The Experience of Being Supported is Key to Motivation to Work - Carica Representative Director to Lecture on July 31 -

Carica, a general incorporated association, provides disability welfare services in Soka City, Saitama Prefecture, and Adachi Ward, Tokyo, promoting a disability employment model that emphasizes relationships, roles, and experiences of contribution, and is working to improve motivation to work.

Appearing at Job Supporter Training

We are pleased to announce that our representative will be a lecturer at the "2026 Fiscal Year Saitama Job Supporter Training Basic Course" on July 31, 2024. This training is an online course for individuals involved in disability employment at employment support institutions, companies, etc. Mr. Matsuoka will be in charge of "Understanding the Social Welfare System," where he will explain not only the basics of the welfare system necessary in the field of disability employment but also how to connect the system, daily life, and community resources to support the individual's ability to work. Date: July 31, 2024 Format: Real-time online training Target Audience: Employment support institutions, personnel involved in disability employment Participation Fee: Free Lecture Topic: "Understanding the Social Welfare System" Organizer: Saitama Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture Comprehensive Support Center for Persons with Disabilities, Employment Support Division

URL: https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/a0816/syougai-map/sonotanojigyou.html

Training Flyer

While the expansion of disability employment is called for, companies face challenges in providing post-hiring support and creating an environment where individuals can continue to work with peace of mind.

Image of Workplace Retention Support in Disability Employment

From July 1, 2026, the statutory employment rate for persons with disabilities for private companies was raised from 2.5% to 2.7%. Amidst the demand for increased disability employment, not only hiring but also post-employment retention and creating an environment for continued work have become more important than ever. However, challenges remain in achieving stable employment and improving motivation to work for individuals with mental disabilities.

Carica views the motivation to work for individuals with mental disabilities not solely as a result of their own efforts or strength of will, but as something nurtured within their relationships with family, supporters, peers, workplace, and community. In particular, we believe that experiences of "supporting others" and "feeling useful" are crucial elements that support motivation to work and the quality of professional life, in addition to experiences of "being supported."

In this training, Mr. Matsuoka will explain how to create an environment that supports workplace retention and motivation to work in disability employment, drawing on his research on the quality of professional life for working individuals with mental disabilities.

Challenges in Employing Individuals with Mental Disabilities Revealed by Original Research

Mr. Matsuoka conducted a survey on 184 individuals with mental disabilities working in companies, covering their quality of professional life, life background, connections, leisure, and social support. This survey was conducted in 2015 and presented at a conference in 2017. Although it is not the latest survey, it offers insights that can inform current practices when considering "support for continued employment" for individuals with mental disabilities.

The survey found that the average age of respondents was 38.9 years, with the prime working age of their 30s forming the core group. Part-time employment was the most common at 70.3%, with only 3.3% being regular employees. The average working hours were 6 hours per day, 4.6 days per week, totaling 27.9 hours per week. The average number of job changes was 4.2, indicating significant difficulty not only in starting work but also in continuing to work.

Furthermore, regarding social interactions on holidays, 41.3% of respondents answered that they "spent time alone," while 0% answered that they "spent time with people from work." This result suggests that even individuals with mental disabilities who are employed may have difficulty maintaining social connections outside of the workplace.

Additionally, an analysis of the relationship between leisure activities and depressive symptoms revealed a statistically significant difference. Those who spent time alone tended to have higher depressive symptoms compared to those who did not (Z = 2.94, p < .01). On the other hand, those who spent time with friends tended to have lower depressive symptoms compared to those who did not (Z = 2.936, p < .01). These findings suggest that supporting the professional lives of individuals with mental disabilities requires not only workplace support but also fostering social connections during holidays and leisure time, and building relationships to prevent isolation.

Experiences of "Supporting" as Well as "Being Supported" Foster Motivation to Work

This survey also confirmed the relationship between social support in the workplace and intrinsic motivation, i.e., motivation to work. The results showed that individuals receiving emotional support, such as "being able to consult" and "being encouraged," tended to have higher intrinsic motivation than those who did not.

Statistically significant differences were observed in receiving emotional support such as "being able to consult" and "being encouraged" (t = 2.38, df = 169.4, p < .05). A significant difference was also found in providing emotional support, such as "consulting with someone" and "encouraging someone" (t = 2.30, df = 73.8, p < .05).

These results suggest that in addition to receiving emotional support, having experiences of supporting others oneself may enhance intrinsic motivation.

Specifically, providing emotional support in the workplace, such as "consulting with colleagues" and "encouraging them," leads to a sense of making a positive impact on others. This is also a feeling of having relationships and roles within the workplace environment and gaining experiences of contribution.

In other words, for individuals with mental disabilities, having experiences of "feeling useful to someone" in the workplace, rather than just being supported, may lead to regaining confidence and developing motivation to work.

However, not everyone can immediately take on the role of supporting someone in the workplace. First, it is important to create a workplace where individuals can consult with peace of mind, where relationships allow for recovery from mistakes, and where accomplishments can be mutually acknowledged.

Motivation to Work and Comparison with Various Social Supports

Specific Measures Companies Can Take

Therefore, in employing individuals with mental disabilities, companies can consider the following measures:

- Provide thorough orientation upon joining the company. - Centralize consultation points. - Implement OJT to allow for gradual learning of tasks. - Build relationships that encourage early consultation when problems arise. - Focus on acknowledging what has been accomplished, rather than solely evaluating the individual. - Collaborate with support institutions to avoid shouldering all burdens within the workplace. - Create opportunities for individuals to take on small roles. - Increase opportunities to express "Thank you" and "That was helpful."

Of course, in disability employment, it is not about trying to resolve everything within the workplace after hiring. It is also necessary to have a perspective that supports the individual's overall life by collaborating with support institutions and community resources that were connected before employment.

In supporting the employment of individuals with mental disabilities, the focus often tends to be solely on "whether the individual has the motivation to work."

However, regardless of disability status, motivation to work does not naturally develop solely within the individual. We believe it is gradually nurtured through secure relationships, expected roles, and the experience of "feeling useful to someone."

In this training, we will organize "the basics of the social welfare system" and explain how to utilize it not just as knowledge, but to connect the individual's professional life, community resources, and workplace environment.

Future Outlook

Carica is currently collaborating with over 20 partner companies, primarily in Adachi Ward and Soka City, to create opportunities for individuals with mental disabilities to gain work experience, have roles, and foster relationships within the community.

In the future, we will further expand collaboration with regional companies, government agencies, medical institutions, consultation support organizations, and educational institutions to build a seamless support system that connects pre-employment, during employment, and post-employment.

Carica aims to expand its partner companies to 40 within three years and contribute to creating a society where people with disabilities can work and have roles in the community as ordinary members, supporting each other, rather than being seen as special.

Furthermore, we will promote the creation of an environment where individuals with mental disabilities can continue to work with peace of mind through disability employment consultations for companies, training for support institutions, and community collaboration initiatives.

Contact for Corporate Training Managers

For consultations regarding employment of individuals with mental disabilities, workplace retention support, collaboration with support institutions, corporate training, and media inquiries, please contact us at the following:

Email: [email protected]

References

Hiroki Matsuoka and Jun Yaeada, "A Study on the Quality of Working Life (QWL) of Working Individuals with Mental Disabilities." Journal of the Japan Association for Rehabilitation Collaboration Science, Vol. 18, Program and Abstracts, p. 54, March 2017.

Corporate Profile

Organization Name: Carica, General Incorporated Association Established: January 2017 Representative Director: Hiroki Matsuoka

Office Locations:

- Carica Soka: 4th/5th Floor, Matsu Royal Building, 1-1-12 Chuo, Soka City, Saitama Prefecture TEL 048 (954) 7670

- Carica Adachi: 6th Floor A, J-Pro Kita-Senju Building, 1-11-2 Senju, Adachi Ward, Tokyo TEL 03 (6806) 2616 Business Activities: Employment Transition Support, Independent Training (Life Training), Employment Retention Support, Employment Choice Support

Author: Hiroki Matsuoka

As a social worker, I have been engaged in employment support services for many years. What I feel is that the welfare field still lacks evidence-based practices and is often based on the practitioner's personal beliefs. As evidence-based work becomes the norm, the welfare practice also needs to adapt to the times. I aim to create a facility where people with disabilities can feel secure and achieve their dreams, by practicing based on evidence.

Current Position: Representative Director, Carica, General Incorporated Association

Adjunct Associate Professor, Rissho University Qualifications: Certified Social Worker / Certified Psychiatric Social Worker

Award: Keimeikai Award

Location: Japan Women's University