Why does the entrance ceremony continue?
A unique culture that changes Reality is deeply rooted at 11:28 on April 1st
The new year has begun, and many companies are holding entrance ceremonies to welcome new employees.
This entrance ceremony continues as a culture unique to Japan, but the way it should be is changing now.
What I could see was the attitude of companies that emphasized a realistic entrance ceremony even as they went online.
We approached the background and the latest circumstances as to why companies continue the entrance ceremony.
(Reporter, Network News Department, Yoko Idegami, Mayi Ogura, Hiromi Akimoto)
Entrance ceremony that continues as a unique culture
Examining NHK's past footage, there was a record of the entrance ceremony of a securities company held in Tokyo on April 1, 1958, 60 years ago.
More than 1000 new employees with a tense look were instructed by the management.
At the entrance ceremony during this period of high economic miracle, a brave narration saying, "We can see the attitude of the securities industry riding the wave of the economy. Was attached.
Such entrance ceremonies are rarely seen overseas, and in fact, they continue today as a culture unique to Japan.
When I asked NHK's international department desk, who has graduated from an American university and has been assigned to Europe, in Europe and the United States, where "bulk recruitment of new graduates" is not common, the time to enter a company is different, and new employees are gathered together like in Japan. It was said that I had never heard of an entrance ceremony where I met and received instructions from the management.
Japanese companies that hold an entrance ceremony every year responded that they are doing it to cultivate a sense of belonging as an employee and that it is necessary as a milestone to recognize the awareness of working people.
Some companies have abolished the entrance ceremony
However, some companies are now reviewing the entrance ceremonies that have been taken for granted.
Hitachi, Ltd., a major electronics manufacturer that welcomes more than 1,000 employees this year, has abolished the entrance ceremony that has been held for many years since last year.
Why on earth?
When asked why, the background was related to the batch recruitment of new graduates peculiar to Japan and the departure from the lifetime employment type work style.
Mr. Tatsuya Moriki, Public Relations Department, Hitachi, Ltd.
"Our company has more overseas employees than domestic employees as our business globalizes. We need to globalize our work styles, and the traditional Japanese style. We are promoting a job-type work style that emphasizes experience and technology regardless of the hiring time, rather than batch hiring of new graduates and lifetime employment. Under such circumstances, we will hold an entrance ceremony in April, which is premised on batch hiring of new graduates. There was a debate about what it meant. I wanted to convey the message, "I can work anytime," so I abolished the entrance ceremony. "
Instead of abolishing the entrance ceremony, Hitachi decided to hold a new event called "Career Kickoff Session" from this spring.
The aim is for new employees to get together to discuss specifically what they want to do after joining the company and what their colleagues are thinking, and raise awareness.
It's about turning into a more substantive effort than a formal ceremony.
Companies seek "real"
What is the situation of the entrance ceremony in Japan this year?
In February, 545 companies, from small and medium-sized companies to large companies, responded by conducting a questionnaire survey on the entrance ceremony.
As a result, only 10% of the respondents answered that they would not hold an entrance ceremony, indicating that most companies hold an entrance ceremony.
From the questionnaire, we can see how to hold the entrance ceremony.
The most common answer was "same scale as usual, real" at 34.3%.
Next, "Reduce the scale, real" was 26.6%.
It was found that 11% of the respondents said "combine online and real", and more than 70% of the total plan to hold a face-to-face ceremony in some way.
“Online” accounted for only 6.6% of the total.
A person in charge of human resources said, "Since the informal ceremony and social gathering were held online, I would like to hold the entrance ceremony in real time." "The entrance ceremony is a turning point for becoming a member of society. Some people said, "I want to give it to you," with an emphasis on face-to-face entrance ceremonies.
Mr. Tomoyoshi Utatsu, Executive Officer of Gakujo
"Some companies carry out all selections and informal ceremonies online, and there are places where informal candidates have never met each other. Remoteization is progressing rapidly, and many As a result of remote recruitment and education by Japanese companies, there has been a movement to return to "real" recently. "It is only with communication in a real place that awareness and sense of belonging can be fostered." Partly because of this, companies tend to seek "real" communication while paying attention to measures for the new corona. "
Implemented even if it is half a year late Pursuing realism
There are companies that held ceremonies that could not be held even at different times in order to value the realistic entrance ceremony.
Meiji Yasuda Life, a major life insurance company, was unable to hold the entrance ceremony held on April 1st every year due to the influence of the new corona, and last year it held the entrance ceremony on October 14th, about half a year later.
Since new employees are assigned to various parts of the country, we held an entrance ceremony to deepen the ties of synchronization.
Participants gathered in Tokyo from all over the country after measuring the temperature every day from two weeks before the entrance ceremony, and after measuring and disinfecting the temperature at the venue on the day, all 326 new employees attended.
Participants said, "I was able to deepen the bond of synchronization" and "I was inspired to find a rival and do my best".
The company will hold an entrance ceremony on April 15th.
Mr. Takatoshi Kitajima, Human Resources Department, Meiji Yasuda Life
"The entrance ceremony is once in a lifetime. We value the synchronization that we met at the entrance ceremony, help each other, grow together, and challenge everything, so we staggered the time. However, we held an entrance ceremony. I also want you to have an opportunity to understand the company's philosophy. I think that such an entrance ceremony is necessary to realize that you will be a member of this company. "
Entrance ceremony that changes due to corona sickness
As the infection of the new corona continues, changes are emerging in the way the company enters the company.
Last year's entrance ceremony for home maker Aqura Home was a hybrid of online and real.
New employees assigned to the head office gathered at the venue in Tokyo to connect online with employees assigned to various locations.
Furthermore, it was a robot that appeared here.
The robot issued a resignation to the new employee of the representative.
In order to reduce the contact between people, we narrowed down the number of people at the venue and used robots that usually guide customers.
We also distributed it on YouTube so that family members and employees can see this situation.
As a result of hearing the wishes of new employees, this manufacturer will hold an entrance ceremony that brings together employees from all over the country while taking measures to prevent infection.
With all my heart online
The office work agency "Knit" held an online entrance ceremony in January and March this year.
We have devised ways to welcome new employees, even if they are suffering from corona, to feel that they have become a member of the company.
The welcoming employees aligned the background of their computers and projected a message saying "Congratulations on joining the company! Nice to meet you!"
It is an entrance ceremony with the heart of employees handmade.
The new employees said, "I was able to feel that I was welcomed by the company."
Mr. Takao Akizawa, President of Knit
"I think it is meaningful to hold an entrance ceremony online so that employees can communicate with each other. Many people work from home in Corona, and it is easy to get lonely. There may be situations where it is difficult to consult. I want you to find someone you can consult with and work on it while thinking for yourself how you can grasp the pace of your work. "
As the difficult situation of Corona's disaster continues, various efforts of companies that accept new employees can be seen through the way of the entrance ceremony.
There was a desire of the employees to continue the entrance ceremony even if the shape changed.
New members of society, please do your best in your future social life!