Panasonic says yes to same-sex partnerships
Print Edition
PANASONIC, the first major Japanese company to start recognizing same-sex partnerships in its ranks, has received both praise and harshly negative responses to its new policy.
“I never felt this much how different a response can get by nation,” Tetsuya Senmatsu, a human resources manager, told reporters yesterday.
He declined to specify the nations where the change was poorly received but said it had been welcomed in the US and Europe.
Panasonic Corp has offices around the world, including the US, China, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The policy, which takes effect on April 1, recognizes same-sex partnerships as the equivalent of marriage in Japan, where the company has its headquarters. Details of how the policy will be applied in each nation are still under consideration.
Senmatsu said the main reason for the policy is that the company opposes all forms of discrimination. The possibility that it might be a plus for recruiting talent was not what drove the decision.
The new policy could help when an employee in a same-sex partnership gets moved to another city or nation on assignment, he said, adding that the company didn’t know how many employees might be affected.
“In general, it’s said that might be 7 percent of the population,” he said.
In China, South Korea, the Philippines and much of the rest of Asia, “coming out of the closet” still has serious consequences, for individuals and also for family members who might become targets of abuse and ostracism. It’s an act that takes courage in Asian cultures that value conformity and traditional family structures.
Among other changes, the company said it would be encouraging employees to take more time off work, both paid, and unpaid for longer periods, to pursue studies and other interests outside work.
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