Japan Press Weekly

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2019 June 26 - July 2 [LABOR]

Male Asics employee sues sports giant for 'paternity' harassment

A male Asics employee filed a lawsuit against the company with the Tokyo District Court on June 28, seeking to eliminate "paternity" harassment at the major sports gear maker. He claimed that after he returned from childcare leave, he was deprived of his previous position and received disciplinary punishments, including reprimands and pay cuts.

The employee in his 30s is a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Youth Union.

Asics is a Gold Partner Olympic sponsor of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics/Paralympics. It must comply with domestic laws as well as international treaties on human rights and labor standards as stipulated in the sponsorship code.

The worker worked in sales promotion and human resources. In 2015, his first baby boy was born. When he applied for paternity leave, he was insulted by a boss. He returned to work in 2016 but was transferred to a subsidiary in warehouse operations. Through a lawyer, he asked the company to reinstate him to his previous position. He was sent back to the company, but still has not been assigned to his previous position. Isolated from his colleagues, he now does unneeded English translations or sits alone with nothing to do. Before his second son was born, he was again punished with reprimands and pay cuts.

After filing the complaint, he held a press conference in the building of the Labor Ministry and said, "My wife has been under stress as well. I hope my fight in court will be of some help in creating better working conditions for childrearing workers."