Okafoods' work-from-home system, which has been implemented at a rapid pace since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the spring of 2020, is now in its third year. This time, employees who experienced maternity leave or childcare leave during the same period gathered together to freely discuss "Okafoods SHINKA" and "changes in their own work styles."

■First of all, please tell us about the changes in your work style and how you feel about them now!

Udagawa: What has improved is the progress of teleworking and flextime! When I returned from parental leave with my first and second children, the changes in my daily routine and environment were so drastic that I remember both my child and I were very tired. This time, returning to work under teleworking meant I didn't have to come into the office as often, which was very helpful physically. I have a lot more free time in the mornings and evenings! Maybe it's because of that, but I feel like I was able to return to work with a calm mind. In the past, if my child had a cold, I couldn't go to daycare until I had a doctor's diagnosis, so I would go to the hospital first thing in the morning, drop my child off at daycare, then rush to get on the train and rush to work around noon.

Tanaka: When I first returned, there was such a big gap from before the COVID-19 pandemic that I felt like I had changed jobs to a different company (laughs). If there was no remote work option, I think the burden of raising children would have been much greater than it is now. Although I am working part-time for sales activities, on days when I visit customers, I am also grateful that, within the rules, I am allowed to go straight to work and back. I am grateful that Odashima-san, the head of the sales department, and everyone in the department have created an environment where it is easy to ask for follow-up!

Nyun: I agree with what everyone else has said, but I was surprised at how much the office image has changed since the renovation! ( For more details, see the Office Renovation Story .)

■How easy is it to use Zoom and Slack, essential tools for telework?

Tanaka: Actually, there are some users that we haven't been able to visit even once since returning to work. In particular, many medical customers have banned manufacturers from visiting their facilities as a general rule for safety reasons. Given this background, we are very grateful for their understanding and cooperation in holding online business meetings. Online business meetings with wholesalers have also become essential now. If we weren't able to use tools like Zoom, we wouldn't have been able to conduct sales activities.

Nyung: The hardest thing to get used to was the amount of information exchanged on Slack! Now that I've gotten used to it, I find it extremely useful as a place where everyone can access information equally.

Oi: When we were mainly using messages, sometimes messages addressed to me would pile up while I was away, but now that we're mainly using public chat on Slack, it's helpful that members who understand the situation can move things forward. I also want to proactively respond to messages that are addressed to other people as much as I can!

■Did you have any worries just before returning to work from parental leave?

Udagawa: Me too! I was filled with anxiety during my maternity leave, but before I returned to work, a colleague who was also raising children invited me to a Zoom meeting, and being able to talk casually with a small group of people gave me peace of mind.

Nyun: It's been a while since I last contacted someone, so I would be grateful if the host could arrange it for me. If there's a similar opportunity in the future, I'd like to help out!

■Has the atmosphere at work changed compared to before your maternity leave/childcare leave?

Nyun: As soon as I returned to work, I felt the Mikey power (the power of a good mind and good awareness) from all the employees! If there was something I didn't understand, someone would immediately help me, and I felt like it was a safe and secure working environment.

Udagawa: I can really tell that the atmosphere at the company has changed! It wasn't cold before, but I feel that the atmosphere is more accepting now. Just before I went on maternity leave, internal branding activities were launched across the company, so I think the fact that this initiative has taken root has something to do with it.

Oi: I feel like people with children who work reduced hours felt even more like a minority. Even if you think it must be tough, you're like, "Huh? Before I knew it, they were leaving work early..." I think there was an even greater distance between us, especially with people from other departments, because they didn't know the details of our situation. Now, with Slack, it's easy to see what all employees are doing, and we can react just by pressing an emoji, so I feel like we feel closer to each other!

Tanaka: President Oka is raising a small child, so it's very reassuring that he can empathize with me. When I have to go home early, I almost feel guilty, but people around me often say, "You should go home now, it'll be fine," which is very helpful. In the future, I would like to provide the same support to those who work reduced hours or leave early!

■An unexpected gift during parental leave...?

■Is there anything you would like to improve further in the future?

Tanaka: I'm worried that I'm putting more of a burden on the people around me who are supporting me. When my children grow up, I want to be more of a supporter!

Nyun: It's not something that can be improved immediately, but the nursery school's rules have become stricter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and if your child has a fever of 37.5 degrees or higher, you can't go to school until 24 hours have passed, which is a problem.

Udagawa: The "COVID-19 school closure" was much harder than I imagined. Based on my experience when my eldest and second sons were 3 and 5 years old, I thought I could work remotely while caring for my one-year-old third son at home. In reality, I really couldn't get the work done as I wanted... I never imagined that even feeding my children during my one-hour lunch break would be so difficult! I often had to give up on my own meals...

Tanaka: It can't be helped, but having to close the park with no end in sight is a big mental burden.

Oi: It's a unique challenge of working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's not easy to find the right solution, but just being able to exchange information and not have to deal with it alone can make you feel better.

Udagawa: It looks like we'll be able to make use of the parenting support channel on Slack from now on!

■Finally, please tell us what you've been doing to improve your skills and any recent recommendations you may have!

Udagawa-san: We use online supermarkets a lot for our shopping! They offer free shipping for purchases over a certain amount, and you can earn points, so it's very convenient, so be sure to check it out!

Tanaka: On Sunday evenings, my husband takes our kids to the local public bath. The kids have fun and I don't have to clean the bath, so it's a win-win situation!

After the discussion...

What struck me was that everyone shared the same sentiment: "The atmosphere at the company has changed for the better!" It was an opportunity to once again express my gratitude to the company for its tireless efforts to create an environment where employees can work with peace of mind, even as the environment has changed dramatically.

Furthermore, through our internal branding activities, we were able to feel firsthand that a culture that values ​​"good mindset + good awareness" has been fostered. On the other hand, we also learned that it's easy to keep worries to yourself when working remotely, so we would like to continue planning opportunities for communication within the company and events that people can easily participate in!