HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation today announced the establishment of the ‘Physical Challenge Support Desk’ for employees in Japan. The new consultation service was created to assist disabled employees, and their colleagues and supervisors, by promoting a working environment in which everyone can achieve their full potential.

The ‘Physical Challenge Support Desk’ consultants offer services such as counseling on work-related concerns held by physically challenged Mazda employees to help improve their working environments. The consultants also promote the recruitment of disabled people, support the interaction of differently abled employees through networks, and respond to work-related problems.

Prior to the establishment of the “Physical Challenge Support Desk,” Mazda initiated an enhanced employment program for disabled people with the launch of a special staff recruitment homepage^* on June 27, 2008. Previously focused on hiring technicians, the initiative was expanded in March 2008 to include all types of jobs and is being conducted throughout Japan.

Mazda’s Executive Officer and General Manager in charge of Human Resources, Minoru Mitsuda, said, “The ‘Physical Challenge Support Desk’ was created to promote understanding and cooperation between physically challenged employees and their co-workers, and to encourage everyone to take up the physical challenge of fulfilling their potential. Going forward, Mazda will continue to promote a diverse, inclusive working environment in which employees with various abilities are able to work in harmony, so that we grow together through awareness and understanding in a spirit of ‘mutual learning.’”

* The website to promote the recruitment of physically challenged employees can be viewed at: https://www.mazda.co.jp/corporate/recruit/challenged/ (Japanese only)