Health Management Initiatives

Health Management at JAST

Health Management Declaration

In recognition of the fact that managing the promotion of employee health is a priority issue for the long-term, sustained growth of the JAST Group, we will work to maintain and improve employee health, corporate productivity and employee job satisfaction.

October 1, 2019
President and CEO
  Takeaki Hirabayashi

External evaluation

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi have recognized JAST as an outstanding organization in the area of employee health management by certifying us as a “Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (large enterprise category)” in both 2021 and 2022 under their Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organization Certification System.

Health Promotion System

We plan and implement health promotion activities centered on our Health Management Promotion Secretariat.
The Secretariat works in conjunction with the Health Committee and Event Committee, comprised of members from the different business divisions, to implement measures which raise employee awareness of health, promote communication through health-related events and contribute to health promotion.

JAST’s Health Management Journey

Looking Ahead

  • (1) We will use the health management system newly introduced in 2021 to drive a PDCA cycle involving “clarification of health issues,” “establishment of KPI,” “enhancement of measures” and “verification of effectiveness.”
  • (2) The establishment of the JAST Health Insurance Society will allow for smoother coordination with the health insurance society, improving the implementation rate of specific health guidance and the realization of collaborative health.

A Look at the Numbers: Initiatives and Targets (KPI)

Regular health examinations and stress checks

  Target 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Regular health examinations Examination rate 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99.9%
Re-examinations 100% 91.1% 89.0% 89.9% 85.0% 86.8%
Stress checks Testing rate ≥90% 94.1% 92.2% 91.5% 93.3% 93.8%
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Average monthly total hours worked / Average monthly overtime hours worked

  2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Average monthly total hours worked 155.1 153.7 150.8 145.7 143.7
Average monthly overtime hours worked 18.0 16.2 14.4 18.3 18.6
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Average annual paid leave utilization rate / Average annual paid leave days taken

  2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Average annual paid leave utilization rate 67.4% 73.8% 70.5% 64.2% 61.9%
Average annual paid leave days taken 11.7 12.7 12.1 10.7 10.5
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Health Management Measures

Creating Safe, Healthy and Employee-friendly Workplaces

Health Committee

The Health Committee reviews working hours data, shares information and opinions about seasonal topics and seeks medical advice from occupational health physicians.

Engagement improvement measures

Twice-a-year engagement questionnaire

This questionnaire is used to survey employee satisfaction relative to their expectations for their workplaces, and the results are provided to the workplaces as feedback.
The workplaces then create and implement action plans as part of a cycle of workplace improvement.

Work-life balance

Annual paid leave utilization promotion

As part of our efforts to promote use of annual paid leave, recommended days for taking paid leave are scheduled and employees are encouraged to take memorial leave.

Development of a telework system

In order to increase work style options to better fit employees’ lifestyles, we have maintained a telework system since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elimination of long working hours with “Kaeru! JAST”

“Kaeru! JAST” is an independently established labor practices program which has been in place at JAST since the 2009 fiscal year, and it is aimed at ensuring employees can effectively utilize their personal time, and at fostering a more relaxed workplace environment.

Short working hours system

This system is used to help employees balance their childcare (up to the third grade in elementary school) and nursing care responsibilities with their work responsibilities.

Communication promotion

Family appreciation day and company-wide events (sports days, BBQs, fishing trips, etc.)

We host a variety of events and maintain a variety of leave systems as part of a robust framework intended to help each person live his or her best life.
*Carried out with due consideration of the COVID-19 epidemic situation

COVID-19 infection control measures

Restriction of in-office work

In consideration of the COVID-19 epidemic situation, we maintain a telework system and limit the number of people who can be in the office.

Work style allowance

Employees receive a monthly allowance to help them offset increased costs, such as lighting, heat and PC environmental maintenance, which accompany working from home.

Vaccination leave

We provide special paid leave as support for employee vaccination.

Physical Health

Expansion of health examination items

Employees receive health examination subsidies from the Company and health insurance society for health examinations which cover the same items as multiphasic health screenings and include gynecological examinations.

Health education

Individual consultations with a public health nurse

Starting in fiscal year 2021, we have provided employees with personal consultations with a public health nurse about the results of their health examinations. The aim of this is to equip every employee with skills that will enable them to take appropriate action for the sake of their health.

Group education (training)

Health management training, women’s participation support forum, etc.

Health events

Walking events

Since 2020, we have held walking events coordinated through a smartphone application as a way of ensuring telework does not result in a lack of exercise.
Employees can participate not only as individuals but as teams as well, which also serves to encourage workplace communication.

Functional improvement stretching

As a means of facilitating improved job performance, employees are taught stretches which they can do in between tasks and at home which will help alleviate lower back pain and shoulder stiffness.

Event for quitting smoking

For approximately 10 days after International No Smoking Day, we host an open chat as part of an event for quitting smoking which features opinion exchange between smokers and non-smokers and the sharing of tobacco-related information.

Change in the number of non-smokers

Mental Health

Prevention, early detection and early treatment

Group education (training)

Mental health training, harassment training, etc., for managers

Counseling while on leave of absence

In order to help accelerate the recovery of employees who have taken leave due to mental health struggles, as well as to prevent reoccurrences, we provide employees with regular consultations with public health nurses and licensed psychologists while on leave.

Rehabilitation program to help with returning to work

When employees return to work after a leave of absence, both they and their bosses may feel a sense of anxiousness. In order to ensure peace of mind for all parties, a support program is provided which establishes a rehabilitation period prior to an employee’s official return to work.