Key Facts
In April, Tsuchiura City in Ibaraki Prefecture introduced a flexible working hours system, known as the “flextime system,” for its municipal employees. This initiative aims to improve work-life balance by allowing staff to adjust their schedules to better accommodate personal responsibilities, such as childcare or caregiving. Mayor Mariko Ando expressed optimism that the system could reduce employee turnover and attract talented personnel to the city government.
Under the new system, employees are required to work during a designated “core time” from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Outside of these hours, they can choose their start and end times within the “flexible time” periods of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. As long as employees meet their total required working hours, they can utilize the system as often as needed.
However, challenges remain, particularly for departments that provide direct services to residents, such as the citizen services desk, which operates from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The city acknowledges the potential for staff shortages during certain hours. To address this, department heads are tasked with reviewing employee schedule requests to ensure that public services are not disrupted. In some cases, requests may be denied if they interfere with essential operations.
The city’s personnel department monitors the system’s implementation across all departments and provides guidance to managers as needed. Adjustments to the core and flexible time periods may also be considered based on operational needs.
Tsuchiura City plans to highlight this initiative during recruitment efforts, aiming to appeal to candidates who value work-life balance. According to city officials, the number of full-time employees leaving their positions has remained under 20 annually in recent years. By improving job satisfaction, the city hopes to further reduce turnover rates.
Flextime systems are still rare among local governments in Ibaraki Prefecture. Currently, only the prefectural government and Hokota City have implemented similar systems. The prefecture’s system, introduced in 2024, features a shorter core time of 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., offering greater flexibility. However, as of February, only about 60 of the approximately 7,000 eligible prefectural employees had utilized the system.
In April, Tsuchiura City in Ibaraki Prefecture implemented a flextime system for municipal employees, aiming to enhance work-life balance and attract skilled personnel. The system requires employees to work during a core time from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., while allowing flexible start and end times between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., provided total working hours are met.
Challenges include maintaining adequate staffing for citizen services, which operate from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Department heads review schedule requests to ensure public services remain uninterrupted, with some requests potentially denied if they conflict with operational needs. The personnel department monitors the system’s implementation and may adjust timeframes based on departmental feedback.
Tsuchiura City plans to promote the initiative during recruitment to appeal to candidates prioritizing work-life balance. The city has seen fewer than 20 full-time employees leave annually in recent years and hopes the system will further reduce turnover.
Flextime systems are rare in Ibaraki Prefecture, with only the prefectural government and Hokota City adopting similar measures. The prefecture’s system, introduced in 2024, offers greater flexibility with a shorter core time but has seen limited use among eligible employees.
