Many companies schedule employees’ regular health examinations in the autumn, but they often forget to follow necessary procedures after checkups. This article explains what companies should do when workers received “physicians’ findings” after a checkup.
[1] Procedure for workers who received “physicians’ findings”
Employees’ checkup results may include “physicians’ findings” about their health. In such case, the company must hear a physician’s opinion on whether special measures are required for the employee to continue normal work and have the opinion described in the examination results. The chart below shows what measures must be taken based on the opinion.
If considered necessary, companies must examine the employee’s situation and take action as needed and report the physician’s opinion to their health committees.
Chart: Medical opinions and required actions
|
Opinions on work |
Required actions |
|
|
Category |
Description |
|
|
Normal work |
The employee may continue normal work. |
N/A |
|
Work restrictions |
Work restrictions are required. |
Lighten workload by reducing working hours, restricting business trips or overtime work, reducing or changing assignments, changing place of work, reducing late-night work, changing to daytime shift, etc. |
|
Leave for treatment required |
The employee must take leave. |
Have the worker take days-off or a leave of absence for recovery. |
[2] Re-examination, detailed examination
Companies may wonder about their responsibilities regarding employees who need to take further examination. Unlike regular checkups, companies are not legally responsible for workers’ re-examination or in-depth work-up. However, the Labor Ministry’s policy on the measures to be taken after health examinations states that firms should make efforts to recommend their employees receive necessary re-examination or work-up.
[3] Submission of checkup reports
Companies with 50 or more regular employees are required to submit annual checkup reports to the Labor Standards Inspection Office without delay. From January 2025, the report must be submitted through the government’s electronic application system.
A survey by the Labor Standards Inspection Office has found some companies received corrective guidance for failing to hear a physician’s opinion after a regular checkup. Please be sure to take necessary steps after receiving checkup reports.
[Reference]
The Labour Ministry, “Measures after regular employee checkup in accordance with the Industrial Safety and Health Act”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/new-info/kobetu/roudou/gyousei/anzen/dl/100331-1a.pdf
“Items of the Reports of Worker’s Death, Illness or Injuries will be revised and electronic report will become mandatory from January 2025”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11200000/001281755.pdf
“Guidelines on the measures that employers must take based on the results of health examinations (Revised on April 2017, Notice of the guidelines on measures regarding health examination results, No. 9)”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/hourei/doc/kouji/K170417K0020.pdf
The information is valid as of the date of the original article.
