The Key to Preventing Early Turnover: A Culture of "Hospitality" and "Dialogue" Led by New Employees. Will Co., Ltd. to Hold Traditional Company-Wide BBQ on May 13 to Overcome May Sickness
Will Co., Ltd. will hold its traditional company-wide BBQ event on May 13, planned and operated by new employees, as a measure against early turnover. This initiative has helped the company maintain a new employee turnover rate of 13.3%, significantly lower than the national average.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 18:00
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Amidst the social issue of a sharp increase in new employee resignations after Golden Week, known as the "early turnover problem," Will Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Shinji Tanaka), which operates real estate, renovation, advertising production, and consulting businesses, will hold a company-wide BBQ event on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, across two venues in Osaka and Nagoya, with a total of 380 participants. This event, which began in 1998 as a measure against "May Sickness," is one of the company's unique communication initiatives that fosters new employees' confidence in their work by having them plan and operate it themselves, achieving a low turnover rate significantly below the national average.
1. New Employees Take Center Stage to Overcome the Wall of May Sickness
Last year's scene at the Nagoya venue. New employees, about a month and a half after joining the company, wearing BBQ caps, served as staff to entertain participants (May 14, 2025).
Last year's scene at the Osaka venue. In connection with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, new employee staff dressed in various national costumes entertained participants. Employees spent time eating, drinking, and conversing with family members (top left in photo), senior colleagues from the same department (top right), colleagues from other departments, and business partners. Interns scheduled to join the company next year (bottom row in photo) also participated, experiencing the company culture (May 14, 2025).
In May, when many companies are concerned about new employees' adaptation, Will began its BBQ event in 1998 as part of its May Sickness prevention measures. Since 2002, it has evolved into a style where new employees, soon after their assignment, take on the role of "main hosts" for planning and operation.
Roles and Effects:
New employees hold repeated meetings and prepare to ensure many participants enjoy themselves. In this experience, which marks a turning point from "being entertained" to "providing value," they complete the task despite being bewildered by the high bar for an adult event, unlike student recreational events. This successful experience boosts their motivation for work and becomes a "practical training" that builds bonds with同期 (colleagues who joined at the same time), senior colleagues, and managers.
Achievements in Low Turnover Rate:
Through these efforts, our new employee turnover rate (2022 graduates, within 3 years) is 13.3%, which is significantly lower than the national average (33.8%) and the industry average (36.5%) *1.
*1: Announced by the Ministry of Health, Labour and and Welfare on October 24, 2025.
2. Significance for Interns → Imagining "Myself One Year Later" Before Joining the Company
Interns who participated in last year's BBQ event commented, "I could concretely imagine myself one year later." By closely observing senior employees (new staff) acting proactively, they seemed to be able to envision their future selves. In fact, a new employee who will lead the staff at this year's Osaka venue participated in the same event last year and said, "I wanted to be the leader next year."
Furthermore, meeting colleagues for the first time in person and reuniting with senior colleagues who assisted during job hunting provides a valuable opportunity to dispel vague anxieties.
3. "Frequent Communication" Prevents Turnover
In addition to the BBQ, our company implements multi-layered communication initiatives to prevent employee isolation and mismatches.
Unique Network Recruitment / Securing talent that fits our company through unique recruitment methods without relying on job sites.
Internship Ceremony is a Sports Day / An event continuing since 1995, where volunteers within the company form a project team to prepare. In the process of aiming for victory as a team, members can show their true selves without reservation and deepen mutual understanding.
Quarterly Employee Training Trips / All employees participate to share policies and hold award ceremonies. Communication is also emphasized here, with efforts made to facilitate interaction among employees who do not usually interact.
Trust between Boss and Subordinate / We believe that building trust between bosses and subordinates is the most important key to preventing turnover. We focus on talent development, and over 56% of employees (according to an internal survey conducted in September 2025) aspire to management positions.
Shuffle Dinner / A system where the company covers the cost of dining events involving three or more departments. In 2025, 2,000 such events were held, and their effects are evident.
Company Newsletter / First published in 1995. It continues to be issued quarterly with the aim of internal communication. It is a proud company newsletter that has won awards in national company newsletter competitions.
Speech Culture / Opportunities are provided to express thoughts and ideas on various occasions, promoting mutual understanding.
In-house Bar (Will Bar) / A space symbolizing the "dialogue" culture since the company's founding.
4. Multifaceted Utilization of "Will Bar," a Hub for Interaction
Will Bar at the head office (Takarazuka City) Will Bar at the Shin-Atsuta branch (Nagoya City)
The in-house bar space "Will Bar" is not merely a social gathering place but is utilized in all aspects of frontline operations. Head office (Takarazuka City).
Keywords: (empty)
1. New Employees Take Center Stage to Overcome the Wall of May Sickness
Last year's scene at the Nagoya venue. New employees, about a month and a half after joining the company, wearing BBQ caps, served as staff to entertain participants (May 14, 2025).
Last year's scene at the Osaka venue. In connection with the Osaka-Kansai Expo, new employee staff dressed in various national costumes entertained participants. Employees spent time eating, drinking, and conversing with family members (top left in photo), senior colleagues from the same department (top right), colleagues from other departments, and business partners. Interns scheduled to join the company next year (bottom row in photo) also participated, experiencing the company culture (May 14, 2025).
In May, when many companies are concerned about new employees' adaptation, Will began its BBQ event in 1998 as part of its May Sickness prevention measures. Since 2002, it has evolved into a style where new employees, soon after their assignment, take on the role of "main hosts" for planning and operation.
Roles and Effects:
New employees hold repeated meetings and prepare to ensure many participants enjoy themselves. In this experience, which marks a turning point from "being entertained" to "providing value," they complete the task despite being bewildered by the high bar for an adult event, unlike student recreational events. This successful experience boosts their motivation for work and becomes a "practical training" that builds bonds with同期 (colleagues who joined at the same time), senior colleagues, and managers.
Achievements in Low Turnover Rate:
Through these efforts, our new employee turnover rate (2022 graduates, within 3 years) is 13.3%, which is significantly lower than the national average (33.8%) and the industry average (36.5%) *1.
*1: Announced by the Ministry of Health, Labour and and Welfare on October 24, 2025.
2. Significance for Interns → Imagining "Myself One Year Later" Before Joining the Company
Interns who participated in last year's BBQ event commented, "I could concretely imagine myself one year later." By closely observing senior employees (new staff) acting proactively, they seemed to be able to envision their future selves. In fact, a new employee who will lead the staff at this year's Osaka venue participated in the same event last year and said, "I wanted to be the leader next year."
Furthermore, meeting colleagues for the first time in person and reuniting with senior colleagues who assisted during job hunting provides a valuable opportunity to dispel vague anxieties.
3. "Frequent Communication" Prevents Turnover
In addition to the BBQ, our company implements multi-layered communication initiatives to prevent employee isolation and mismatches.
Unique Network Recruitment / Securing talent that fits our company through unique recruitment methods without relying on job sites.
Internship Ceremony is a Sports Day / An event continuing since 1995, where volunteers within the company form a project team to prepare. In the process of aiming for victory as a team, members can show their true selves without reservation and deepen mutual understanding.
Quarterly Employee Training Trips / All employees participate to share policies and hold award ceremonies. Communication is also emphasized here, with efforts made to facilitate interaction among employees who do not usually interact.
Trust between Boss and Subordinate / We believe that building trust between bosses and subordinates is the most important key to preventing turnover. We focus on talent development, and over 56% of employees (according to an internal survey conducted in September 2025) aspire to management positions.
Shuffle Dinner / A system where the company covers the cost of dining events involving three or more departments. In 2025, 2,000 such events were held, and their effects are evident.
Company Newsletter / First published in 1995. It continues to be issued quarterly with the aim of internal communication. It is a proud company newsletter that has won awards in national company newsletter competitions.
Speech Culture / Opportunities are provided to express thoughts and ideas on various occasions, promoting mutual understanding.
In-house Bar (Will Bar) / A space symbolizing the "dialogue" culture since the company's founding.
4. Multifaceted Utilization of "Will Bar," a Hub for Interaction
Will Bar at the head office (Takarazuka City) Will Bar at the Shin-Atsuta branch (Nagoya City)
The in-house bar space "Will Bar" is not merely a social gathering place but is utilized in all aspects of frontline operations. Head office (Takarazuka City).
Keywords: (empty)