Behind the Scenes with the SUNNY SIDE UP President (Part 2): When We Ranked 3rd in the “Best Companies to Work For,” the President…
Hello!
This is Yamashita from Public Relations.
As mentioned in “The Phantom President Interview Project” (Part 1), I secured time with the President and conducted an interview, only to receive clear criticism from her.
The President’s Office Door
If I were to simply retreat with my tail between my legs after this, I would never be able to serve as Public Relations for the company led by this President! Below is how I made my comeback.
PR: President! Since you’ve kindly given me your time, may I ask you about something else?
Tsugihara: Of course!
PR: Actually, among all the tweets from SUNNY SIDE UP’s official Twitter account (@sunnysideup_mp) from January 2014 to the present, the most widely shared was about SUNNY SIDE UP ranking 3rd in the “Best Companies to Work For.” I believe many people are interested in this topic, but honestly, what did you think when you heard we ranked 3rd?
(Did you shout with joy in your office…??)
Tsugihara: To be honest… I felt uncomfortable.
PR: ?? Uncomfortable? What? What do you mean?
Tsugihara: Being included in this ranking had always been a dream of mine. For years, I would check Nikkei Business every year and think about how I wanted to create a company where employees would feel it’s a “great place to work,” on par with the companies in the ranking.
PR: Then shouldn’t it have been something very joyful?
Tsugihara: We’re still a young company, and the industry itself isn’t mature yet, so our salaries aren’t particularly high, and we don’t have generous benefits. When I look around at companies with luxurious offices, all-you-can-eat cafeterias and bars, on-site daycare… there are so many companies I’d want to join myself, and I thought we still had a long way to go. And yet, 3rd place…
By the way, 1st place was Google, and the other ranked companies were all wonderful, so I felt embarrassed, truly embarrassed…
PR: Indeed, the companies I met at the awards ceremony were all wonderful. Since then, I’ve been exchanging information about our respective initiatives with several companies and maintaining those relationships. From every company representative, I felt the passion to “make our companies even more attractive!”
Tsugihara: In the midst of their busy daily lives, I felt sorry for the many employees who took the time to respond to the survey.
However, you know the saying about which comes first, the chicken or the egg, and how position can change a person.
I think the employees gave the company high scores with the hope that it would become even more of a “great place to work.” So I’m very happy, and as a manager, I feel the pressure to meet those expectations.
PR: Please don’t speculate. And you don’t need to be so modest…
Please tell us, “We ranked 3rd in the ‘Best Companies to Work For’! We’re such a wonderful company!” (laughs)
For example, weren’t the systems unique to SUNNY SIDE UP also recognized?
Tsugihara: That’s right, we have many systems that originated from the field. We don’t have much money to spend, but that’s exactly why we’ve created fun systems by putting our heads together. The heartbreak leave that we created at employees’ request is one example. We’ve been building the company together with everyone in the field. I think that’s wonderful.
Perhaps that’s why everyone feels there’s at least some “job satisfaction.” Moving forward, I want to generate more profits and create an enviable work environment.
I want to quickly escape from the condition of “almost no budget!” for benefits, properly allocate budget, and continue to create systems unique to SUNNY SIDE UP. Of course, having a generous budget doesn’t mean we don’t need to use our heads. (laughs)
I’d love for everyone to eat sushi together at the office once a month! (laughs)
PR: Sushi! I’m in favor!
Internal communication is also an important part of Public Relations. I intend to think about systems that everyone truly needs.
What people find “job satisfaction” in varies from person to person. What people find “fun” also varies. Furthermore, the perspective of those in management positions and those in employment positions inevitably differs.
Nevertheless, it is “we” who are here now who create the company’s future.
This interview made me think about how enjoying the company’s changes together and continuing to think about and practice how to create the future together is what truly leads to “job satisfaction”!
