En-Japan Co., Ltd, the recruiting agency, performed a survey of managers and human resources representatives regarding the “Work Style Reformation Act” (648 respondents). Based on this, we will introduce the state of the awareness of businesses regarding said act, and their feelings regarding it.
◆Overview of results
1 Levels of familiarity regarding “Work Style Reformation Act”
In response to the question, “Do you know the ‘Work Style Reformation Act'”, 95% responded that they were familiar with it, with answers of “I know the general outline” (74%) and “I know it, and it contents” (21%).
2 Level that it impedes management
Next, to the question, “Has the execution of the ‘Work Style Reformation Act’ been an impediment to management”, we received answers of “It has been a big impediment” (9%) and “It has been a slight impediment” (38%); the results indicate that as the size of the business increases, the larger the percentage answers that indicated it was an impediment.
3 Regarding laws that might impede management
We asked those that answered it are an impediment, “Which law would impede management”.
The most popular answer was, “Laws restricting the amount of overtime cap” (66%); next was “The obligation of the acquisition of paid vacation days” (54%), “The obligation of ‘same work, same pay’ restrictions” (43%).
In addition, when classified by industry, advertising, publishing, and mass media related fields stand out as having answered, “Laws restricting the amount of overtime cap” (80%) and “The obligation of the acquisition of paid vacation days” (70%); and trading firms for having answered “Laws restricting the amount of overtime cap” (74%).
◆Comments by responders
Japan is behind other countries in terms of work style, and everyone works while they deal with their family, marriage, and birth; with the government stepping in and work styles becoming more varied, a lot of problems will be solved.
There was a positive opinion that stated that while there are some aspects that are difficult for small- and mid-sized business, it is a good program for laborers.
On the other hand, same work, same pay is a difficult decision to make in work places where there may be a difference in the skills of the laborers.
If overtime and paid vacations are made into obligations productivity will decrease. If you increase the amount of laborers to make up for lost productivity, labor costs will go up.
There were negative opinions that stated that businesses may think up undoable schemes to cut costs.
