Manager at Japanese securities firm claims harassment after taking paternity leave

A division manager at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. has filed a petition with a Tokyo court, demanding that the court nullify the company's order that he be put on unpaid leave after he took paternity leave.

Glen Wood, 47, a sales manager at the firm, filed for a provisional injunction with the Tokyo District Court on Oct. 26, saying that he was put on unpaid leave without a just cause. He claims that he was subject to "paternity harassment," in which fathers who actively take part in raising their children face harassment at workplaces.

According to the petition, after returning to work in March 2016 following his paternity leave, Wood became a victim of workplace harassment such as being excluded from meetings. He then took a leave of absence in January this year after developing depression. After going through treatment, Wood tried to return to work, but the company refused to accept him under the same conditions as before. The firm then put him on leave without pay on Oct. 18.

The Japanese brokerage has declined to comment on the matter, saying that it has not obtained the contents of the petition.

Company president Takashi Nagaoka in May this year showed support for the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's project to increase the number of those in managerial positions who are understanding with employees raising children and declared himself a "parenting-friendly boss."