A Company That Offers 'Business Trip Allowance' Even When Commuting After Remote Work... A Radical Experiment by a Japanese Firm

Commuting Considered as 'Business Trip'
Transportation and Accommodation Costs Covered Even When Commuting by Airplane
NTT "Companies That Are Chosen Must Change"

The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] The Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun reported on the 19th that Japan's largest telecommunications company, NTT, will implement a new work system starting next month that makes telecommuting the default.

According to the reports, NTT will initially apply this system to 30,000 employees, which accounts for half of the workforce at its seven major subsidiaries, and plans to gradually expand the scope. NTT's total number of employees reaches 180,000.

Since telecommuting is the principle, the previously required "report submission when telecommuting" will no longer be necessary. Also, no specific location such as the employee's home will be designated for telecommuting days. For example, an NTT East Japan employee based in Tokyo can work from Osaka without any issue.

The restriction that residence must be "within two hours commuting time to the company" has also been abolished, allowing employees to freely choose their residence anywhere in the country. Additionally, there is no upper limit on transportation expenses supported by the company when commuting is necessary.

Air travel for commuting is also permitted, and if needed, accommodation costs will be covered by the company. Furthermore, working from home is considered "normal work," and coming to the office is recognized as a "business trip."

Japan, which has been the slowest to respond to telecommuting, is now undertaking a radical telecommuting experiment that is the exact opposite of the trend in the US and South Korea, where there is a movement toward "returning to the workplace."

NTT has expanded its "telework" system since the spread of COVID-19. Nihon Keizai analyzed that the full expansion of telework this time is due to the intensifying competition for talent acquisition.

An NTT executive explained, "It is becoming difficult to acquire talent. Companies that are chosen must change," emphasizing that changes in working methods were necessary in response to changes in employee awareness.

Nihon Keizai diagnosed, "While some companies are resuming commuting, there are also companies like NTT that make telework the principle, leading to a polarization in responses."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.