"Workplaces Heaven for Working Moms and Dads, Actually Better for Productivity" [K Population Strategy]

(8) Lee Hyemin, Co-CEO of Finda, Philosophy
Innovating Corporate Culture Through Experience as a Working Mom
Employee Psychological Stability Drives Growth

Editor's NoteThe key to solving South Korea's population problem lies within companies. A corporate atmosphere that evaluates employees based on work regardless of gender and a family-friendly culture are crucial to addressing the K population issue. While low birth rates are influenced by multiple factors, it is important to ensure that workplace burdens do not become obstacles that make people hesitate to have children. Asia Economy visited companies leading family-friendly policies to identify the factors that helped these systems take root stably, and plans to explore various solutions with companies facing practical challenges. Through this, we aim to encourage change starting from companies and analyze the government's role in enabling this. We listen to voices emphasizing that company culture and atmosphere that reduce psychological burdens are more critical than financial support, and present alternatives from diverse perspectives.

Hyemin Lee, Co-CEO of Finda

The reason Finda has become a paradise for working moms and dads is largely due to the determination of co-CEO Lee Hye-min. As a working mom herself, she emphasized that a corporate culture friendly to 'childcare,' including custom work, actually helps improve individual productivity.

In an interview with Asia Economy on the 10th, CEO Lee said, "I do not believe that individual productivity decreases just because someone is pregnant or raising a child while working." Although there are physical limitations on working hours, spending more time does not necessarily mean higher productivity.

She explained, "Through experience, I learned that creating an environment that allows one to focus on work during that time is more important. People who can properly control and manage various personal events tend to work more professionally and have higher productivity."

Finda plans and shares a weekly work schedule through custom work. There is even a half-half day (2 hours), which is a smaller unit than a half-day off. This system was created to guarantee individual autonomy and flexibility while growing the company and achieving goals. This is a system that CEO Lee deeply felt the necessity of through her own experience.

CEO Lee said, "Since I am raising a 3-year-old child while working, I did not want employees to feel pressured or anxious when they have unavoidable circumstances such as pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare."

CEO Lee is strongly committed to creating systems and cultures within the company that provide psychological stability specifically regarding childcare. Since she, as a working mom, leads by example by actively using systems like custom work and half-half days, employees feel no burden in utilizing these systems.

She explained, "I usually prepare my husband and child for daycare together, put the child on the school bus, and then arrive at work between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. I try to leave work by 7 p.m. to put my child to bed, and then finish any unfinished tasks at home after the child falls asleep." She added, "For schedules that require a mother’s presence, such as the child's birthday or developmental checkups, I record them in advance and make good use of half-half days or half days off."

The family-friendly culture not only boosts corporate productivity but also helps attract talent. Since Finda deals with loans and finance, expertise and experience are important. CEO Lee said, "The fact that the company is goal-oriented while guaranteeing individual autonomy seems to appeal to married professionals in their 30s and 40s, who are in their prime working years." An internal survey of about 130 employees showed that satisfaction with this culture was the highest.

Positive signs are also emerging in childbirth. As the atmosphere forms that it is possible to work while raising children under such systems, an employee became pregnant for the first time last year, and currently two employees are pregnant. CEO Lee said, "Even during pregnancy, employees are faithfully fulfilling their roles in important areas such as product UX (user experience) design and data science."

Special Coverage Team 'K Population Strategy - Gender Equality is the Answer'

Reporters Kim Yuri, Lee Hyun-joo, Jung Hyun-jin, Boo Ae-ri, Gong Byung-sun, Park Joon-i, Song Seung-seop; Economic Finance Editor Kim Pil-su