Rakuten extends employee and services benefits to include same-sex partners

Rakuten Inc has announced a revision to the definition of “spouse” under its internal employment regulations to include recognition for same-sex partners. The revision was approved at a board of directors meeting.

Rakuten, which will celebrate 20 years since its founding next year, has grown into a major international innovative internet company that now boasts a workforce of over 13,000 employees worldwide offering more than 70 services.

Driven by its initiative to implement English as the official company language due to global expansion of its businesses, the number of non-Japanese employees has increased significantly.

“Rakuten brings together people from many different backgrounds and we are very proud to support and provide a diverse and inclusive workplace with services and benefits that recognize same-sex partners,” commented Akio Sugihara, Chief People Officer and Managing Executive Officer, Rakuten.

To meet the diverse needs of its employees, Rakuten has worked to introduce systems that respect the individual, including the establishment of a Diversity and Inclusion Group. As part of these efforts, a review was prompted by a request from its LGBT employees, global trends, and its status as a major international company.

As a result of this review, Rakuten will broaden its interpretation of “marriage” and “spouse” in the internal rules of employment policies, which thus far only recognized a marriage certificate under Japanese law, to now also include same-sex partners.

The benefits extended to same-sex partners will include congratulation leave when partners officiate their relationship or condolence leave in the event of a partner’s death as well as consolation payments.

In addition, accompanying this revision, initiatives aimed at Rakuten LGBT customers are being implemented at Rakuten Wedding, Viber, Rakuten Card, Rakuten Life Insurance, and Rakuten Edy for same-sex family members. The company will continue to reflect on the further implementation of initiatives with other group services.

Incidentally, ahead of this decision, in June this year, an LGBT network was launched by company volunteers, and LGBT employees and allies have been collaborating on activities to deepen understanding of LGBT issues within Rakuten.

© Japan Today