Panasonic joins Japan's budding shift toward 4-day workweek

Productivity gains and flexible approach crucial for wider adoption

Rush hour in Tokyo. Japan, notorious for its grueling work culture, languishes at the bottom of the Group of Seven in labor productivity. © Reuters

MOTOKAZU MATSUI, Nikkei staff writer

January 9, 2022 01:59 JST

TOKYO -- The four-day workweek is gaining ground in Japan as Panasonic joins the growing list of companies embracing the idea to not only improve work-life balance, but also promote retraining and attract talent.

The Japanese industrial group recently announced that it will start offering a third day off per week to those interested. "We must support the well-being of our employees," President and Group CEO Yuki Kusumi told investors in a briefing.