Interview with management "Arose Systems Co., Ltd."

Founded in 1999. Arrows Systems, who felt the growth of the Internet and has been conducting business looking ahead, such as nurturing web engineers who had few at that time. We are engaged in a wide range of businesses, from system construction to improve corporate operations and efficiency to digital marketing. Currently, the number of employees is 150. About one-third of them are women. This time, Mr. Tatsuhiko Yatsu, President and CEO, talked about the recruitment of women and support for their success.

Since our founding, I have never been conscious of "let's actively hiring women." This is because engineers are occupations that can play an active role regardless of gender. We officially hired female employees a few years after our founding. As a result of hiring talented engineers as engineers regardless of gender, the number of women has naturally increased.

We have established a system to support employees who are raising children, such as childcare leave and nursing leave for children when their children become ill. In response to requests from female employees, we have improved the form of nursing leave for children. Leaves that could only be taken on a day-by-day basis, have been changed so that they can be taken separately by hourly. By separating it by time, we can respond to children's hospital visits and emergency pick-up, making it easier to use than before. Of course, rules are set for the company as a whole, but the circumstances vary depending on the employee, we try to respond flexibly as possible. I hope that we will continue to improve this work environment and grow into a company where all employees can work easily.

Indeed, there were projects in the past where overtime work would continue for a long time. However, some of the employees who were in charge of such projects took a vacation together before the next project started operation. It is important to study and prepare for the next project, but I think it is also important to take a vacation and refresh yourself in order to improve your physical condition. Many engineers like to think about the development mechanisms, and some employees always think about work-related matters even in their private lives, so I think it is important to switch between ON and OFF. Since childcare leave is a system that can be used for gender equality, we believe that men can also take it. There is also a track record of actual acquisitions by men.

As part of women's empowerment, the government has set a goal to increase the percentage of women in managerial positions, but I don't want to simply raise the numbers. Because the circumstances vary from person to person, we believe that it is necessary to think more comprehensively than gender. What is annoying as a company is that even if you consult a woman who has been active for a manager, it will be refused due to time restrictions due to housework and childcare, or retire at life events such as marriage and childbirth. There are cases to do so. As a company, I would like to avoid giving up talented people. We are currently starting to consider the diversity of work styles, including working from home, as part of our efforts to ensure that these women continue to work for a long time. I feel that working from home can be one of the options will lead to a more comfortable work environment.

I was in charge of web development at a company I joined as a new graduate, but I retired after marriage and childbirth. I thought it would be difficult to work short hours as a full-time employee because of the job type of engineer, I raised two children while working for multiple companies as temporary employees. One of them is Arrowse Systems Inc. I felt that it was a very good atmosphere where I was able to interact with each other without the barriers of temporary and regular employees. I joined the company when my second child turned one year old. When I was looking for a place to reemployment, I was asked to call out. We also have a short-time working system, and I feel that it is a cooperative workplace where we can work while raising children. Even after joining the company, the system related to childcare has been further improved, such as extending short working hours from the initial preschool age to the sixth grade of elementary school, and childcare leave can be taken on an hourly basis. I am also able to respond to sudden illness of my child, which has been very helpful. In terms of work, in addition to web development, there are more opportunities to engage in new graduate training. I am conscious of not only teaching technical skills as engineers, but also to be able to see them as senior employees who balance work and childcare for two children. Women are often anxious about continuing their work, such as giving birth, childcare, and returning to work, but I would be glad if my juniors look at me and gain confidence that they can balance them.

Arrowse Systems Co., Ltd.
Queens Tower A,7F, 8F, 8F, 2-3-1 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama
http://www.arrows-systems.co.jp/ (external site)
Industry: Software
Number of employees: Non-consolidated: 142 people, Group total: 300 people (as of January 1, 2018)
Women's Support System: Childcare Leave / Child Nursing Leave / Nursing Care Leave / Nursing Care Leave