Japan fared worst in global work related health survey

By carole goldsmith | Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008

By Carole Goldsmith Copyright 2009 All rights reserved

In a global work related employee health survey of approximately 115,000 people in 33 countries covering Europe, Asia Pacific and America, Japan fared the worst internationally, with 60% of Japanese respondents having suffered from work-related health problems. Canada followed at 47%, then Ukraine (42%), Finland (37%), Hong Kong (33%), Hungary (33%), Russia (32%) and Turkey (30%) – all well above the global average of 19%.

This Kelly Global Workforce Survey conducted early in 2008 examined a number of issues relating to work and personal health, including sick leave, employee benefits and employer responsibility.

Regarding Japan’s results, it has long been widely known that Japanese people work and are expected to work long hours, because everyone else in their group is staying back on the job.

The familiar voice of the salary man, manager or office lady, “I can’t go home early because, no one else does, so I must stay until the work is done or at least until everyone else decides it is time to go home. And then we all must go for a drink after work and it may be 8PM and we have been in the office since 9AM, as it is our duty to have a drink with our work colleagues and manager. Then we have to travel home on the train for one hour and we never see our children / familiy during the week, but we must accept that as our role in our company.”

Sounds familiar to you - what would happen if you said NO and went home at 6PM and spent time with your family? You would certainly feel healthier and have more reason for living rather than just work..work..and more work. But you worry what your colleagues and boss will think and then how can you fit into the group….a constant worry on many Japanese worker’s minds.

Getting back to the Kelly survey, in the survey question “Do you believe your work makes you ill or unhealthy?”- 60 % of Japanese respondents said Yes. The least affected were Australia, India and New Zealand (all at 10%) with Mexico (9%) and Indonesia (11%). On average across the 33 countries, 19% of respondents say their job makes them ill or unhealthy

Thirty % of respondents worldwide have taken three or more day’s sick leave in the past year, with Japan respondents scoring higher at 41%. The highest was Denmark and Mexico at 50 % and the lowest France (21%) and Spain (16 %).

Only 38 % of Japanese were paid when they took a day’s sick leave compared to top of the list Ukraine (82%), Denmark and Finland (80%) paid with the lowest countries USA (32%) and Sweden (12%) and the global average at 52%.

35% of respondents were made to feel guilty about taking time off when they are sick, with Norway (68%) Denmark (58%) and Japan (56%) topping the list. Italy (21%), Sweden (21%) and Finland (11%) were the least affected.

An overwhelming 70% of all respondents said employers should be responsible for contributing to the health and fitness of their employees. Lowest on the score were respondents from Australia (56%) and Japan (56%) and 48% from USA, with Finland (96%) and Italy (89%) agreeing on the employer’s responsibility for helping employees to keep fit and healthy.

With 60 % of Japanese surveyed saying that work is making them ill or unhealthy, changes are urgently needed in Japanese workplaces to assist employees to feel healthier and not have work make them sick.

The long hours of work and control of employees for most of their working life must be changed. Workers need more time for their family and for their own health and fitness.

Many larger Japanese companies have long provided health, fitness and recreation facilities and activities for employees. But they also need to provide more time for employees to relax and have a time distance from work and adequate work life balance. Encouraging employees to finish work earlier at around 6 PM instead of working through to 8 or 9 PM will assist employees to have more time for their family and themselves.

Maybe this will bring long term positive effects to both the company and employee's health in the not to distant future.

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carole goldsmith's Profile

Hello, I am an international journalist and trainer, teaching journalism, cross culture / business culture, customer service and leadership. I live near the beach in Melbourne, Australia and I travel around Japan for around 4 - 6 weeks each year. Also I have been visiting Japan for over 20 years and I write articles about Australian and Japanese business plus other Asian businesses for Australian, New Zealand Jpaanese and other Asian media. I do editing and proofreading of Japanese company's and individual's written English too. I teach adults in Australia how to travel Japan on a budget and also teach them how to do business with Japanese and other cultures, plus worklife balance, recreation activities, how to lose weight and keep fit and healthy. My website is www.goldsmith-international.com and email is goldor8@iprimus.com.au Have fun, take time for you,work hard but do not be a workaholic and let work consume you. Enjoy every day and laugh every day. cheers Carole Goldsmith

Interests: Yoga, pottery, learning Japanese, swimming, ikebana, movies, traveling Japan, walking with my friends along the beach.

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