In order to prepare for the coming “participatory social partnership between men and women,” current corporate conditions, especially in regard to family policies must be examined through detailed case studies. As the voice calling for nation-wide implementation of childcare programs grows louder, the need to carefully consider the role corporate daycare centers play in women's labor participation grows stronger.
This research examines childcare services and on-site center offered by a company, as well as the influences the center has on the advancement of women's careers. The main issues considered are: 1) What is this corporate daycare center like? 2) How does the corporate daycare center operate? 3) What are the advantages and disadvantages of the center? 4) What is the nature of the corporate philosophy of this particular company?
The case examined in this study is that of the top-ranked company for working women, located in the heart of Tokyo, which offers an on-site daycare center. Conditions of this daycare center and its operations will be examined, with attention to metropolitan commuting conditions, sick-time care, security, cost and corporate philosophy.
This case study will suggest future tasks for the provision of daycare centers as part of corporate family policy so as to assist employees' career development. While the importance of the company's role in supporting employees' balancing of work and family life is growing, society as a whole needs to seek the means to solve childcare problems for future generations where men and women will participate together in the workplace.
