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Panasonic grappling with criticism of LGBT policy shift

23 Comments
By YURI KAGEYAMA

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23 Comments
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Well done, Panasonic. I just wish the governments around the world who still want to deny LGBTI people their Civil and Human Rights could show as much empathy and compassion as you have.

We live in hope that one day the whole world will be free for every person living on it.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

and harshly negative responses to the new policy.

Out the buggers, or better yet continue to take the high road and dont even respond to the negatives.

Japanese companies tend to foster extreme loyalty; many workers keep long hours, sometimes dying from overwork; and “salarymen” tend to make their jobs the center of their lives.

I wish people would quit believing this bs. YES there was a time when this was Japan, but with less and less people being hired full time, a shrinking work force, and the younger generation being unwilling to put up with this crap it's time to realize that the "salaryman" image is going to eventually become a dinosaur too!

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Japanese companies tend to foster extreme loyalty; many workers keep long hours, sometimes dying from overwork; and “salarymen” tend to make their jobs the center of their lives.

This last paragraph seems from bubble economy era, update requested.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

I think "recuiting talent" is pretty much the aim of this policy. Talent is getting extremely hard to get with all the global competition. But "7%"? Totally gay gokai would be really happy if this were true, but professionals mostly agree that the number is 1.6%. We are quite exclusive.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

“I never felt this much how different a response can get by nation,” Tetsuya Senmatsu, a human resources manager, told reporters Friday, while declining to specify the nations where the change was poorly received. The policy was welcomed in the U.S. and Europe, he said.

Doesn't take a genius to guess which countries would be on the list...

Thumbs up to Panasonic though! Hopefully more companies will follow your lead!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Only a small percentage most workers are heterosexual. Catering for money. Bad mive

-18 ( +4 / -22 )

Live and let live

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Among other changes, the company also will start encouraging employees to take more time off work, both paid, and unpaid for longer periods, to pursue studies and other interests outside work.

Ahh, that's the spirit Japan. You work too hard, so play hard. Speaking of which, today is a warm Spring day to go out and play-

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Live and let love.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

There is no parent that should hold their head high knowing that their blood line is severed forever. I call this manipulated false pride. This is clearly more proof that the future is not in the hands of western culture. Panasonic ought to act accordingly in order to survive.

-16 ( +6 / -22 )

Its silly to comment on an article which does not actually explain what and why the opposition is harsh. It describes none of the policy at all. Media always gets people to fill in the blanks with whatever whips them into a frenzy

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Good move.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Only a small percentage most workers are heterosexual. Catering for money. Bad mive

I wonder if you are speaking from your own experience. Sexual preference should not matter ANYWHERE, yet I do believe that "most workers" are in fact heterosexual.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Apply for a white-collar job in Japan and see how free of discrimination Panasonic is...

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Panasonic Corp. has offices around the world, including the U.S., China, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The policy, which kicks off on April 1, recognizes same sex partnerships as the equivalent of marriage in Japan, where Panasonic Corp. is headquartered. Details of how the policy will be applied in each nation are still under consideration, he said.

The report is from AP and (especially if you look at the end bit) needs to be read accordingly.

I am not clear just now how much of Panasonic's business and market is domestic or international, yet for decades it has been a major sponsor of the Olympics and other highly visible international events. Thus Panasonic has a compound image that it probably needs and seeks to present, in different places. This includes African and Middle Eastern places where same-sex-ism is rooted out and punished to European and western cultures where it is encouraged and nurtured to the extent that offering a contrary view makes such people labeled as homophobe and other vilification.

Panasonic can announce its new policy in Japan and that is one thing, but if the gets picked up internationally and becomes construed in ways detrimental to Panasonic's image, well, there is not too much that can be done.

Personally I think the end of the report is more crucial: welfare, quality of life from work and if possible not dying from too much of it is more important than instituting standards of equality which probably won't matter unless they are accepted also in the local communities and cultures.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

I can kind of understand why Panasonic is doing this, after all it doesn't make commercial sense to not cater to as many segments of the community as possible.

That said, given Japan's dire demographic situation, promotion of non-traditional relationships is something we should be careful about doing.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

Discrimination against LGBT people is commonplace and mistreatment comes in many forms, from seemingly benign jokes, to verbal insults, unequal treatment and in most extreme case, physical violence. For many of these people, the bias is everywhere and last their lifetime at home, school, work and in the community. Support matters so Panasonic did the right thing and should be proud. There is absolutely no place for employee discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin and work in any company. All support and laws that provide equal rights for these LGBT people should reduce psychological distress and improve mental health.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

YubaruMAR. 20, 2016 - 06:52AM JST and harshly negative responses to the new policy.

Out the buggers, or better yet continue to take the high road and dont even respond to the negatives. Japanese companies tend to foster extreme loyalty; many workers keep long hours, sometimes dying from overwork; and “salarymen” tend to make their jobs the center of their lives. I wish people would quit believing this bs. YES there was a time when this was Japan, but with less and less people being hired full time, a shrinking work force, and the younger generation being unwilling to put up with this crap it's time to realize that the "salaryman" image is going to eventually become a dinosaur too!

Not so soon, things aren't changing as far as might think (hope); I work with a lot of different Japanese and I can tell you the old systems you reference (long hours, devotion to company, no holidays) are very much a live and thriving.

Certainly attitudes are changing but give it another 20 years or so and we MIGHT see what you are hoping come true.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

"the first major Japanese company to start recognizing same sex partnerships in its ranks" What would be the harm in Japan making this the law? Many countries have

2 ( +2 / -0 )

That said, given Japan's dire demographic situation, promotion of non-traditional relationships is something we should be careful about doing.

Akula,

Panasonic is NOT PROMOTING anything! It is acknowledging LGBT!!

Now I wonder if they have done likewise for age discrimination........anybody know?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Not so soon, things aren't changing as far as might think (hope); I work with a lot of different Japanese and I can tell you the old systems you reference (long hours, devotion to company, no holidays) are very much a live and thriving.

Not like before....Ive been here for over 3 decades, have taken Japanese citizenship, and work in a Japanese company, things are NOTHING like they used to be...and it wont take decades to further the improvement either.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

There is no parent that should hold their head high knowing that their blood line is severed forever. I call this manipulated false pride. This is clearly more proof that the future is not in the hands of western culture. Panasonic ought to act accordingly in order to survive.

If one of my daughters came out as lesbian my head would be held high and I would be proud of my child for being open with who they are. Unless you are a loving parent you would never understand that your child's happiness is your happiness as well.

And you've never heard of gay and lesbian people having children? Because funnily enough their reproduction systems still work regardless of their sexuality.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

It should not matter one bit what your sexual orientation is. It is nobody's business but your own.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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