ワークマン 接待・忘年会・歓送迎会を廃止「接待は現場が分からない管理職の仕事したふり」「お酒が入らないと本音を語れないならビジネスに向いていない」
Workman has made waves by announcing a radical policy: the complete abolition of all company drinking events like corporate entertainment, year-end parties, and welcome/farewell gatherings. The CEO's strong reasoning – "corporate entertainment is managers pretending to work when they don't understand the field" and "if you can't speak frankly without alcohol, you're not suited for business" – has resonated widely. This bold move by Workman, pioneering work style reform, is drawing significant attention from other companies.
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Harassment Risk
Workman's decision to abolish corporate entertainment and year-end parties is deeply linked to the increasing "harassment risk" faced by companies. In Japanese workplaces, alcohol-fueled social gatherings, once encouraged as "nominication" (a portmanteau of drinking and communication), are now widely viewed as breeding grounds for harassment. Specifically, they create environments conducive to "power harassment" (abusive behavior by superiors, often involving forced participation or inappropriate remarks) and "sexual harassment" (inappropriate remarks or actions towards individuals of a different gender). The revised Act on Comprehensive Promotion of Labor Policies (the “Power Harassment Prevention Act”) came into effect in 2020, obligating companies to implement harassment countermeasures. If harassment is discovered, companies face not only legal liability but also severe damages across various fronts, including harm to employees' mental and physical health, loss of talented personnel, damage to corporate image, and negative impact on stock prices. Past surveys, for instance, show a significant number of employees, especially younger workers and women, have experienced harassment at company drinking events. Workman's decision can be seen as part of advanced risk management, proactively preventing such potential risks by eliminating ambiguous "social gatherings not essential for work" and clearly establishing a safe working environment for employees.
Corporate Culture Transformation (Workman Style)
Workman has achieved remarkable growth in recent years, successfully expanding beyond its niche market of workwear into new retail formats like "Workman Plus" and "#Workman Girls" for general consumers. Behind this success lies not just product diversification but also a strong will for "corporate culture transformation" within the organization. The abolition of corporate entertainment and year-end parties can be seen as a symbolic step in this transformation. Challenging traditional Japanese corporate values such as "long hours are a virtue" and "frank opinions are only revealed through nominication," Workman has implemented concrete measures like "zero overtime," "promoting weekend off," and "abolishing excessive business trips," emphasizing that employees can enhance productivity while enriching their private lives. The company consistently employs data-driven management and eliminates inefficient practices. The CEO's statements – "corporate entertainment is managers pretending to work when they don't understand the field" and "if you can't speak frankly without alcohol, you're not suited for business" – precisely represent Workman's culture, which values "performance-based outcomes" and "professionalism." This initiative is not merely about eliminating drinking events; it's a fundamental attempt to rebuild the corporate culture, aiming for sustainable growth by creating an environment where each employee can think autonomously and perform effectively.
Engagement (Employee Engagement)
The abolition of corporate entertainment and year-end parties can significantly impact "engagement" (employee engagement), which reflects employees' attachment to and willingness to contribute to the company. While traditional "nominication" was sometimes seen as beneficial for team building and relationship development, it has also been widely criticized for negative aspects such as forced participation, invasion of private time, and harassment risks. These negative elements can accumulate dissatisfaction and stress among employees, ultimately lowering engagement. By eliminating these events, Workman aims to create an environment where employees can "voluntarily focus on their work and enrich their private lives," rather than "reluctantly participating." The company's stance of respecting diverse work styles and values of employees, and eliminating unnecessary sources of stress, is expected to enhance trust from employees, thereby improving their sense of belonging and willingness to contribute—in other words, engagement. Highly engaged employees tend to have higher motivation for work, increased productivity, and lower turnover rates. The Workman CEO's statement, "If you can't speak frankly without alcohol, you're not suited for business," reflects a modern organizational view that individuals, as autonomous professionals, should enhance engagement through healthy communication. It suggests that genuine sources of engagement stem from voluntary collaboration and empathy, rather than forced gatherings.