South Korea’s retail giant Lotte Group decided to introduce a system called PC-Off that enables automatic shutdown of computers after work and during holidays to all of its affiliates starting next year to prevent unnecessary overtime work and improve work conditions.

The group’s corporate culture committee announced Wednesday that it will expand the PC-Off system currently applied to its 19 units to all of its affiliates and introduce Mobile-Off policy that bans work-related orders through mobile messages or emails during off-hours in phases next year. The decision was part of its efforts to tackle the criticisms that have been thrown at the group for poor working conditions compared to other local rivals.

The committee also plans to employ an external consulting firm to routinely check the group’s work culture. An official from Lotte said the measure aims to enhance company culture in an effective manner through an objective evaluation.

By Lee Han-na and Choi Mira

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