efforts, we will increase the opportunities for each other to talk openly. That's important. "