[K Population Strategy] KB Securities' Secret to a Great Workplace: 'Exemplary Family-Friendly Policies'

Creating a Work Environment Suitable for Work-Life Balance
Continuing Efforts to Prevent Career Interruptions
Leading the Enhancement of Female Talent and the Spread of Gender Equality Culture

#Han Sujin, Head of S&T Management Department at KB Securities, adjusted her working hours by reducing 1 to 2 hours per day through the company's childcare-related reduced working hours system for 10 months starting from March last year, allowing her to accompany her child to and from school. As a result, Han was able to continue her work life while helping her child adapt to school during the first year of elementary school. Han said, "It was very helpful in balancing work and family as I could maintain continuity in my work while securing the necessary time for childcare."

#Han Horyong, Assistant Manager of the Communications Department at KB Securities, took one year of parental leave starting from the end of 2022. Han stated, "During the parental leave period, I was able to fully fulfill my roles as a husband and father at home, which became another turning point for my family." Generally, long-term leave from work can cause anxiety about returning, but Han was able to maintain communication with the company through childcare training programs for parental leave employees and newsletters sharing major company news, enabling a smooth return to work after the leave.

KB Securities is a leading securities firm that exemplarily operates family-friendly systems to support work-family balance and takes the lead in addressing low birth rates.

Low birth rates have recently emerged as a serious social issue, intertwined with various socio-cultural problems such as welfare, employment, women's economic activities, and childcare difficulties. To resolve this, diverse approaches from multiple angles are necessary, along with support policies and systems that can be effectively applied in the field. In line with these societal trends, KB Securities operates various systems supporting childbirth and child-rearing and encourages employees to actively utilize them. In particular, the company continues efforts to create a work environment suitable for work-family balance and to prevent career interruptions, striving to provide a great workplace where talented individuals can fully demonstrate their capabilities.

As of 2023, the average tenure of female regular employees at KB Securities is 16 years, ranking among the top in the industry. The company has achieved 94 employees taking parental leave, with return-to-work rates of 100% for men and 85% for women, respectively, exemplifying family-friendly practices in the securities industry and being recognized as a great workplace. KB Securities obtained family-friendly company certification from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in December 2022 and continues to expand effective support measures.

Creating a Corporate Culture Where Employees Can Work Without Career Interruptions

KB Securities regards the periods of childbirth and childcare as the most critical times for balancing work and family and preventing career breaks. The company makes various efforts to enable employees during these periods to work as efficiently as possible while allowing them to focus more time on their families.

For pregnant employees, the company implements reduced and flexible working hours, prohibits overtime work, and provides 120 days of maternity leave, exceeding the legal minimum of 90 days. In particular, support is provided to secure at least 60 days of postnatal leave, and childbirth congratulatory bonuses are given to employees who have given birth. Male employees receive 10 days of paid leave upon their spouse's childbirth, among other childbirth encouragement policies. For employees experiencing infertility, a leave system of six months (extendable up to one year) is in place, demonstrating leadership in addressing low birth rates.

Parental leave is granted for two years per child, including 120 days of maternity leave, which is longer than the legal requirement. It can be used in two separate periods to effectively care for children aged eight or younger or in the second grade or below of elementary school. Upon returning to work, parental leave employees receive support such as in-house online training and certification exam fees to enhance work continuity and skills.

To create an environment where employees with young children can work with peace of mind, KB Securities operates a workplace daycare center. The company jointly operates the Financial Investment Association Puruni Daycare Center located in Yeouido and has agreements with three daycare centers operated by KB Financial Group affiliates (KB Insurance Hapjeong, KB Kookmin Bank Guui, KB Kookmin Card Ainuri in Jongno), allowing shared use. Employees with children entering elementary school can use reduced working hours without salary reduction for one month in March, the early school period, to help their children adapt smoothly to school life.

Providing an Environment Where Talented Individuals Can Fully Demonstrate Their Capabilities

KB Securities is an official supporter of the United Nations (UN) Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and a company that exemplarily pursues ESG management for gender equality. The company strives to create a great workplace where anyone can demonstrate their capabilities through unbiased talent selection and development regardless of gender, age, region, or educational background.

To support capable female talents in fully demonstrating their abilities and growing, KB Securities operates various tailored training programs by career stage, including the Women’s Work Excellence Course, Prospective Women Leaders Course, Women Team Leader Value-Up Course, New Female Deputy Branch Manager Program, and WE STAR mentoring program, focusing on strengthening female leadership. The company is expanding the proportion of women among executive candidates and recruiting female executives and managers with industry expertise, pursuing both quantitative and qualitative efforts.

Female employees of KB Securities participating in the '2023 KB-Ewha Leadership Forum' held at Ewha Womans University ECC Theater in September 2023 are taking a commemorative photo after completing the training.
[Photo by KB Securities]

In 2022 and 2023, KB Securities collaborated with Ewha Womans University to conduct the '2022 Ewha-KB Securities Women Team Leader Value-up Course' and the '2023 KB-Ewha Leadership Forum.' The curriculum was jointly planned by KB Securities and Ewha Womans University Leadership Development Institute to foster self-directed female leadership. Many female employees holding team leader or higher positions at KB Securities participated, completing education on the importance of female leadership, future roles, and continuous growth as female leaders, contributing to organizational performance improvement at KB Securities.

Going forward, KB Securities plans to continue efforts for gender equality and career interruption prevention, solidly implementing related systems as a family-friendly company. Through this, the company aims to establish a firm position as a securities firm leading the enhancement of female talent capabilities and the spread of a gender-equal culture.

Kim Seonghyun and Lee Honggu, CEOs of KB Securities, stated, "Providing a great workplace where talented individuals can fully demonstrate their capabilities and work fairly is essential for our society and community," adding, "KB Securities will continue to do its best to create a happy company for employees through work-family balance and fostering a family-friendly atmosphere."