Initiatives for Work Engagement

The Group places top priority on our employees.
We implement various initiatives to create a work environment in which employees can work actively with enjoyment.
These initiatives have been highly appraised, and we received the Chairman of the Executive Committee Award for the “Japan’s Most Valued Company” Grand Prize on March 22, 2013.

Creating a work environment free of sales quotas or overtime work

Employees cannot offer truly friendly service to customers unless they themselves can work actively and with enjoyment. This is why we do not impose sales quotas on employees. Although employees make efforts to achieve goals, these goals are not sales quotas. If they were, employees might use all possible means to try to make customers buy items that they do not need. That would not benefit our customers, and might even make them reluctant to shop with us again. The most important point is that employees can work with enjoyment and smiles.
Creating an environment free of overtime work is one of our efforts toward that end. This approach is based on the concept of “Gambaranai Keiei.” Do not do today what you can do tomorrow. As management needs to take a long-term view, we do not see any point in working overtime, even if it produces results for the present.

Encouraging employees to take paid leave and consecutive days of leave

The Company encourages employees to take paid leave and consecutive days of leave. We also proactively call for employees to take five consecutive days of leave.

Introduction of work interval system

The Company has introduced a work interval system, which ensures an 11-hour interval between the end of one work shift and the start of the next. We believe this system is necessary to protect the health of our employees.

Nursing care support

The Company has a nursing care leave system that allows employees to take up to 365 days of leave to care for their loved ones while continuing to work or retaining their status as an employee. With the acceleration of population aging in Japan, this will continue to be one of our most important systems.

Health management and mental health

The Company proactively encourages employees to undergo a health examination or thorough medical checkup once a year, and provides specific or general health guidance for employees for whom medical findings were observed. In addition, the heads of Company offices with 50 or more employees acquire health supervisor certification and administer stress checks to all employees.