Creating a Supportive Environment
We are enhancing various internal programs and frameworks to support the careers of our diverse workforce and are implementing multiple measures and environmental improvements to maintain and boost motivation.
BeanStalk Kids Center Tokushima
Otsuka established Beanstalk Kids Center Tokushima in 2011 in Tokushima Prefecture, the birthplace of the Otsuka group. This on-site nursery allowed employees with children to work with peace of mind. In 2014, we opened Beanstalk Kids Center Osaka in the heart of Osaka City. The Tokushima branch's highly original childcare style fosters creativity, and employees have offered very favorable reviews. The capacity grew from 100 to 210, making it one of the largest nurseries in Japan. Both nurseries take in children and grandchildren of Otsuka group employees between 57 days old to preschool age. They offer full childcare support, with a system to accommodate urgent situations such as extended care.
IkuBoss Initiatives
Otsuka Pharmaceutical aims to create a workplace where all employees can play active roles. In 2015, we joined the IkuBoss Company Alliance*1, a network of companies that aims to nurture ideal bosses for a new generation. The alliance defines an IkuBoss as "a boss who nurtures junior members of staff, the organization, and society, and is also able to grow at and outside work."*2 However, we at Otsuka Pharmaceutical consider an IkuBoss to be a leader who nurtures junior members of staff.
We regularly hold IkuBoss seminars to support diverse work styles. We are trying to reform the mindset of all employees by encouraging management to communicate that diversity and IkuBoss ideals are essential for growth.
- *1Supervised by NPO Fathering Japan (Representative Director: Tetsuya Ando) in 2015
- *2From data provided by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Ikumen Project Secretariat
Unconscious Bias Training
Awareness and understanding of unconscious bias is essential for pushing forward D&I. In 2021, we held a training session for young women on the theme of "Understanding gender bias and building confidence." The aim was to foster female managers and create a comfortable working environment. Responses to post-training questionnaires indicated that about 80% of the participants felt more confident in their work and skill development, and more than 90% of the participating employees' supervisors evaluated that they had demonstrated growth.
Women's Health Awareness Initiatives
The Japanese government aims to increase the percentage of women in leadership positions in all areas of society to 30% by 2030. As more women are expected to play an active role in the workforce, we believe women's health is vital. Otsuka Pharmaceutical is leveraging knowledge gained from the research and development of our products to implement a wide range of internal and external initiatives that empower women. Although systems are improving and more opportunities are available for women, many still voice concerns about the disruption to their work and daily lives that hormonal cycles and other health-related factors can cause. A large number of women remain skeptical about receiving promotions. In some cases, they do not know when or how to deal with these issues and find themselves harboring concerns about health changes in silence.
One of the reasons behind this is that many women lack the understanding of their physical cycles and health issues specific to their gender. Otsuka Pharmaceutical believes that for women to lead vibrant and active lives, it is crucial for them to know the physical and mental changes that occur at each stage of their lives and have access to more suitable options for coping with them. We hold seminars for companies, organizations, and local governments throughout Japan to relay accurate information about women's health. We also hold in-house Women's Health Seminars for both male and female employees and their families, providing them with opportunities to learn more and foster a supportive work environment.
Balancing Work with Caregiving or Medical Treatment
As the population of Japan's elderly grows, the number of certified caregivers has also increased over recent years. Factors surrounding caregiving, such as the duration, can be unpredictable, making it difficult to manage with a career. To address this issue, we have expanded our policies, allowing employees to take on caregiving duties or receive medical treatment without having to leave their jobs.
For example, in the past, we allowed employees to take on caregiving duties for three years. However, since the future can be uncertain in these situations, we have changed our policy, allowing employees to provide caregiving as long as they need to. We regularly hold seminars on balancing work with caregiving or medical treatment. Our partnership with a nursing care information service allows employees to access information at any time — they can inquire about caregiving services, receive referrals to care managers, etc. Employees receiving medical treatment are eligible to work shorter hours or change their working hours.
