Kim Dong-yeon Visits Family-Friendly Certified Company: "A New Normal Is Needed in Labor Now"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited a family-friendly certified company in Gyeonggi Province and stated that "balancing work and family is the way to enhance sustainable efficiency," emphasizing the need for a new normal in labor in response to changing times.

On the 24th, Governor Kim held a meeting with CEO Lim Gak-gyun and employees at Eturnus Co., Ltd. located in Gwacheon City, exchanging opinions on family-friendly corporate management and improving workers' quality of life. Eturnus Co., Ltd., a management consulting firm, was designated as a Gyeonggi family-friendly certified company in 2023 and was selected last year as an excellent case of certification maintenance for 2024.

Governor Kim said, "In the past, society demanded labor-intensive work or diligence only in the workplace, but now work, family, and personal life must harmonize together," adding, "From this perspective, Gyeonggi Province is convinced that balancing work and family is the way to increase sustainable efficiency. Therefore, it is the first in Korea to pilot a 4.5-day workweek this year and implement 0.5 & 0.75 jobs."

He continued, "Ensuring that individuals’ careers are not interrupted and that even during breaks they can achieve self-realization through shortened work systems like 0.5 & 0.75 jobs, and on a national and social level, not wasting individual abilities but continuing economic activities to create good value for our society?these two aspects together form a family-friendly company," he added.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is taking a commemorative photo with CEO Lim Gak-gyun and affiliated employees at Etnus, a family-friendly company in Gyeonggi, on the 24th. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

In response, CEO Lim Gak-gyun of Eturnus Co., Ltd. said, "The new system of 0.5 & 0.75 jobs is a good idea," and responded, "Full-time work is a concern for female employees who face challenges after marriage, childbirth, and during childcare periods, so we will try to utilize 0.5 & 0.75 jobs."

At the meeting, a female manager who used telecommuting while her child was in elementary school and is now receiving university tuition support, a male employee who took parental leave, and employees working flexible hours from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. shared their experiences and expressed satisfaction with the family-friendly system. An employee working remotely from Yangsan, Gyeongnam for childcare also participated via video call.

Founded in 2001, Eturnus Co., Ltd. currently employs 798 people and utilizes flexible work systems such as staggered working hours and remote and telecommuting. It also freely allows the use of maternity and parental leave, operates systems for miscarriage and stillbirth leave, childbirth incentives, medical expense support, shuttle bus services, and smart office adoption as part of its welfare programs.

The Gyeonggi family-friendly company certification project identifies and certifies companies that operate family-friendly systems exemplary and provides various benefits. Currently, there are 194 certified companies. Gyeonggi Province is the first and only local government to independently certify family-friendly companies.

This year, Gyeonggi Province expanded benefits such as preferential support for small and medium enterprise development funds and promotion support for excellent companies. To revitalize re-certification of family-friendly companies, a re-certification support fund of 2 million KRW was newly established. Companies participating in 0.5 & 0.75 jobs will receive system consulting and additional employment incentives, while workers will be supported with contribution subsidies and reduced wage subsidies.

Going forward, Gyeonggi Province will continue to pilot the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek and support projects for 0.5 & 0.75 jobs to help achieve work-life balance, and will provide various supports to help local companies build more family-friendly environments.