Gender Initiative
- DE&I
Goals (Action Plan: Formulated in 2023)
We aim to build a gender-equal organization. As part of this effort, we are enhancing training for managerial positions regardless of gender and creating an organizational environment where management roles can be considered from an early stage. Additionally, we are promoting the appointment of women to managerial positions and aim to increase the percentage of female managers to 30% by March 2029.
To promote understanding that a workplace where women thrive leads to business success, we conduct training for all employees upon joining the company. As an initiative to increase female managers, we strategically identify potential managerial candidates within the company from an early stage and create a talent pool with a view to their appointment. Additionally, when it comes to promotions and appointments, we ensure that employees who may have temporary work restrictions due to life events are not disadvantaged by these factors, selecting them appropriately based on their abilities.
In-house initiatives
We have been hiring employees without gender discrimination for many years. We also have a track record of mid-career recruitment of female managers. Furthermore, promotions, advancements, and job placements are carried out with gender equality in mind, considering the individual's intentions and abilities, and using the right person for the right job as a criterion.
We have developed and implemented action plans to ensure there is no gender discrimination in leadership positions. For example, during company briefings, social gatherings, and recruitment interviews for new graduates, female managers actively explain their roles as role models to convey that our company is a place where both men and women can work comfortably and where women are thriving. We make efforts to help new employees form a career image from an early stage.
We have established a dedicated department called 'SNBL Academy' for management training related to career development, ensuring that training is always available. In addition, we conduct 'Unconscious Bias Training' and aim to create a workplace where diverse talent can work comfortably. We incorporate achievements in promoting women's participation and diversity initiatives as one of the evaluation criteria for managers and responsible officers. Furthermore, from a social perspective, the top management dedicates 25% of their work time to educating young people both inside and outside the company. Specifically, management training led by top executives is conducted monthly, such as 'Nagata School Preparatory Course: Future Executive Candidate Training,' 'Nagata School: Supervisor and Manager Class Training,' and 'Nagata University: Director Class Training,' providing opportunities to acquire skills that lead to career advancement. The participation rate of female executive candidates is increasing yearly, achieving the previously set goal of appointing one female director in the fiscal year 2021, and appointing a second female director in the fiscal year 2024. Additionally, top management and executives actively engage in external activities, such as lectures at multiple universities and speeches requested by public and private institutions, to raise awareness of the necessity and benefits of gender-equal management.
| Management training participants | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| woman | 28 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 28 |
| male | 40 | 49 | 25 | 33 | 47 |
| grand total | 68 | 75 | 48 | 57 | 75 |
| Female ratio (%) | 41.2 | 34.7 | 47.9 | 42.1 | 37.3 |
| Manager training participants | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| woman | 1 | 0 | 17 | 9 | 28 |
| male | 5 | 7 | 45 | 27 | 58 |
| grand total | 6 | 7 | 62 | 36 | 86 |
We have been conducting coaching training since the fiscal year 2018 on effective interviews and feedback methods with subordinates.
To determine what is necessary for women to fully demonstrate their abilities in the workplace, we established the 'Working Nadeshiko Committee' in July 2014. This committee promotes initiatives for women's participation and has implemented specific systems based on its opinions, such as a childcare fee subsidy system and a half-day paid leave system (currently every two hours).
Additionally, as follow-up after appointing to managerial positions, we conduct regular interviews with division heads and department heads, establishing a support system that allows managerial staff to fully utilize their abilities.
| Female employment rate (%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Female employment rate (%) | 56.7 | 48.0 | 65.4 | 74.4 | 53.6 |
| Ratio of female managers (%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Section chief level | 39.2 | 41.3 | 41.9 | 43.2 | 43.3 |
| Section manager level or above | 17.4 | 18.0 | 21.5 | 24.4 | 25.1 |
About Initiatives and Case Studies for External Audiences
◆ We participated in Kagoshima University's initiative for the Science and Technology Promotion Organization's program supporting the selection of science courses by female junior and senior high school students, based on the Cabinet Office's Fourth Basic Plan for Gender Equality, and a female executive gave a lecture in 2017.
◆ Representatives from the Fukuoka Branch of the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association (JEMA) visited our company. In response to their request, we provided case studies and advice for promoting women's participation, and exchanged opinions (November 10, 2017).
◆ Several companies from Kagoshima Prefecture visited our company. In response to their request, we introduced our case studies and provided advice on promoting women's participation, followed by an exchange of opinions. (July 25, 2018)
◆ At a training session for young employees of the Kagoshima Labor Bureau on balancing "workplace duties" and "childcare," a female executive from our company gave a lecture. (September 21, 2018)
◆ We endorsed the action declaration of the "Men Leaders' Meeting to Accelerate the Success of Women." (April 8, 2019)
http://www.gender.go.jp/policy/sokushin/male_leaders/supporters/order.html
◆ At the "Regional Diversity in Kagoshima" event hosted by Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc., a female executive from our company gave a lecture on how the trial and error of balancing "work" and "childcare" has been utilized in management. (October 7, 2019)
◆ At the "Career Advancement Support Seminar for Women" hosted by Kagoshima City, a female executive from our company gave a lecture. (November 14, 2020)
◆ At the "Women's Participation and Advancement Promotion Project" sponsored by Aira City, our female executives gave a "case study presentation onSNBL " (December 18, 2020)
◆ At the JA Kagoshima Women's Cross-Industry Exchange Meeting, our female executives gave a case study presentation onSNBL (October 12, 2021)
◆ At the Kagoshima Prefecture Management Association, our company president gave a lecture on "Diversity Beneficial to Management." (October 15, 2021)
◆ Our company president attended the 9th "Men Leaders' Meeting to Accelerate the Success of Women" leader meeting. (November 4, 2021)
◆ Our company president attended the 10th "Men Leaders' Meeting to Accelerate the Success of Women" leader meeting. (November 21, 2022)
◆ Our company president attended the "Men Leaders' Meeting to Accelerate the Success of Women" regional symposium in Tokushima Prefecture. (December 22, 2022)
◆ At the 70th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists, our company president gave a lecture on the experience of introducing Ikuboss. (June 2, 2023)
◆ At the Kagoshima Economic Friendship Association Diversity Committee, our company president gave a lecture on initiatives for promoting women's participation. (July 7, 2023)
◆ At the JA Kagoshima Central Association "Women's Career Management Workshop," a female executive from our company gave a lecture titled "To Confidently Demonstrate Your Abilities." (October 6, 2023)
◆ At the Yamaguchi Women's Empowerment Support Team Regional Symposium, the President of our company gave a lecture titled "Women's Empowerment is a Hint for Corporate Growth!~SNBL Initiatives that Continue to Evolve with the Community~" (October 17, 2023)
◆ At Minami Kyushu Hino Motors, a female executive from our company gave a lecture on raising awareness among female employees and reforming the mindset of management. (October 25, 2023)
◆ Our company president attended the 11th "Men Leaders' Meeting to Accelerate the Success of Women" leader meeting. (November 1, 2023)
◆ At the Shizuoka Prefecture "Women's Participation Acceleration Forum," our company president gave a keynote speech titled "Thoughts and Initiatives for Promoting Women's Participation by Leaders." (November 13, 2023)
Media Coverage
〇 Our initiatives as an Eruboshi-certified company were featured in the lifestyle magazine Cresale's "Ganbare! Childcare Support Companies." (January, Heisei 29, Vol. 55)
〇 Our initiatives as the first Eruboshi-certified company in the prefecture were featured in the Asahi Shimbun's "Kagoshima LIFE." (April 22, 2017)
〇 A female executive who played a central role in our Eruboshi certification was featured in the Minami Nihon Shimbun's "Minami Net Wide Kagoshima Story." (September 26, 2017)
〇 A successful female manager was featured in the lifestyle magazine Living Kagoshima's "Working Mom's Job Review." (March 3, 2018 issue)
〇 Our company's initiatives were featured in Minami Nihon Broadcasting's "Furusato Kagoshima: Women Thriving in the Workplace!" (February 10, 2018)
〇 A successful female manager was featured on Kagoshima Broadcasting's Super J Channel. (March 23, 2018)
〇 Our initiatives for promoting women's participation were featured on Kagoshima Yomiuri TV's "Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly Report." (February 28, 2021)
〇 Our company president and a female executive participated in the Nikkei Virtual Global Forum (Theme: Diversity). (February 15, 2021)
〇 Our company's initiatives were featured in Minami Nihon Broadcasting's "Furusato Kagoshima: Aiming for a Kagoshima Where Men and Women Thrive." (February 14, 2021)