Companies will be required to implement measures against sexual harassment involving students during the job-hunting process from 1 October. A survey by 明光ネットワークジャパン found that both students and parents tended to consider such measures important. The survey covered 1,000 people, 500 each from the two groups, and also identified their main concerns and requests.
Companies will be required to implement measures against sexual harassment involving students during the job-hunting process from 1 October. The results of an awareness survey conducted and released by 明光ネットワークジャパン, which operates tutoring schools, were published ahead of the new requirement.
The online survey was conducted from 15 to 18 September among 500 university and graduate students and 500 of their parents, for a total of 1,000 respondents. A total of 562 respondents said they were concerned about being subjected to sexual harassment during the job-hunting process.
Among specific situations of concern during job hunting, students most frequently cited one-on-one interviews in private rooms (42.9%), followed by social gatherings involving alcohol (38.1%) and being invited to go out one-on-one (35.5%). Parents similarly cited social gatherings involving alcohol, going out one-on-one and one-on-one meetings in private rooms as situations of concern.
The acts students most commonly felt constituted “harassment” during job hunting were sexual questions (55.2%), unnecessary physical contact (51.4%) and sexual jokes or remarks (51.2%). Parents also ranked the same 3 items highest. Among students with job-hunting experience, 26.1% answered “yes,” 39.8% had reconsidered their applications or the selection process, 42.0% had withdrawn from a selection process and 8.0% had declined a job offer.
Many survey respondents called for companies to establish policies on measures (33.0%), consultation channels and procedures (27.0%), and rules governing interview times and locations (26.8%) to enable students to proceed with their job search with peace of mind. Parents expressed similar preferences. A representative of 明光ネットワークジャパン, which conducted the survey, said it was important to use the implementation of the new system as an opportunity to reconsider the arrangements needed to create a better environment for companies and students.