Home > Sustainability > Social > Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Kajima Group > Voices from Our People > Nao Nishiyama

VOICE

Passing on the Support
I Received During Childcare
to the Next Generation

Nao Nishiyama

Construction Assistant Manager
Shodo Tunnel Construction Project Office
Yokohama Branch

Joined Kajima Corporation, Tokyo Civil Engineering Branch, 2015
Assigned to Yokohama Branch, 2020

01

The Pride of Being Part of the Construction Site Team

Could you describe your career to date?
What kind of work are you currently doing?

For the first three years after joining the company, I worked at construction sites. I remember how happy I was to be involved in large-scale projects and to feel that I was playing a role in moving the site forward. In my fourth and fifth years, I was assigned to the branch design department through a job rotation, where I had the opportunity to learn about temporary structure design. Although I was pregnant at the time, I returned to a construction site in my sixth year, as I had hoped, and worked there for three months until I began maternity leave. During that time, I was responsible for introducing ICT initiatives, such as using vital sensors to monitor workers’ health and drones to measure earthwork volumes. Although these tasks were different from typical construction management duties, I found it rewarding to contribute to improving efficiency and productivity at the site from a technical support perspective.
Currently, I am in charge of site administration at a construction site. While making use of telework when possible, I prepare documents and drawings for discussions with clients, create various reports necessary for site operations, and manage safety and progress using on-site cameras. Recently, I have also been taking on the challenge of developing applications and systems used at construction sites. Being part of a large-scale project continues to be a great source of satisfaction, just as it was when I first joined the company.

02

The Importance of Speaking Up

What systems did you use for childbirth and childcare?

I used various systems, including childbirth-related leave, flextime, and telework. To learn about the available options, I contacted a senior colleague who had supported me through mentoring sessions, and she explained them all to me. Since I had senior colleagues nearby who were raising children, I did not feel overly anxious when I found out that I was expecting.

Did you feel that colleagues and workplace was understanding your situation when you returned from maternity and childcare leave?

Yes, I feel that everyone, including the Project manager and my supervisors, has tried to be understanding. Before and after my return, they held meetings to ask about my preferences. When I encountered difficulties after returning, they quickly made time to discuss them with me. There was an atmosphere in which I felt comfortable about sharing my situation and any adjustments I needed.

How would you describe Kajima’s work culture in terms of working styles?

Some members of older generations who did not have much involvement in childcare may not fully understand the challenges, and at times I felt there was a lack of consideration. In addition, childcare concerns differ depending on the child, the family environment, and the level of support available. It can be difficult for supervisors and colleagues to fully understand the worries or concerns of employees raising children based only on what they see at work. However, when I speak up, I find that many people listen sincerely and try to be considerate. For that reason, I believe it is important to communicate proactively. Rather than focusing only on what I cannot do, I try to say, “This may be difficult, but I can do this,” and contribute to the workplace to the best of my ability.

03

Building My Own Career Path

What kind of career do you envision for yourself in the future?

I still enjoy working at construction sites, but through my experience in design and ICT implementation, I have come to understand that work other than on-site construction management is also directly connected to site operations. For now, balancing work and childcare is my top priority, so it may be difficult to work on the front lines of a construction site as I did before I had children. However, I would like to continue contributing by supporting construction sites in any way I can. Compared to my peers, I may have slightly less hands-on experience due to the time I took for maternity and childcare leave. However, by taking on site administration work earlier than usual, I have been able to gain experience that will be important for my career in the future. I hope to make the most of these opportunities and to gain experiences that differ from those of my peers.
At present, I am able to continue working thanks to the support of many people around me. Once my childcare responsibilities become more manageable, I would like to repay that support by becoming a supervisor or senior colleague who can help the next generation.

EPISODE

I Want to Be Someone My Child Looks Up To

Being able to talk with my child about my work is one of the reasons I feel glad that I continued my career. When I ask my child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” sometimes the answer is, “Someone who works at a construction site!”

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