Starting in October, the childcare leave system will change, allowing flexible ways of taking time off, such as allowing men to divide their time off after the birth of a child.
With the revision of the Child Care and Nursing Care Leave Law, a system called "Postpartum Papa Child Care Leave" was established separately from the conventional child care leave.
A man can take up to 4 weeks within 8 weeks after the child is born, and it is also possible to divide it into 2 times.
In line with this revision, it is now possible to divide childcare leave into two installments, up to a maximum of four installments before the child reaches the age of one.
In addition, it is possible to work within the scope agreed in the labor-management agreement during the period of maternity leave.
However, employers should not demand that they work unilaterally.
▽ In addition to being able to take childcare leave frequently, such
as during the difficult period immediately after giving birth and ▽ when my wife returns to
work, ▽ I have more options, such as being able to work even during my leave on days when I have to work.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the percentage of men taking childcare leave reached a record high of 13.97% last year.
In April next year, companies with more than 1,000 employees will be obliged to disclose the percentage of male employees taking childcare leave. I want to
Companies that have achieved 100% acquisition rate
Ogawamoto (42 years old), who works at the Tokyo branch office of a building parts manufacturer in Niigata Prefecture, gave birth to a second child in August this year and took childcare leave for about a month.
He works with his wife on housework and childcare, such as feeding the baby and washing the dishes.
Taiga says, "I'm happy to be able to spend time with my child and feel that they're growing, and it also encourages me to work hard. I can't imagine how difficult housework and childcare can be unless I try it, so I'm actively taking childcare leave. I think it's better to take it," he said.
His wife, Asako, said, "I had a second child and I had a lot to do, and I think it would have been impossible for my husband to take childcare leave by himself. What should I do if my husband takes childcare leave? I know if it's okay, so I think it will be easier for me to return to work."
The reason why Taiga took childcare leave was because of the company's strong support.
This company makes metal parts for roofs, but there are many people who are unfamiliar with the products.
When a male employee reports his wife's pregnancy, the person in charge of general affairs consults about the period and timing of taking childcare leave according to the work situation, and a simulation of the amount of take-home pay.
We always share the details of work so that work will not be delayed even if any employee is absent, and before taking childcare leave, we carefully hand over to colleagues the customer we are in charge of and work during the absence.
Through these efforts, we have achieved 100% of male employees taking childcare leave for four consecutive years since 2018. I'm here.
Mr. Taiga says, "It's become commonplace for men to take childcare leave, and those who take it feel at ease, and people around them are aware that they're following up. I've always shared the details of my work, so it's not that difficult for my colleagues. I don't think so,' he said.
One of the people who took over said, "I have to be able to do the work that he has done so far, so it will be an opportunity for him to grow, and it will also be an opportunity to review whether there is any unnecessary work." was talking
Tomoaki Hiyama, general manager of Sakata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., said, "Since we promoted childcare leave and promoted work style reforms to zero overtime, it has become easier to acquire human resources. In the short term, there will be a negative impact, but the culture of covering each other as a team Smooth communication has been created, which has led to improved productivity, and in the long run, it has had the effect of increasing sales."
Companies aiming to improve acquisition rate
Some companies continue trial and error to create a workplace environment that makes it easier for men to take childcare leave.
At an apparel company headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, no men had taken childcare leave until four years ago.
It is said that there was little interest in working styles in general, such as long working hours, and there was no atmosphere to take childcare leave.
However, in response to concerns that employees might leave their jobs if the working environment is bad, and that men want to take childcare leave, we are working to create an atmosphere within the company and provide training to improve the childcare leave acquisition rate. I'm here.
Training was also held in September.
Approximately 20 employees in their 20s to 50s are divided into groups, and male employees in managerial positions become female employees who are raising children, and ▽young female employees assume managerial positions.
For example, if trust is built through activities such as picking up children from daycare, family troubles will disappear, and work productivity will increase.
During the training, employees were seen pairing up with husbands and wives to discuss sharing the duties of picking up and dropping off at nursery school and when to take maternity leave.
A male manager who participated said, "By talking to group members about my goals and what I want to cherish, I was able to experience the support of those around me in choosing and ordering work." But I learned that each staff member has their own circumstances and thoughts."
Another male manager said, "I took on the role of a woman in her 20s who is raising a child. I felt that valuing housework and childcare was also useful in my work. When I was in my 20s, I was just working. However, I think that if I had enriched my private life, I would have been able to live in my current job."
Through these efforts, the ratio of male employees taking childcare leave has risen to approximately 50%.
In conjunction with the introduction of a new system this month, we will continue to take steady steps, such as putting up stickers in workplaces encouraging employees to take childcare leave.
However, there are still many issues to be addressed, such as how far the understanding of managers will spread and how to continue the work of employees who have taken childcare leave.
Akiko Ukifune, general manager of the general affairs and personnel department at Ships, said, "I think there are still people who think that male childcare leave is practically impossible for male staff. If we don't change, we won't be able to acquire excellent human resources, and it will be difficult for the organization to survive.I want to increase the value of the company through the power of people."
Expert "A workplace where anyone can turn around even if they take a day off"
Yoshie Komuro, president of "Work-Life Balance", which provides consulting on the working environment, explained why men are less likely to take childcare leave, saying, "It is difficult for men to take time off from work or go home early. Currently, people praise me for having a job that only you can do, but from now on, when I take time off from work, I will hand over work to other people, and I will appreciate that there are no problems. It becomes important,” he said.
On top of that, as the labor force population is declining, he said, "We have to make high-value-added products efficiently in a short time. We will make full use of both men and women in a short time and run the company with diverse human resources. It will be essential to keep going.”
In addition, regarding the fact that some companies will be required to disclose the rate of childcare leave taken by men from April next year, he said, ``If there is an atmosphere that prevents men from taking childcare leave, it will affect the recruitment of human resources, and the company as a whole will suffer. It is necessary for the management to take responsibility and commit in order to reflect this year's acquisition rate in the figures announced, ”he emphasized that companies need to respond promptly.