Coronavirus breaks the mold for telework in office-bound Japan
The long-standing stereotype of Japan's office-bound "salaryman" is being tested as companies cautiously embrace working from home in a bid to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. The government has been trying for years to encourage firms to implement flexible working patterns, hoping that ...
Honda to expand telecommuting system in April to cover younger workers and increase flexibility
Honda Motor Co. plans to substantially expand telecommuting next month under a work-style reform initiative, it has been learned. The automaker will expand access to the telecommuting system to young workers, allowing about 33,000 employees to work from home instead of 19,000, informed sources said ...
Day 4 of Japan's Great Teleworking Experiment: Distractions aplenty but 'co-workers' are cute
Today is my fourth-straight day working from home and, consequently, the fourth day of my living nightmare. Yes, with the coronavirus quietly spreading across the nation I am grateful that The Japan Times has given me the option to work remotely and avoid rush-hour trains. But ...
Coronavirus prompts Japan to reconsider long-hours office culture
The coronavirus outbreak is forcing Japan to examine some of its longest-held aspects of workplace culture in a country where spending long hours in the office is still regarded as crucial to success. Authorities have urged companies to break long-standing taboos and encourage their employees ...
Webcams and headsets selling in Japan as virus prompts rush to telework
Sales of webcams and headsets are rising across Japan as more people opt to work from home amid growing fears of the spread of the new coronavirus. Behind the robust sales of such communications equipment is a government request urging companies to proactively encourage telework, ...
Japan Tobacco to let 8,700 domestic employees telecommute as safeguard against virus
Japan Tobacco Inc. said Thursday it has started to allow its domestic employees to work at home, in principle, to prevent them from being infected with the new coronavirus. They include contract and other nonregular workers, said the firm, which employs 8,700 nationwide. The measure ...
Tokyo commuters set for Olympic crush as many firms rule out telework
When Emi Tanimura failed to find a day care slot for her newborn daughter, the need to avoid long periods away from her job at communications firm Sunny Side Up made it necessary to take what is a radical step in Japan; she started ...
Fears over coronavirus prompt surge in telecommuting across Japan
The NTT group, Yahoo Japan and GMO Internet are among the companies trying to reduce the risk of their employees contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Firms in Japan turn to teleworking to avoid coronavirus infection
Heightened concerns over the new coronavirus outbreak has led many Japanese companies to make greater use of teleworking as a health measure, to prevent exposing their employees to the virus on public transport or in offices. The trend of allowing employees to work from home ...
In a bid to dampen the effects of a rapidly graying society, the Cabinet on Tuesday approved bills to urge businesses to let employees work until age 70.
Over 1,000 companies in Japan mulling use of telecommuting for Olympics, survey says
Over 1,000 companies are thinking of adopting telecommuting during the Olympics and Paralympics this summer to help ease traffic congestion, according to a survey by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. With the Olympics expected to attract some 10 million spectators from home and abroad, measures to ...
