Uniquely Resolving New Employees' Anxiety About "Fitting In": WWWave's Practice of "Strategic Internal Communication"

With the April hiring season, many new employees experience anxiety about new environments and human relationships.

WWWave Corporation (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kota Sekiguchi), which operates electronic comic and anime production businesses, is promoting "strategic internal communication initiatives" to enhance psychological safety and overcome these initial hurdles for new hires.

Our company, which upholds the corporate philosophy of "members continuing to grow until age 65," implements unique internal events that utilize work hours, going beyond mere social gatherings.

Through these efforts, we are creating an environment where new employees can confidently demonstrate their abilities.

About WWWave's Internal Communication

Our company, which started with 3 members at its establishment in 2010, has now grown to approximately 230 members. However, with organizational expansion, there is a concern that issues such as "vertical silos" among employees and a "decline in a sense of belonging" may arise.

Furthermore, creating an environment where new employees can smoothly integrate into this expanded organization and demonstrate their capabilities has become an urgent task.

We aim to solve these challenges through "strategic internal communication," leading to the creation of accidental innovation, prevention of employee turnover, and the establishment of a strong organizational foundation.

 

As a result, over 70% of members responded that "the existence of internal events is one of the reasons they want to continue working at this company."

"Company-wide Event Day" with approximately 150 employees participating, halting operations

Approximately once every three months, we hold a "Company-wide Event Day" where all employees temporarily halt their work. With approximately 220 employees currently, this has become a large-scale internal event with about 150 participants each time.

By intentionally holding it during work hours, rather than typical drinking parties or holiday events, we create an environment where everyone, including employees with childcare responsibilities, can participate.

This event is positioned as an "organizational investment" that promotes interaction across departments and positions, enhancing organizational unity.

Internal Sports Festival where "communication volume" wins, not physical strength

One of the popular events on Event Day is an internal sports festival with original rules.

Unlike general sports, the aim is to promote team building across departments and positions by designing it to naturally increase "communication volume."

【Example Competitions】

  · Giant Baton Relay

    A competition where teams carry a baton approximately 2 meters long.

    It's difficult to handle alone, requiring natural communication among team members.

  · Egg-shaped Large Ball Rolling

    Using an unstable-shaped ball leads to unpredictable movements,

    requiring cooperative play where teams support each other.

  · Chanbara (Sword Fighting Game)

    A simple competition of breaking paper balloons, but everyone, regardless of position, participates seriously.

Building Relationships with "Sweets and Small Talk" - Nordic Culture "Fika"

Once a month, we hold "Fika," a time to enjoy casual conversation during work hours.

Fika is a coffee break culture popular in Nordic countries, a custom of spending relaxed time around sweets and drinks.

At WWWave, approximately 60 people participate each time, and it functions as a "lubricant" to promote communication between departments through casual conversation.

"Diagonal Relationships" Connected by Hobbies

To promote interaction among employees, we have also introduced a club and circle system.

Currently, a total of 31 groups are active, including 23 clubs and 8 circles, such as the "DJ Club," "Light Music Club," and "Video Game Club."

The company provides 2,000 yen per person per session as activity funds, allowing participation without financial burden.

These hobby-based communities create "diagonal relationships" that transcend departments and positions, leading to easier consultation in daily work.

WWWave Corporation

WWWave Corporation is a digital entertainment company with the mission of "creating unprecedented感動 (kando - deep emotion/inspiration) in the world through IT x content" and "pursuing worlds and expressions only possible through entertainment."

In addition to producing electronic comics and operating the electronic comic distribution service "ComicFesta," the company also produces anime through its animation label "DereGula" and operates the anime distribution service "AnimeFesta."

Furthermore, it is actively expanding globally with overseas electronic comic distribution service "Coolmic" and anime distribution service "OceanVeil," and is proactively entering new businesses, pursuing the possibilities of entertainment.

Company Name: WWWave Corporation

Representative: Kota Sekiguchi, Representative Director

Location: Sunshine 60 15F, 3-1-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Established: April 9, 2010

Capital: 73 million yen

URL: https://wwwave.jp/