In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we transitioned to a telecommuting system, in principle, from late February 2020. Regarding impact on employees’ duties, which had been a concern, the operational improvements and infrastructure upgrade we had been implementing as part of work style reforms have been successful, with a majority of employees responding to an internal survey that they had no problems.

Each year, we set a theme related to the Company’s future, with a call for essays on how entrants can and should take ownership to address Company issues. Awards are given for the best essays. We receive numerous entries every year from first-year employees to veterans, and we make award-winning essays available for viewing within the Company.

We operate cross-divisional voluntary Group projects including the 7th Code Project to instill our philosophy, the hug-kumi Committee, which aims to support working women and childcare and to improve work-life balance for all employees, the LGBT-related SEPALLY RAINBOW, and the ECHO Project for environmental initiatives. Employees actively take part in these committees with a sense of ownership to create a better environment and improve corporate value.

In 2017, the Company lifted its prohibition on employees taking on side jobs, subject to approval. We promote diverse work styles in the belief that individuals who acquire new skills and experiences from their interests outside the Company will be more engaged in their main jobs. Currently, more than 70 of our employees have side jobs.

A development program specializing in management to train future senior management candidates. Applicants who are selected attend an external business school for two years free of charge.

Both the Group as a whole and individual Group companies hold events for employees to recognize and praise each other’s efforts. These include awards given for individual and team activities, such as the Group Annual MVP, and the Hinerankai Awards, held each year for employees to commend each other and express mutual gratitude.

An annual in-house contest for new business plans. Applicants whose plans are highly rated and who show strong enthusiasm for developing their proposed businesses pursue commercialization of their plans at a Group subsidiary specializing in business incubation.

To maximize each employee’s performance, we have established the Human Capital Lab, which specializes in human resource data research. There, we compile and analyze the extensive human resource data we have accumulated for use in management decisions and human resource development. In addition to publicly announcing and sharing in-house case studies and research results outside the Group, we are working to generate further innovation through joint research with external parties.

Employees can volunteer to work on the 7th Code Project, a cross-divisional Group project for instilling the corporate philosophy and code of conduct, which form the core of the Septeni Group’s culture. Chaired by Group representative Koki Sato, the project is conducting various measures to enjoyably increase understanding of and buy-in to the corporate philosophy and code of conduct.