Basic Concept
The Nisshinbo Group considers the promotion of health management to be "the goal of becoming a corporate group that continues to be needed by society through the creation of an environment in which each and every employee can play an active role by promoting the health of employees and the organization," and each group company is engaged in such activities.
Promotion System
Under a system in which the Director and the Chief of the Corporate Strategy Center of Nisshinbo Holdings, Inc. is in charge, the Nisshinbo Group launched the "Group Health Management Department Meeting" in FY2018, which is attended by the persons in charge of the health care divisions of each group company, to promote health management throughout the Group. The meeting is held every September to promote unified activities.
The health policies of each group company are shared. The activities of each company are carried out while respecting their uniqueness as well.
To promote health management based on the Sustainability Promotion Plan, the Group is managing targets and Key performance indicators (KPIs) and implementing measures.
Health Management
The Nisshinbo Group promotes health management throughout the Group. Specifically, the following three health management measures are being promoted as the three pillars of the Nisshinbo Group's activities:
- ① "Individual health": Implement lifestyle improvement measures based on the results of health checkups
- ② "Organizational health": Visualize trends in health checkup results on an organizational basis and identify issues
- ③ "Ensuring the fulfillment of the obligation to give due consideration to safety": Unify the standards for work restrictions throughout the group
Framework for Health Management Measures
Nine companies were certified in the large corporate sector under the Certified Health and Productivity Management Organization Recognition Program, which is designed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and selected by the Japan Health Council. Four companies were certified in the small and medium scale corporate sector under the Certified Health and Productivity Management Organization Recognition Program 2024.
Specific Initiatives of The Nisshinbo Group
In the "Fifth Sustainability Promotion Plan," the Nisshinbo Group has designated cultivation of employee health as a key action items and are working to promote health management. The Group is working to achieve the following KPI targets: ① Rate of patients receiving detailed examinations after regular health checkups, 85% or more, and ② Implementation rate of health guidance for high-risk workers, 100%. In addition, in FY2023, as in FY2022, based on the concept of "protecting the health of workplaces and employees and enhancing productivity through health management measures," the following activities were promoted.
- ① Improvement of the ratio of employees found to have lifestyle-related diseases
- ② Reduction of overall health risks through stress checks
- ③ Prepare health management reports that quantify the health status of employees
- ④ Industrial health personnel from group companies coordinate to conduct health awareness activities
Improvement of Lifestyle Habits
Based on the results of regular health checkups, the Nisshinbo Group is working to improve the lifestyle of employees at each group company to "reduce the smoking rate," "promote exercise habits," and "increase the percentage of employees who get enough rest through sleep."
Activities to reduce smoking rate
- ① Reviewing the operation of smoking areas, such as removing indoor smoking rooms and shortening the hours of use of smoking areas
- ② Providing subsidies for outpatient smoking cessation, incentives to quit smoking and smoking cessation support service assistance
- ③ Seminars on smoking cessation by industrial and other physicians
- ④ Displaying posters on World No Tobacco Day and smoking cessation
Promotional activities for exercise habits
- ① Holding events to encourage walking (exercise)
- ② Holding sporting events (bowling tournaments etc.)
- ③ Hands-on health exhibitions by occupational health personnel
- ④ Participation in exercise experience of private business (Web-based exercise seminars by instructors, yoga classes, and other exercise activities)
- ⑤ Promoting the use of stairs
- ⑥ Implementation of workplace exercises
- ⑦ Providing information on exercise, such as introducing walking courses
- ⑧ Holding seminars on exercise habits by industrial and other physicians
Activities to increase the percentage of people who get enough rest through sleep
- ① Providing information on shift work, mental and physical health management, and sleep
- ② Seminars on sleep by industrial and other physicians
Mental Health Care
The Nisshinbo Group implements the following initiatives at each group company.
- ① Interviews with industrial physicians for high-stress employees
- ② Mental health interviews by supervisors
- ③ Mental health counseling
- ④ Workplace Improvement Using Work Stress Judgment Chart
- ⑤ Providing information on stress measures and mental health
- ⑥ Providing information on harassment
- ⑦ Providing information on promotion of communication in the workplace
- ⑧ Seminars on mental health by industrial and other physicians
Promotion of Collaborative Health Care by Each Health Insurance Association and the Company
In line with the company's promotion of health management, health insurance associations are also working together with the company to improve the lifestyle of subscribers and to prevent illness.
Specific examples of collaborative health are as follows:
- ① Motivational support for specific health guidance
- ② Assistance with the cost of outpatient smoking cessation and smoking cessation support services
- ③ Sponsorship of walking events
- ④ Subsidies for influenza vaccination costs
- ⑤ Dental checkups
Promoting understanding of women's health-related issues
Nisshinbo Group believes that improving the understanding of women's health-related issues and creating an environment in which women can work comfortably will lead to improved performance by women; therefore, Nisshinbo Group implemented e-learning education for women's health-related issues in FY2023 with the aim of ensuring that managers have the correct knowledge. In FY2024, promotional activities are planned on the theme of menopause.
Specific Activities of the Group Companies
Health Lectures for Executives
In September 2023, Japan Radio Co., Ltd. held a lecture on the following four essentials of health management with an industrial physician as the lecturer under the theme of "What advantages does health management have for the company?"
- ① Importance of considering employee health management from a managerial perspective
- ② The significance of strategically implementing health management
- ③ The fact that investing in employee health based on the corporate philosophy will lead to improved employee vitality
- ④ The expected improvement in business performance as a result of health management
The industrial physician commented that the executives seemed to take the lecture positively and understood the importance of health management. After the lecture, the executives asked many questions about other companies' absence measures, the importance of presenteeism, and the need for sleep during lunch breaks, which showed that the executives were seriously thinking about health management.
By continuing to hold lectures like this one, Japan Radio Co., Ltd. aims to achieve a better workplace environment by sharing the importance of health management with executives while raising the awareness of the importance of health management throughout the company.
Walking Events
Japan Radio Co., Ltd. is offering a walking event as an annual event starting in September 2023, replacing the previously offered "+10 Walking Health Promotion Event." Participants can register and join at any time and earn benefit points based on the number of steps they take each month. (Average of 12,000 steps per month: 500 points; 9,000 steps: 400 points; 7,000 steps: 300 points)
Walking events offer the benefits of health promotion, stress reduction, social interaction, and motivation as part of self-management of health. Participants also have the opportunity to interact with other participants, make new friends, and help manage individual health. The company hopes to continue the walking events in the future and will implement new initiatives to promote employee health.
Relaxation Yoga Seminar
Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd. held its first yoga seminar under the theme of "Relaxation and Refreshment of Mind and Body." A total of 86 employees from the Nagano Japan Radio Group participated in the seminar, where they were able to relax their minds and bodies through slow breathing exercises and movements.
One participant who experienced yoga for the first time commented, "I was not interested in yoga because I had an image that yoga was for women, but I am glad I had the opportunity to try it. I am now doing yoga for 15 minutes every morning while watching videos on a video streaming site." Another said, "For the first time, I understood the feeling of loosening up."
When busy with daily work, employees often spend time in a state of tension both physically and mentally, but being able to better turn on and off the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves can help relieve stress and improve work performance. Even for those who have difficulty exercising, yoga and stretching are easy to incorporate into the daily routines and can help prevent muscle weakness and falls. Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd. will continue to plan and hold seminars for the benefit of its employees.
VegCheck Measurement Sessions
Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. conducted the Vegi-Check Measuring Session as one of its health management measures (realization of a healthy company) with the aim of improving dietary habits and changing behavior toward vegetable intake by having participants check their own estimated vegetable intake.
The company rented the Vegi-Check measuring device for one month; the device can measure estimated vegetable intake in about 30 seconds by placing the palm of the hand on the sensor. Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. conducted measurement sessions at each business location at no charge for participation, resulting in 1,121 participants (about 50% of all employees). Participants commented: "It is good to see the vegetable intake level and estimated vegetable intake in numerical values"; "It promoted communication since each department competed with each other for numerical values"; "I would like to see periodic measurement of vegetable intake"; and "I would like to see periodic measurements."
Based on the company's health management strategy map, Nisshinbo Micro Devices Inc. will continue to plan and implement activities for health promotion while confirming the needs of employees through questionnaires and other means.
Employee Hygiene Promotion Project
Nisshinbo Micro Devices (Thailand) Co., Ltd. implemented a hygiene promotion project from January to December 2023 to promote employee health.
The company's factory nurses monitored and recorded daily blood pressure and provided advice on health conditions as part of a stress management program. The company's health management system is now in full swing. In addition, in January 2023, a team of nurses and physiotherapists from Haripunchai Anusorn Hospital in Lamphun organized a variety of training courses, including sessions on musculoskeletal disorders.
In addition, in May 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Department organized a training course on mental health for employees who have stress problems. The course was taught by Professor Nicom Onlamai from the Center for Business and Human Resource Development on managing and taking care of mental and physical health in order to work safely and happily.
In July 2023, a training was held on muscle relaxation to reduce work fatigue. A team of nurses and physiotherapists from Hariphunchai Memorial Lumphun Hospital was invited to give lectures to employees on reducing the risk of diseases and on boosting immunity, how to exercise properly, factors that cause fatigue, and how to prevent symptoms that may arise from work and daily life. The team also practiced periorbital massage.
In addition, in December 2023, professional-level safety officers held training on occupational and environmental diseases for employees who work with hot and loud machinery and with chemicals in accordance with the law.
Worker Health Management Through Health Promotion Programs
Saeron Automotive Corporation in Korea has been conducting unannounced inspections of protective equipment twice a month since January 2023 for those who need to be monitored or have findings based on the results of 2022 medical checkups.
Based on the results of the health checkups, protective equipment that must be worn has been classified and managed. For all workers with hearing findings, a hearing conservation program has been implemented to ensure that earplugs and earmuffs are provided and are worn.
Since February 2023, Saeron Automotive Corporation has been providing health counseling to those who require medical checkups or have findings. Initially, a nurse and a doctor from the local company-designated hospital (Cheonan Chungmu Hospital) visited the workers to provide consultations, but the consultation rate was low among workers with health checkup findings, so the company made it mandatory for those workers who need health consultations at least once a year.
In addition, health consultations for employees by visiting doctors and nurses from company-designated hospitals were provided to all eligible employees in 2023.
Health Fair
Nisshinbo Automotive Manufacturing Inc. of the United States holds an annual health fair.
The Health Fair is an activity designed to provide health support to the company's employees, provide basic information on prevention, and offer basic health screenings. The health fair also raises awareness of health risks by launching new wellness initiatives, sharing health education information, and offering preventive screenings and vaccinations.
In addition to raising health awareness through the health fair, the company offered new coronavirus infection and flu shots to all employees, as well as other health awareness activities and screenings (blood pressure, sugar levels, health insurance counseling, etc.). A farmer's market was also held at the same site where fresh produce was sold, and participating employees could visit vendors and stamp their own Health Card Passports, which they could then redeem for fresh fruits and vegetables when all the stamps were filled.
Mental Health Initiatives
Once a year, Nisshinbo Mechatronics Inc. conducts mental health interviews between supervisors and subordinates for all employees, including those on loan to overseas bases.
In addition to daily line care, individual interviews help to promote communication. In addition to discussing work-related concerns, the interviews provide an opportunity to communicate on a wide range of topics, such as problems within the company, interpersonal relationships at work, recent interests, and how employees spend their days off. The opportunity for one-on-one conversations with supervisors away from work helps to deepen mutual understanding and improve communication within the workplace. Through the interviews, for employees who have concerns, Nisshinbo Mechatronics Inc. works with industrial physicians to help prevent or detect mental health problems in the early stage.
Female Health Training
In April 2023, Nisshinbo Mechatronics India Private Limited in India invited an obstetrician/gynecologist as an external lecturer to provide female health training in response to the increasing number of female employees.
The participants learned the importance of maintaining hygiene and a healthy lifestyle through guidance on women's health and wellness, as well as the causes and symptoms of women-specific diseases, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (POCS). In addition to proper diet and nutrition and moderate exercise, employees were instructed to get the proper amount of sleep and rest and to avoid stress so that they can have healthy bodies and lead fulfilling lives.
