NEWS

New Cosmos Electric Denki, which has been working hard to improve its childcare support system and has maintained a 100% return-to-work rate after maternity and childcare leave for many years, will increase its birth gift to 200,000 yen per child from April 2024.

NEW COSMOS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.,(head office: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka City; President and Representative Director: Yoshinori Takahashi ), a manufacturer of gas alarm and detector, has set the goal of "Eliminating gas accidents from around the world" In order to contribute to creating a comfortable working environment for all employees and to addressing the social issues of a declining birthrate and aging population, the company is actively working to improve its childcare support system and encourage men to take childcare leave.

 

■ Enhancing childcare support systems

We are enhancing our childcare support system, reflecting our top management's desire to create a comfortable working environment for all employees and to contribute to tackling the social issues of a declining birthrate and aging population.

New Cosmos Electric's childcare support system

Birth gift money
In April 2024, we revised our internal regulations, increasing the birth gift payment from 30,000 yen for the first child, 50,000 yen for the second child, and 100,000 yen for the third child and beyond to 200,000 yen* per child .

Shortened working hours for childcare
At New Cosmos Electric, the shortened childcare work system, which is stipulated by law to be available to those with children under the age of three, was previously available to employees up until the child's first year of elementary school. In March 2020, in response to employee requests, the system was established to allow employees to take the system up until the end of the third year of elementary school .

*Part-time workers will receive an increase from 10,000 yen per child to 50,000 yen per child.

New Cosmos Electric's childcare support system

 

Voices of those who use the childcare support system

Overseas Planning Department, Overseas Headquarters, Seirei Tamada

[Taken maternity leave/childcare leave from August 2017 to April 2018 and from February 2020 to April 2021]

During my pregnancy, my superiors and colleagues supported me by allowing me time off for regular monthly checkups.
Even after returning to work, I sometimes have to leave work early if my child suddenly develops a fever, but it's been very helpful to have a workplace where I can prioritize my child. I'm very grateful to be able to fulfill my role as a mother while working. This year, my oldest child started first grade. There are still many school events even after he starts elementary school, so I'm really grateful that the shortened work hours for childcare have been extended until the third grade of elementary school.

 

■ Encouraging men to take childcare leave

With the revision of the Childcare Leave and Family Care Leave Act in 2021, there has been much talk about encouraging men to take childcare leave, but at New Cosmos Electric, the first male employee took childcare leave in 2010. Furthermore, in the past two years, 29% of male employees eligible for childcare leave have taken childcare leave (100% for women). The longest period has been eight months, and there is a track record even in sales positions, which are generally considered difficult to take childcare leave in.
We are promoting the taking of childcare leave by men by proactively publicizing our achievements within the company, and have fostered an atmosphere in which all employees can take advantage of the childcare support system.

Achievements (as of March 2024)

・100% return rate after maternity leave/childcare leave
To ensure that employees can use the system with peace of mind, our internal regulations stipulate that, in principle, employees must return to the same department they were in before using the system.

・Number of people taking parental leave/percentage of people eligible*
Male: 9/31 Female: 5/5 (3 of which are contract/part-time)

- Number of people working shorter hours for childcare
Men: 3 Women: 9

*Actual results from April 2022 to March 2024

 

Voices of those who use the childcare support system

Makoto Nishii, Section Manager, Business Planning Department, Corporate Planning Office

[Taking 8 months of parental leave from August 2022 to March 2023]

I was really happy that my boss readily accepted my request to take long-term childcare leave. I'm also grateful for the support I received from my boss and colleagues during my leave.
The time I spent with my family has become a treasure in my life. My wife also praised me, saying, "I've become more proactive in housework and childcare, and my relationship with our children has become stronger." Also, by being away from work, I was able to rediscover the joy of producing results and the importance of being connected to society.
I would like my juniors to understand the need for men to take parental leave and encourage them to do so.

 

■ New Cosmos Electric's Initiatives

The Human Resources Department is taking an active role in creating an environment in which employees can take advantage of childcare support systems.

1. The Human Resources Department provides support to each eligible employee <br />Human Resources staff provide individual explanations and provide a set of documents, including application forms that need to be submitted to the government. At that time, they answer individual questions and concerns, eliminating employees' anxieties about using the system. In addition, a special site for the Human Resources Department has been created on the in-house portal, where related materials are posted together. Anyone can check the information they need at any time.

2. Holding a roundtable discussion with employees who have used the childcare support system <br />As part of a project for the in-house newsletter, we held a roundtable discussion with mid-level employees who have actually used the childcare support system in June 2023. A survey was conducted in advance among all employees to gather opinions on the childcare support system, and the talk topic for the roundtable discussion was decided based on the results. Those who used the system spoke honestly about things that concerned employees, such as "the good things about men taking parental leave" and "the understanding of those around them when they used the system," and the content was disseminated through the in-house newsletter.

Scene from the roundtable discussion

 

■The working style that New Cosmos Electric Denki aims for

Hiromi Kobayashi, Deputy Director of Human Resources, Administration Headquarters

Currently, New Cosmos Electric Denki is keeping pace with the government's efforts to combat the declining birthrate, and is working to create an environment in which employees can raise their children with peace of mind.
In the future, we will not only improve the childcare support system itself, but also foster a corporate culture that promotes childcare support, such as by providing education to employees of the generation that will be the parents of children to deepen their understanding of childcare support. As globalization and the aging population and declining birthrate continue, there are more opportunities than ever before to work with a diverse range of people.
We are striving to create a workplace where everyone working at New Cosmos Electric Denki feels motivated and comfortable in their work environment .