In line with revisions to "Paternity Leave" legislation in October 2022, UD Trucks is promoting the enhancement of childcare leave for both male and female employees.
UD Trucks revised its guidelines regarding childcare leave in October 2022. Paternity leave can be taken twice by employees for up to four weeks (28 calendar days) during the eight weeks after childbirth. Moreover the salary of the employee will be paid for seven consecutive calendar days from the start date of the leave. Employees who have been with the company for less than one year can also take paid paternity leave for seven consecutive calendar days. In addition, during maternity leave for female employees before and after childbirth, the full salary will be paid for seven consecutive calendar days from the start date of the leave.
Since the revision of the childcare leave system in October 2022, UD Trucks has seen an increase in the number of employees taking childcare leave, with the average number of days taken rising from 5.2 days to 9 days.
Rate of childcare leave taken by men and women at UD Trucks (numbers calculated using the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's formula※)
Rate of childcare leave taken by men: 57%
※Percentage of the total number of male workers who took childcare, paternity leave, and leave for childcare purposes in the fiscal year before publication out of the number of male workers whose spouse gave birth during the period from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
Rate of childcare leave by women: 100%
※Among female workers who gave birth during the period from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, the percentage of female workers who took childcare leave, in the fiscal year before publication.
UD Trucks believes that promoting childcare leave for employees regardless of gender has many benefits including a healthy work-life balance, better recruiting and retention of human resources, improved employee satisfaction, a greater sense of belonging and diversity. We also believe these initiatives have other benefits including improved ways of working.
According to an internal survey, more than 80% of male employees would like to take childcare leave of between five days and less than three months when a child is born. We also found that many employees, regardless of gender or age, believe it is necessary to create a work environment that makes it easy for anyone to take time off.
UD Trucks is conducting the following activities to create a work environment that is conducive for working parents to raise children.
1. Posting information regarding childcare leave on the company intranet
2. Holding seminars for managers to outline expectations and guidelines on childcare leave.
3. Conducting E-learning courses to prevent maternity or paternity harassment for all employees (Training conducted at plants and dealerships use related materials).
4. Updating working regulations related to childcare leave.
5. Consolidating various systems and processes related to childbirth and childcare in an easy-to-understand manner so that anyone can access them at any time; creating a "handbook on childbirth and childcare" and posting it on the company intranet.
6. Featuring interviews with male employees who have taken childcare leave on the company intranet.
Introducing the experiences of male employees working at UD Trucks who have taken childcare leave.
