A growing number of workers expect their employers to be far more careful in arranging job relocations and wish to be spared from being transferred out of their offices, according to an Asahi Shimbun survey.

That was the case at about 60 percent of Japan’s top companies, the survey revealed.

Relocations of employees within companies or to affiliated firms have long been common in Japan and can be an important step in climbing the corporate ladder. But employees are not always happy to be suddenly shuffled off to far-flung locations.

Major societal changes appear to be fueling resistance to being relocated. More people are teleworking amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has become more common over time for couples to build professional careers together.

Because of these trends, more business operators are launching reviews of their job transfer systems.

“The number of employees who want the freedom to choose where they work on their own is on the gradual rise, regardless of whether they actually need to relocate for occupational reasons,” said Mikio Okumura, president of insurance provider Sompo Holdings Inc.

The survey was carried out between May 30 and June 10.

The findings show 58 of the 100 enterprises covered by the study reported that “more” or “somewhat more” of their employees want them to give closer consideration to employee transfers.

Of the 58, 21 firms saying “more” of their employees want to be spared from relocating and 37 said “somewhat more” workers fall into that category.

Asked about why staffers would like employers to be more thoughtful about relocations, most corporations said their employees have spouses who hold down jobs or they have to care for their elderly parents or small children.

Companies were also asked if they consider it necessary to reduce or eliminate job transfers. Seventeen companies said they should reduce the number of employee relocations.

Food firm Ajinomoto Co. acknowledged that it puts a strain on employees.

“Our staff members are obviously struggling to respond to job transfers,” its survey response said. “Although indispensable relocations will remain, their number will be lowered to the minimum required figure. A healthy work-life balance should be promoted through hiring local staffers and other means.”

Some companies have already started working on ways to reduce the frequency of shuffling employees around the country.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT) told the study that it is “forging ahead with telework” and that “our personnel will be reassigned, in principle, in such a way that they will not have to relocate their homes.”

Akito Mizuno, president of sporting goods maker Mizuno Corp., shared that sentiment.

“We are considering reducing the number of employees who must live away from their families,” he said. “Among the options being tested is a plan to replace residential transfers with business trips to deal with our tasks. More results can be produced with that given the post-coronavirus work style.”

On the other hand, 37 employers insisted there is no reason to slash the number of relocations.

“We are having employees go on proper career paths so they can improve their abilities and fulfill their potential,” said Takashi Goto, president of Seibu Holdings Inc. “It would become, naturally, difficult for those working at the same workplaces for decades to adapt to environmental changes, as the old saying goes, like the frog in a well that knows nothing of the great ocean.”

Of the 44 corporations that answered “other,” many said they should take personnel matters into account when considering job transfers.

Still, no respondents argued that relocations must be eliminated entirely.

Yukio Okubo, an advisor to Recruit Works Institute, who is knowledgeable about issues connected to job transfers, described the 17 companies believing transfers should be reduced as “a smaller number than expected.”

“Even students seeking jobs these days are likely to dislike relocating elsewhere,” he said. “Business operators will be increasingly pressed to rethink their transfer traditions from here on out so they can secure sufficient personnel in the face of labor shortages.”