The Current Reality of Job Analysis and Job Evaluation Based on “Equal Pay”

: A Case Study of a Small Japanese Sports―related Company

Abstract

Job evaluations are essential to achieving “Equal Pay.” However, only a few cases have been reported in Japan because it is generally believed that successful implementation of a job evaluation system is impossible. I will report on two issues : 1） the current reality of job analysis that has been implemented in the business world in Japan, and 2） my trial in conducting another job evaluation based on “Equal Pay.” For the first topic, I will report on the detailed procedures and issues of job analysis, using a small Japanese sports―related company as a case study. This case is significant for two reasons : a） this company has a variety of sections such as R&D, manufacturing, marketing, and logistics, which is rare for a small business, and b） this company conducts job analysis for all full―time blue―collar and white―collar employees. For the second topic, I will report my own experience conducting a job evaluation based on “Equal Pay.” The company involved is presently developing a new performance appraisal scheme, adding to the implementation of job evaluations. In the development process, it has been revealed that both managers and employees have doubts about using the same performance appraisal criteria for all full―time employees. Therefore, I tried to develop another job evaluation scheme based on “Equal Pay” because I thought the results might be helpful in improving the criteria or scheme for performance appraisal.