Annual Stress Check

■What is an Annual Stress Check System?

　In recent years, an increasing number of workers have developed mental disorders due to intense stress from their jobs and have required compensation by Industrial Accident Insurance. Preventing stress-related health problems among workers has become an increasingly important issue.
　In response to this, the Stress Check System was newly established by “Act No. 82 of amendments of the Industrial Safety and Health Act (Act No. 82 of 2014)” promulgated on June 25.  It is a series of measures at workplaces covered in Article 66-10 of the Industrial Safety and Health Act, which includes a test to measure workers’ mental stress levels (“Stress Check”) and counseling with a doctor based on the results.
(Effective December 1, 2015)

■Purpose

The purpose of the Stress Check is to understand workers’ stress levels, encourage them to be  aware of their own stress, and to create an employee-friendly workplace as a primary prevention against stress-related health problems.


■Outline

It is an obligation for employers to conduct the Stress Check by a physician, health worker, etc. regularly to understand employed workers’ mental stress levels.
　The results of the Stress Check are notified directly to the individual by the physician, health worker, etc. who conducted the check, and it is prohibited to provide the results to an employer without the consent of the individual.
　Depending on the results of the check, it is the employer’s duty to provide counseling with a physician if a worker who meets certain requirements requests it.
　Any disadvantageous treatment against workers who request counseling is also prohibited.
　Based on the results of counseling, the employer is obligated to obtain the physician's opinion and take employment-related measures as necessary.
　　However, the following measures are prohibited:
　　1. Dismissal
　　2. Not renewing contracts for fixed-term workers
　　3. Recommending resignation to workers
　　4. Ordering reassignment or demotion, etc. that may be judged to have been made with an improper motive or purpose
　　5. Taking other measures that violate the Labor Contract Law (Law No. 128 of 2007) and other labor-related laws and regulations.


■Institute of Science Tokyo Stress Check

<Contact>
Employee Benefits and Payroll Division
Email：shoku.kenshin@jim.titech.ac.jp
Ext: 3695