Respect for Human Rights

Visional Group's Code of Conduct stipulates that the Group will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, religion, nationality, age, status, mental or physical disability etc., and the Group will fulfill its responsibility to respect human rights.

Visional Group Code of Conduct

Work Environment and Respect for Human Rights

(1) The company and its management will comply with labor-related laws and regulations, and strive to ensure a safe and comfortable work environment and maintain the mental and physical health of our employees.

(2) No disadvantageous treatment will be given to employees on the basis of their assertion of rights under labor-related laws and regulations.

(3) We respect the personality, values, and individuality of each person and will not engage in any conduct that offends human dignity.

(4) We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, religion, nationality, age, status, mental or physical disability etc.

(5) We will not engage in political activities, missionary activities, or solicitation of network business within the company.

(6) We will not engage in any sexual behavior or conduct that causes discomfort or emotional distress to others.

(7) We will not treat employees unfairly by taking advantage of their position or authority in the organization.

(8) Information concerning the privacy of employees shall not be disclosed to third parties, whether within or outside the company, without consent.

Promoting Diversity & Inclusion

Visional Group promotes diversity and inclusion, aiming to create an organization in which people with diverse backgrounds, talents, experiences, and values are respected, maximize the potential of each individual, and enable everyone to play an active role in the workplace.

Recruitment of Diverse Talents

We hire people with diverse attributes, talents, and experiences. We actively recruit a combination of new graduates and mid-career professionals regardless of nationality or gender.

As of July 31, 2023, the total number of employees was 2,149 (including temporary employees), and the average age of full-time employees was 33.1 years old. Females account for 43.9% of the total number of employees and 15.4% of people in management positions.

*Number of employees excludes employees seconded from our group to companies outside our group, and includes employees seconded from outside our group to our group. Temporary employees (contract employees, part-timers, part-time employees, and temporary employees) are included.

Childcare Support

We are creating an environment in which all employees who are raising children can work comfortably and take an active role in the workplace. The number of employees who took childcare leave has been increasing, and in the most recent fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, 77 employees (of whom 50.6% were male employees) took childcare leave. The return-to-work rate after childcare leave is 100%. In addition, the following efforts are being made to support employees with children.

• Flexible work arrangements that allow employees to choose the number of days and hours of work that suit their stage in life
• Special bonuses for early return to work, daycare / kindergarten / babysitter assistance programs
• Providing babysitters and company-led childcare facilities
• Mama Reach / Papa Reach (internal communities to network and exchange information regarding parenting)

Employment of Persons with Disabilities

Visional Group promotes the employment of people with disabilities with the aim of realizing a society in which all people, regardless of their disabilities, can believe in their own "potential".

BizReach, Inc. has an organization called the Office Support Center Group to promote the employment of people with disabilities, which has achieved the legally mandated number of employees in three years since its establishment, and continues to maintain a retention rate of over 90%. The Office Support Center Group is in charge of more than a variety of 100 back-office operations such as administration, contract management, and IT operations for the Visional Group, and expects each employee to demonstrate his or her abilities according to his or her qualifications and skills.

The office is also equipped with private break rooms and workrooms to create a comfortable working environment.

Realization of Diverse Workstyles

Visional Group is taking the following actions to create an environment that enables diverse workstyles, with the aim of improving productivity and creating a vibrant workplace.

• Introduction of flexible work hours and work-from-home arrangements
• Flexible work arrangements that allow employees to choose the number of days and hours of work that suit their stage in life
• Career Support

Employee Engagement

Visional Group has implemented various initiatives to ensure that employees and the group mutually trust each other and to support employees' willingness to work and play an active role in the workplace.

• We have a culture of 1-on-1 meetings, where people from different group companies, departments, and positions talk about their work and careers.
• The Career Support Office has been established as a contact point to consult career development, human relations in the workplace, and working styles.
• We conduct engagement surveys semi-annually to review eNPS scores (Employee Net Promoter Score) of our group companies and strive to improve our organization.
• We conduct a monthly condition survey to assess job satisfaction and use the results for management purposes.
• Since December 2021, in order to improve employee engagement, an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) has been in place.
• Visional Group grants "Anniversary Leave" as a holiday that allows employees to freely take a day off for someone important to you or for yourself during the year.

People Development

Visional Group provides various training programs to develop our employees.

The Group has a wide variety of businesses and positions, providing opportunities to challenge key roles regardless of the year of employment or whether you are a new graduate or a professional hire.

Training Program Examples

• Leadership development training (*1)
• Training for new graduates
• Training for mid-career hires
• Training for new managers and department heads
• Training by job category (*2), etc.

*1 Selected leadership training program for learning our management theory at BizReach, Inc. through a combination of training, diagnosis, and on-the-job training.

*2 Training at BizReach, Inc.

Health & Safety

Visional Group will comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Law and other related laws and regulations, and will work to create a healthy and safe working environment for our employees to deliver high performance.

• Conduct stress checks and health check programs
• Mental and physical health consultation service
• Monitoring of employee working hours, notification to superiors, and guidance to prevent long working hours
• Promoting the Use of paid leave
• Subsidized influenza vaccinations for all employees and their dependents

In the businesses in which Visional Group operates, we handle a large amount of customer and personal information. Accordingly, we recognize the management of this information as an important aspect of our business operation.

Under the supervision of the Group Information Security Officer, the Group has established an information management system that conforms to the Group's standards, and has rules and regulations concerning the handling of information and related matters, and has established a system for the management of information by employees. Visional Group is reinforcing information security through measures such as increasing employee attention and facilitating a thorough understanding by our employees.

In the unlikely event of an accident, we will respond promptly and appropriately, and take appropriate actions, including measures to prevent recurrence.

Group Privacy Policy

Handling of Personal Information

Audit System and Information Security Policy

In order to determine the magnitude of information system risks, an information system risk assessment is conducted at least once a year for the entire group to determine the implementation and effectiveness of management processes and information system quality requirements. Audit results are reported to the Group Executive Committee, chaired by the Representative Director, for appropriate risk management.

Information Security Education and Training

Training on the handling of personal information is conducted annually for all Group employees, including contract employees.

Third-party Certification

BizReach Inc. as well as ezSoft Co., Ltd. complies with the Japanese Industrial Standard "JIS Q 15001 Personal Information Protection Management System - Requirements" and has obtained certification under the Privacy Mark System operated by the Japan Information Processing Development Corporation.

BizReach, Inc. has visualized career options not limited to the private sector, including new ways of working (part time/dual work), and has conducted more than 100 open recruitment programs in education, government, and non-profit organizations through the BizReach service. Through these open recruitment programs, more than 250 professionals have taken on the challenge of solving the issues in our society. In addition, as part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's reconstruction assistance program for the areas affected by the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident following Japan’s Great Eastern Earthquake, we have provided recruitment support for many businesses that were having trouble securing employees over the period of five years.

Achievements (selected excerpts)

Education

• Saitama City Board of Education, Open recruitment support for Education DX Personnel to realize the GIGA School Project (2020)
• National Institute of Technology, Kochi College Open recruitment of teachers to develop next generation security personnel etc. (2021)
• Keio University, Open recruitment of Corporate Planning Professionals to transform an academic institution from a business perspective (2021 to 2022)

Government Administration Offices

• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Flying Car Project Once-a-week-Bureaucrat Open recruitment (2019)
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries DX Human Resources Open recruitment (2019 to 2022)
• Ministry of the Environment, Open recruitment of project members to tackle Plastic Pollution and Climate Change (2019)

Municipalities

• Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture Open recruitment to support a database development (2017 to 2021)
• Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture Open recruitment of Chief Digital Officer (CDO) (2021)
• Shibuya Ward, Open recruitment of well-being promotion manager (2022 to 2023)
• Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Open recruitment for new business creation advisor personnel addressing Forest Carbon Credit (2022)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Open recruitment for digital shift promotion manager (2021)
• Fukui Prefecture, Open recruitment for Future Strategy Advisors (aiding the Chief Digital Officer) (2021) 

Mirai Investment Project

In order to further promote the initiatives we have been undertaking, we have launched an SDGs program "Mirai Investment Project" as an official program of BizReach, Inc. to return BizReach's know-how and various other assets to the society to support the realization of a sustainable future.

In particular, we have set "development of future professionals," "technological development support," and "new industry creation support" as 3 priority areas, aiming to realize a better future through solving our social issues. The project also aims to create many opportunities for the professionals involved in the project, thereby contributing to the realization of a society in which they can expand their options and possibilities.

Our Partners in the Mirai Investment Project (Partnerships with BizReach, Inc.)

• National Institute of Technology (KOSEN): Started collaboration with KOSEN in recruiting "part time teachers*" to develop next-generation IT human resources, etc.

On February 9, 2022, we signed a partnership agreement with the National Institute of Technology, a national institution of higher education with schools in 51 regions throughout Japan. In order to realize cutting-edge education, we support the recruitment of private-sector professionals, including classes taught by "part time teachers”. By appointing private-sector professionals who are currently in the forefront of using cutting-edge technology as teachers on part time basis, we take on the challenge of labor shortage and regional disparities.

*Part time teachers are teachers who are active in their companies and serve as practitioner teachers at National Institute of Technology part-time, teaching practical classes.

• JAXA: New Career Education with JAXA to Expand Human Resources for Space Fields

On July 27, 2022, we signed a collaboration agreement with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). We will implement initiatives aimed at expanding talents in the space field by providing career education opportunities related to the space industry to as many people as possible, broadening the base of those interested in and involved in the space industry.

• Fukutake Foundation: Began joint research with the Fukutake Foundation (which also runs the Setouchi International Art Festival) on a learning program for business professionals utilizing art appreciation

On November 7, 2022, we signed a collaboration agreement with Fukutake Foundation, which operates Benesse Art Site Naoshima, for joint research on learning programs utilizing art appreciation for business professionals to explore the potential of art in human development. In addition to implementing a learning program for business professionals utilizing art appreciation, we will also provide support for the recruitment of business professionals in the area of art and culture.

• Keio University: Starting the "Keio EIR (Entrepreneur in Residence) Model" to create world-class deep tech startups

On December 15, 2022, we concluded a collaboration agreement with Keio University to support the creation of new industries of the future. Through this collaboration, we will establish a "Keio EIR (Entrepreneur in Residence) model" that matches researchers with exceptional research results that have the potential to revolutionize the world with business professionals who can lead entrepreneurship, and support the development of deep-tech startups to be  launched from Keio University.

• The Winter Industry Revitalization Agency: Launch of Collaboration for Human Resource Development of the Next Generation and Recruitment of Professionals to Support Japan's Winter Industry

On May 23, 2023, we concluded a partnership agreement with The Winter Industry Revitalization Agency, which aims to develop a sustainable winter industry and realize a circular society. Through this partnership, we will provide opportunities for BizReach members and their children to learn about jobs related to snow resource conservation as part of the next generation's human resource development, and will support the recruitment of professionals with the skills to solve the problems faced by the winter industry.