Employee Well-Being in Japan’s Workplaces
Every company wants workers who are healthy and ready to do their best. But employees are human, not machines. Sometimes people come to work feeling tired or worried about problems at home or at work. These worries can make it difficult for them to focus and perform well.
In Japan, the well-being of workers is becoming more important. Employers, the government, and society are all paying attention to this issue. Let’s look at three main forces that affect employee well-being in Japanese companies: following the rules, supporting employee health, and building a positive workplace culture.
Following the Rules
Since 2015, Japanese law has required companies with 50 or more workers to give employees a “stress check” once a year (Kawakami & Tsutsumi, 2016). This check is a short questionnaire about psychosocial stress. The word psychosocial has two parts:
・psycho means thoughts, feelings, stress, and personality
・social means family, work, culture, and society
For example, a psychosocial problem could be stress caused by poor relationships with coworkers. The Stress Check Program, started in December 2015, has three goals:
1. Help workers understand their own stress through surveys and feedback
2. Improve the work environment by looking at group results and reducing stress factors
3. Find workers at high risk and connect them with doctors early
If a doctor believes that an employee has a high level of stress, the doctor can recommend a full medical check. If the employee agrees, the company must pay for this evaluation (Ogawa, Kishida, & Takeda, n.d.).
Not caring for employee well-being can be costly. Companies may face legal problems, lose money, or damage their reputation. In Japan, lawsuits have already shown how serious workplace stress can be. This is why following the rules is very important.
Supporting Employee Health
Many Japanese companies now see that helping workers stay healthy is good for both people and business. Healthy, happy employees can do their jobs better and reach their goals. When workers are stressed, depressed, or sick, they may take many days off. This absenteeism slows down work and reduces productivity. To prevent this, companies are offering more support, such as counseling services, workshops on stress management, and support groups where employees can share experiences.
Building a Positive Workplace Culture
Employee well-being is not only about following laws or saving money. It is also about creating a workplace where people feel respected and valued. When companies show they care about their workers, employees feel motivated and more willing to do their best. They also trust their employer more, which strengthens relationships between staff and management. The Japanese Bankers Association, representing 241 members, adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations in 2015. They have sought to develop workplaces that are compatible with childcare and work-life balance by providing options such as telework, restrictions on transfer locations, and the fostering of career growth based on an individual’s characteristics and preferences.
Well-Being: A Competitive Advantage
Organizations learn from one another so that they can be competitive. As more employees express a preference for organizations that prioritize the well-being of employees, it is likely that more and more companies will heed the words of Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines, who said, “Your employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the customers, and your customers will come back.”
Written by Everett Ofori