uSonar Opens an In-Office Kids' Space
— As Part of ESG Management, Enabling Employees to Bring Children to Work to Facilitate Return from Parental Leave —

uSonar Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Nami Fukutomi, Chairman; Katsuhito Nagatake, President; hereinafter "uSonar") is pleased to announce the opening of an in-office kids' space as part of its ESG management initiatives. The goal is to provide an environment that makes it easier for employees wishing to return from maternity or parental leave to do so, even in cases where they are unable to secure childcare.
Usage will begin in March 2024. uSonar remains committed to developing an environment where employees can work comfortably for the long term.

The kids' space, established in a corner of a glass-walled meeting room. Employees can work while accompanied by their infants.

While the environment for women's empowerment is improving in Japan, the issue of children on waiting lists for daycare remains in some regions, making it difficult for parents to return to work due to a lack of childcare options. We received feedback from our own employees on parental leave who were unable to secure a spot at their preferred daycare, leaving their return to work uncertain.
Although some employees return to work using our existing remote work system, challenges remain regarding creative communication.
Therefore, we considered increasing options for "returning to work in an office-based style."
Full-scale consideration began in the autumn of 2023. We explored the possibility of establishing a "company-led childcare facility" with resident nursery teachers, but found that it would take a significant amount of time, in addition to the difficulty of securing qualified staff.
While searching for solutions, we learned of cases in local municipalities where "child-accompanied work" is implemented, allowing parents to work in the office while caring for their children. We decided to pursue this approach.
As a result, we renovated an existing meeting room into a dedicated kids' space, designed with consideration for child safety and the surrounding work environment.

The kids' space is a room where employees wishing to return to work can perform their duties in the same room while directly caring for their children.
To prevent injuries if a child falls, the walls and floors are made of highly cushioned materials.
Soundproofing measures have also been implemented to minimize noise leakage. The area is approximately 14 square meters.

• Initially intended for children up to 1 year and 11 months old.
• No childcare staff required (Confirmed with Shinjuku City Office and Tokyo Metropolitan Government, as parents are considered the primary childcare supervisors. Internal staff with childcare qualifications conduct regular checks).
• Available days and hours: Same as working hours.
• Usage fees: Free of charge.

While we offer a secure remote work policy for employees raising children, remote work while caring for children presents challenges for creative communication.
We encourage employees to work from the office to foster direct communication by utilizing the uSonar company housing program.


* uSonar Company Housing Program: A policy where the company covers up to 50% of rent and management fees if the commute to the office is within 1.5 kilometers. The coverage ratio and rent cap vary based on the distance to the office and the resident's circumstances. This program helps improve performance by reducing commute times and increases time available for personal development.