Basic Concepts Related to Improving the Working Environment as a Foundation for Success

Lawson has established Lawson’s Way, a set of action guidelines to ensure that each employee has a clear role and a strong sense of mission and responsibility to advance toward the same goal in line with the Group Philosophy. In addition to the five items of Lawson’s Way, we have also established specific items for each job position, such as SV (Supervisor), MD (Merchandiser), and RFC (Recruit Field Counselor), so that each employee can take specific actions on his or her own initiative.
At the same time, we are working to improve our working environments to enable employees to work energetically and cheerfully. Sound labor-management relations and a safe working environment are essential for employees to feel safe and secure in empathizing with their colleagues, vocalizing their ideas, and enjoying every little challenge. This in turn will lead to higher customer satisfaction, and we hope to make many communities happier through the accumulation of these efforts.

Efforts to Improve the Working Environment

Building Healthy Labor-Management Relations

In order to protect workers, we respect the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining based on free will, as stipulated in the Lawson Group Human Rights Policy. Since the establishment of our labor union, we have worked to build healthy labor-management relations over the years. In fiscal 2022, there were no cases of temporary dismissals.

Respect for Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining

The Lawson Union, a labor union formed in 1990, is involved in a variety of activities based on the principle of “achieving a secure life and bright future for our members.” We have established a labor-management consultation forum that emphasizes thorough discussions, and are continuing our efforts to create a comfortable workplace for all. We are working together with labor and management to improve our working environments, which includes improving working conditions and workplace environments, reforming our organizational climate, and utilizing a variety of systems. Matters that will have a significant impact on the treatment of employees, such as organizational reforms or the reorganization and revision of various personnel-related systems, are discussed with the labor union in advance and implemented only after obtaining their agreement.

Occupational Health and Safety

We undertake labor management in compliance with labor laws and regulations. Specifically, we ensure thorough labor management at the workplace and in human resources departments using an attendance system, and check overtime hours and the status of employees’ day off and vacation entitlement as needed. For those employees who may be working particularly long hours, we review their individual situations and consider how best to optimize their working hours while providing consultations with an occupational physician as necessary. In addition, all employees make vacation leave acquisition plans at the beginning of each fiscal year and share them within the department. We promote a review of work allocation in advance and check progress every month to ensure that employees are taking leave as planned, thereby creating a comfortable workplace.
With regard to wages, our basic policy is to not only to comply with the regional minimum wage, but also to pay wages that exceed this level to all employees.

Creating a Safe and Comfortable Work Environment

With regard to the improvement of employee work efficiency and their working environment, we have established a labor-management consultation forum to improve the environment, including organizational climate reform and the utilization of various systems with the participation of employees.
To encourage the creation of a safe and comfortable working environment for all, we hold health committee meetings in each district with labor and management representatives as members and consider then implement measures, according to the actual conditions of the workplace based on our Safety and Health Policy. In addition, safety management meetings are held for supervisors (SVs) and other employees who drive cars for company business to raise their awareness of safe driving.
In our stores, we promote the 5S Methodology (Sorting, Systematizing, Sanitizing, Sustaining, and Supervising) and clearly specify operational procedures in manuals.

Status of Occupational Accidents and Efforts to Prevent a Recurrence

In the event of an occupational accident, we analyze the cause of the accident, discuss ways to prevent a recurrence with our labor union, and conduct awareness-raising activities. In addition, industrial physicians carry out workplace inspections and take measures to prevent a recurrence.

●Status of occupational accidents