Childcare Leave Acquisition Rate among Male Employees at JCCU Reaches 84%
2025.04.16
【Key Points】
- Since April 2022, the Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union (JCCU) has been striving to build a diverse and inclusive organization by revising its systems and fostering a supportive work environment. In particular, it has been promoting unique initiatives that help employees take leave more easily and better balance work with child-rearing responsibilities.
- In April 2022, the JCCU expanded the eligibility criteria for various welfare benefit systems to include same-sex partners and their families.
The JCCU announced that the childcare leave acquisition rate among male employees in 2024 reached 84.2%. This survey on childcare leave acquisition has been conducted since 2016. Compared to the initial year, the acquisition rate has increased by 1.8 times.
Childcare Leave Acquisition Rate among Male Employees at JCCU
Including special leave of up to three days, which can be taken within one month after a partner giving birth, the acquisition rate reaches 100%.
"Childcare leave" refers to the legally mandated childcare leave system available to employees raising children who have not yet entered elementary school.
One of the main reasons behind the increase in the childcare leave acquisition rate is the introduction of the "Post-partum Paternity Leave (childcare leave at birth)" system, established under the amended Child Care and Family Care Leave Act, which took effect on October 1, 2022. The JCCU has also independently encouraged male employees to take childcare leave, which has contributed to this result.
【JCCU's Unique Initiatives】
Post-partum Paternity Leave Counted Toward Years of Service
Although the period of childcare leave is not generally included in the employee's years of service, the JCCU includes the post-partum paternity leave period as part of the continuous service period.
Children's Goods Exchange Club
As part of its efforts to contribute to the SDGs, JCCU promotes a reuse initiative where employees exchange children's items with one another. By passing on cherished children's items to others, the initiative helps extend the life of products and conserve resources. In 2024, more than 40 employees participated, and over 120 items were exchanged. This initiative also fosters communication among employees.
Children's Goods Exchange Club
In addition, the JCCU conducts seminars for managers and offers detailed consultations to those eligible for childcare leave. An employee who actually took leave shared their experience:
"It's not mandatory to take childcare leave, but having done so and experiencing child-rearing firsthand has been extremely helpful in my work."
Going forward, JCCU will continue its efforts to build an organization where a diverse range of people can thrive.
