Phase III of the University of Tsukuba Action Program consists of a five-year plan lasting from April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2015. The University determined that a five-year period for Phase III of the Program was reasonable based on general acceptance that a move from the initial two-year timeframe to a longer five-year period was appropriate during the legislation’s 10-year term from April 1, 2005, to March 31, 2015.
The University will be implementing the following measures under the five-year plan:
Developing an employment environment that helps workers with children balance their work and family responsibilities
- Objective 1: Raise awareness in order to increase the effectiveness of the work-life balance support programs implemented during the Phase I and Phase II Action Programs.
Reference: Programs already implemented at the University to help workers with children balance their work and family responsibilities
・ Measures relating to expectant and nursing mothers
Limitation of work, medical checkups, reduction of workload, etc.
・ Working arrangements designed to accommodate childcare
Semi-flex system and special break time exception
・ Leave programs put in place to accommodate childcare
Maternity leave, childcare leave, part-time childcare leave, shortened working hours to make time for childcare
・ Special leave programs put in place to accommodate childcare
When a spouse gives birth, when a male worker needs to care for children while a spouse gives birth, when a worker needs to care for an infant less than one year of age, when a worker needs to provide nursing care for a child
・ Yurinoki Day Care Center
- Objective 2: Continue to implement the following measures in order to create an environment where workers can easily utilize childcare leave programs and return to the workplace:
- Encourage male workers to take advantage of childcare leave and related programs.
- Develop a pool of alternate workers for use while workers are on childcare leave and review operations and operational structures.
- Enhance shortened working hours to make time for childcare
- Objective 3: Enhance leave programs to allow workers to provide nursing care for children.
- Objective 4: Enhance childcare leave and expand exemptions from overtime work for workers with childcare responsibilities.
- Objective 5: Improve the employment environment, for example with regard to childbirth for tenured faculty members.
- Objective 6: Enhance programs designed to help workers with children balance their work and family responsibilities.
Implementing a variety of work conditions that contribute to a reassessment of how we work
- Objective 7: Implement measures to reduce overtime work.
- Objective 8: Implement measures to encourage workers to take annual leave.
Other measures to support raising next-generation children
- Objective 9: Pursue community involvement activities related to children and childcare in order to support hands-on activities for local children.