Companies with 50 or more regular employees are required to conduct stress check for their employees. Smaller firms with less than 50 regular employees are currently required to make efforts to provide stress check, but this condition will be abolished in the future. This article looks at the stress check system and how to make use of it.
[1] Stress check
One major purpose of stress check is to help employees to realize their stress and prevent mental problems.
Stress check must be conducted on regular employees at least once a year. Companies are responsible for offering the opportunity of stress check, while it is up to employees whether they take the check or not.
[2] Flow after the stress check
Stress check results are only notified to the employees. Companies will not be informed of the results without the employees’ consent.
If an employee is found to be under high stress, the company is required to provide a face-to-face guidance by a physician, if requested by the employee. Based on the guidance, the company also needs to implement necessary measures to improve the employee’s working environment.
[3] Use of stress check
In addition to helping workers realize whether they are under work-related stress, stress check is also aimed to encourage companies to improve working environment by using the results for cluster analysis. The health ministry recommends employers conduct cluster analysis of stress check results.
Cluster analysis should be conducted on a group of at least 10 workers. In the case a department is comprised of less than 10 members, it is necessary to expand the group to be analyzed, e.g. by combining multiple departments.
Since cluster analysis can be difficult for companies’ internal staff, it is advisable to employ external organizations, such as the Japan Organization of Occupational Health and Safety (“Sampo Center,”) and receive advice on how to interpret the results from mental health promotion experts.
The stress check system started 10 years ago in December 2025. Companies should take this opportunity to promote employees’ understanding about the need of stress check and encourage them to take it wherever possible. Please also conduct cluster analysis as needed and improve workplace environment.
The Labour Ministry
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/roudoukijun/anzeneisei12/index.html
Japan Organization of Occupational Health and Safety
