SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Etsuko Tsugihara; hereinafter, “the Company”) will update its unique employee benefits program, “32 (SUNNY) Rules,” on September 1, 2022 (Thursday), in line with the “Autumn Sleep Day” (September 3) established by the Sleep Health Promotion Organization, to create a work environment that is comfortable for each and every member, allowing them to lead richer lives.

Our “32 Rules” are operated daily as unique employee benefits programs, such as the “Happiness Doesn’t Come Walking,” “Aim for an A-Body,” and “Siesta” rules, in line with social trends and reflecting the voices of our members. Following the addition of cost subsidies for “AMH testing” in March 2022 and “semen testing” in July, we are focusing on “sleep,” which is key to maintaining the physical and mental health of our members, as well as improving daytime concentration and individual work performance. We will establish a new “Sleeping Children Grow” rule to support the well-being of our members by ensuring adequate sleep.

■What is the “Sleeping Children Grow” Rule?

　Following the existing “Siesta Rule,” which allows members to take sleep time during work hours, SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP will establish the “Sleeping Children Grow” rule so that members can maintain their mental and physical health by ensuring sufficient sleep time.

Under this system, the daily sleep time of all members will be measured using a smartphone app. Members who average 7 hours or more of sleep per month will receive a reward of ¥3,200. By ensuring that each member gets enough sleep, we aim to improve daytime concentration and individual work performance. By supporting the maintenance of individual health in the post-COVID era, where working styles have changed dramatically, such as the increase in telework, we will promote the creation of creativity and productivity improvement as an organization.

■Are Japanese People Getting Enough Sleep? Japan’s Sleep Situation

According to the 2021 survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)*1, the average sleep time of Japanese people is 7 hours and 22 minutes, the lowest among the 30 member countries. Furthermore, according to data released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in January of this year*2, the total number of people who sleep 7 hours or less is 67.7%, indicating that Japanese people are generally sleep-deprived.

Getting enough sleep is said to lead to recovery from brain fatigue, memory consolidation, and stress reduction, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s sleep guidelines also state that insufficient sleep reduces work efficiency and productivity, ultimately lowering work efficiency.

With global interest in “well-being,” which indicates a healthy state of mind and body, increasing after the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of “sleep” has been attracting attention in recent years from the perspective of “preparing” for a healthy state.

Source:
*1 “Gender Data Portal 2021″(https://www.oecd.org/gender/data/)
*2 “Report on the Results of the 2021 Health Condition Survey”(https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11131500/000904748.pdf)

■Comment from Masato Kokubo, President and Representative Director of SUNNY SIDE UP Inc.

Our “32 Rules” at SUNNY SIDE UP have been continuously updated to incorporate social trends and employee feedback so that each and every member can have a fulfilling way of working and living.

The “Sleeping Children Grow” rule, which will be added this time, was decided to be institutionalized in response to the growing importance of “sleep.” I myself have realized the great impact of “sleep” on performance through my experience in athlete management, and among the world’s leading athletes, there are many who see “sleep as an important part of self-management” and are steadily achieving results by placing importance on quality sleep.

From the perspective of health management, we believe that the mental and physical well-being of our members is important for corporate growth. As PR professionals, we aim to continue to create “Let’s Have Fun!” for the world by maximizing daytime performance, constantly exploring, actively capturing information, and exercising creativity.

■“What is the unique welfare program “32 Systems” for “working happily and living happily”?

This unique employee benefits program was established in 2011 based on the slogan “Let’s Have Fun!” so that members can enjoy a fulfilling life. It consists of rules that incorporate our unique characteristics, such as “Fun Creation Support,” “Love Match Leave,” “Heartbreak Leave,” “Birthday Leave,” and “Happiness Doesn’t Come Walking.” We are promoting “creating an environment where each and every person can work in their own way” by updating it as appropriate in line with the trends of the times.

The target companies are SUNNY SIDE UP GROUP Inc. and SUNNY SIDE UP Inc.

[List of 32 Rules https://www.ssu.co.jp/corporate/32rule/]