Communication with Employees

The Yamaha Group observes international treaties and regulations and practices respect for the rights of workers, including the rights to freedom of association, freedom of enrollment or non-enrollment in labor unions, collective bargaining, and peaceful assembly. Opportunities are provided for workers to engage in frank discussions with management without fear of discrimination, reprisal, coercion, or harassment, and labor and other agreements are respected. Furthermore, in exercising the Yamaha Philosophy, employees and management strive to achieve favorable relationships based on ample communication.

One of the policies contained in the Yamaha Group Policies is “maintenance and construction of a healthy labor–management relationship,” and the Group conducts labor–management dialogues between management and the labor unions or employee associations set up in each Group company. At Group companies in Japan, labor–management council and liaison conference meetings are held regularly to discuss the status of operating results and labor affairs as well as business challenges. In addition, Group companies are aiming to improve work–life balance and create better work environments through the joint efforts of employees and management. At overseas Group companies, dialogues between employees and management are proceeding in accordance with the labor laws of each country. At Yamaha Corporation, joint management council meetings are held regularly so that critical management issues can be examined and discussed between labor and management. These meetings allow participants to hear from labor unions about current working conditions and engage in lively discussions. The administration and revision of various programs related to human resources and labor are conducted after thorough discussion based on labor and management’s perceptions of the issues at hand. The results of these discussions are communicated to employees through the reports issued by companies and labor unions. In addition, labor agreements stipulate that changes to business operations with the potential to materially impact employees, such as relocations stemming from organizational or position changes or staff reallocations, warrant prompt notification to labor unions or labor–management discussions. Labor union officials also participate in the running of systems that have a significant impact on employees, such as corporate pension funds, health insurance unions, the Mutual Aid Foundation, and employee stock ownership plans.

The Human Resources Division of the Yamaha Corporation monitors Group companies to ensure that labor and management communicate effectively with each other in accordance with the Yamaha Group Policies, and requests for corrective action are issued when needed. Furthermore, Education Guidelines for Labor and Labor–Management Relations have been established to ensure that the managers of Group companies and others in managerial positions properly understand the rights of workers and are able to build healthy and stable labor–management relationships. Education programs are monitored to confirm that managers are being trained in accordance with these guidelines.

Yamaha Group companies promote communication with labor unions and employee associations in order to foster cultures of earnest, mutual understanding between labor and management. In Japan, we engage in labor–management information sharing and exchanges together with the Yamaha Union Conference,^*4 which is formed by the labor unions and employee associations of domestic Group companies, through regular labor and management liaison meetings.

• *4 The Yamaha Union Conference was established in September 1990. Along with deepening solidarity among members of the Yamaha Group, the conference works to further the development of organizations, create better working environments, improve labor conditions, conduct social contribution activities, and exchange a wide range of information aimed at enriching personal lives.

As part of its employee relation activities, the Yamaha Group provides information via internal newsletters, its intranet, and signage. The Group magazine, which is issued and distributed by the Public Relations Division of Yamaha Corporation, offers swift notification of policies and strategies related to management and business activities. This magazine also covers topics from various departments and Group companies in order to share information across the entire Group. In China and Southeast Asia, where the Group positions production sites, regional internal newsletters are issued in Chinese and Indonesian. In addition to information on the Group as a whole, information on a range of initiatives, including operational improvement and health and safety activities at Group production companies, is provided to contribute to the mutual development and sense of oneness of Group companies. In October 2021, the Group’s prior intranet sites were consolidated and reorganized to form the new Yamaha Portal. This Group portal site is used for the timely transmission of important management information and also consolidates notifications, division-specific postings, and other information for internal use; provides introductions of Group activities around the world; and functions as a venue for promoting communication among Group employees.
These information provision initiatives are complemented by efforts for invigorating internal communication and improving employee engagement. Examples of these efforts include the Yamaha Day global event held around the anniversary of the Company’s founding and discussions between the president and employees held via online conference systems.

Yamaha Group production sites inside and outside of Japan hold family factory tours for employees’ families. In addition to observing workplaces and production processes, these tours provide an opportunity for families to deepen their understanding and interest in the Group through hands-on experience of the products manufactured at factories and through mini-concerts by employees themselves.