The Sanyo Chemical Group aims to further improve corporate value by helping all employees be highly motivated and always try new things, creating an exciting (WakuWaku) company. Therefore, it is essential that each and every employee be healthy. We think working while being in a mentally and physically healthy condition makes employees and their families happy, which also leads to company development. Accordingly, we consider not only the individual’s role in personal healthcare, but also management’s role to participate actively in promoting employees’ health. We established the Health Management Declaration in 2018, to actively promote health and productivity management. We are promoting health by striving to improve employees’ health literacy through the activities of our Health and Productivity management, creating an environment/system where it is easy for everyone to work. Then, we will truly become an exciting (WakuWaku) company.
Health Management Declaration
The physical and mental health of its employees is the company’s greatest asset. The Sanyo Chemical Group will actively support health promotion initiatives to realize a mindful and fulfilling corporate life, respect the diversity of its employees, and enable each individual to achieve self-fulfillment by exercising their independence and creativity, thereby contributing to society through the development of the company.
Akinori Higuchi
Representative Director, President and CEO
Targets and Results
In FY2020, we created a company-wide Health and Productivity Management Strategy Map using an external consultant. In the Health and Productivity Management Strategy Map, we established health investment measures for five health promotion initiatives, set evaluation indicators to verify their effectiveness, and determined target values for FY2025. At the end of FY2021, the health promotion team in each region created a Health and Productivity Management Strategy Map for each region respectively, based on the company-wide strategy map. By planning and implementing not only company-wide measures but also measures unique to each region, we work to make health promotion more prevalent among all employees.
Health and Productivity Management Strategy Map Initiative
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Action goals for the five initiatives
(unit: %)
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| Initiatives | Action goals | FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2025 (Target value) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise | To have an exercise routine at least once a week | 29 | 31 | 50 | 50 | 52 | 70 or above |
| Sleep | To be well rested with sleep | 54 | 57 | 66 | 63 | 61 | 80 or above |
| Diet | To have a balanced diet*1 | - | - | 76 | 75 | 79 | 90 or above |
| Alcohol | To have two or more alcohol-free days per week | 74 | 75 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 90 or above |
| Smoking | Not to smoke (Smoking rate reduction) | 77 | 77 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 90 or above |
- Item added in 2021.
Checkups and guidance
(unit: %)
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| FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2025 (Target value) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate of regular health checkups | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Rate of medical checkups | 43 | 68 | 89 | 96 | 88 | 100 |
| Rate of specific health guidance | 14 | 80 | 94 | 95 | 97 or above | 100 |
Lifestyle-related disease risk retention rate (health checkup results)
(unit: %)
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| FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2025 (Target value) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 or less |
| Liver function | 30 | 34 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 30 or less |
| Fats | 51 | 57 | 55 | 56 | 55 | 50 or less |
| Blood sugar | 24 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 20 | 15 or less |
| Blood pressure | 31 | 37 | 34 | 29 | 33 | 30 or less |
| Triple risk holders (fats, blood sugar, blood pressure) |
8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 5 or less |
Health Management Evaluation Indexes
To verify the effectiveness of health investment measures, we have started measuring presenteeism and work engagement in addition to absenteeism since FY2021.
We are actively developing health investment measures that will lead to improved productivity and job satisfaction, and ultimately resolve management issues.
Absenteeism*2
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| FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2025 (Target value) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury/sickness absence rate（%） | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.0 or less |
- A condition in which the employee cannot perform duties due to absence from work, leave of absence, or other reasons.
Measured by the number of employees on sick leave who are absent for more than one month.
Presenteeism*3
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| FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2025 (Target value) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor productivity loss rate (%) | 37.5 | 36.6 | 36.4 | 30 or less |
- A condition in which the employee is present at work but is not able to work sufficiently due to mental or physical health problems.
Measured by the WHO Health and Labor Performance Questionnaire.
Work engagement*4
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| FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2025 (Target value) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-motivated behavior and positive feelings toward work (deviation value) | 49.7 | 50.1 | 49.6 | 51 or above |
- A state of mind that is positive and full of accomplishment, vitality, enthusiasm, and immersion in one’s work.
Measured by a proprietary survey instrument using eight items that correlate well with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale.
Progress in Health Promotion Activities
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| September 2018 | Health Management Declaration | - |
|---|---|---|
| July 2020 | Held the First Health Promotion Conference | Inauguration of Health Promotion System and sharing of health issues |
| January 2021 | Held the 2nd Health Promotion Conference | Shared information on Health Promotion Activities interim report and health scoring report |
| June 2021 | Held the 3rd Health Promotion Conference | Report on Health Promotion Activities FY2020 and Confirmation of Initiatives for FY2021 Shared the Group's health issues based on analysis of health checkup data over time |
| October 2021 | Released a company-wide Health and Productivity Management Strategy Map | - |
| December 2021 | Held the 4th Health Promotion Conference | Shared the Interim Report on Health Promotion Activities 2021 and the Group's Health and Productivity Management Strategy Map |
| Held Health Management Workshop | Regional health promotion team representatives participated | |
| May-June 2022 | Held Reginal Health Promotion Workshops | Regional health promotion team member participated |
| June 2022 | Held the 5th Health Promotion Conference | Reported on Health Promotion Activities 2021 and sharing of each region health promotion team's Declaration of Activities |
| August 2022 | Held a health management workshop for the management | Shared the Group's management issues for the management |
| December 2022 | Held the 6th Health Promotion Conference | Interim Report on Health Promotion Activities 2022 |
| Held Health Management Workshop | The management and regional health promotion team participated | |
| June 2023 | Held the 7th Health Promotion Conference | Reported on Health Promotion Activities for FY2022 and shared regional health promotion team's Declaration of Activities |
| July 2023 | Held Regional Health Management Workshops | Regional health promotion team members participated |
| December 2023 | Held the 8th Health Promotion Conference | Shared FY2023 Interim Report On Health Promotion Activities |
| December 2023 | Held Health Management Workshop | Regional health promotion team representatives participated |
Organizational Structure and Roles
Since FY2020, the Health Promotion Council, which includes the chairman, the president, and senior management, has deliberated and decided on policies and initiatives, while the Health Promotion Teams, which include employees from each region, have been promoting awareness and penetration of health and productivity management among employees and implementing specific measures in their respective regions. The company, the labor union, and the Health Insurance Society work in unison to promote company-wide health initiatives.
Health Promotion Conference
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Education / Training
Workshop for health promotion members
The Health Promotion Secretariat plans and regularly holds a health and productivity management workshop for health promotion members, who are responsible for promoting health promotion measures in each region. At the workshop, health promotion members deepen their understanding of health and productivity management, exchange views with health promotion members from other business sites, and share ideas about issues and solutions for promoting health promotion measures. Thus, we support health promotion members so that they can independently carry out health promotion activities in each region.
Various seminars
Improvement of health literacy
We have held regular online health seminars and have provided information since FY2020 to increase employees’ health literacy and encourage behavioral changes toward better health. In addition to the five themes set as action goals, these seminars also cover measures to remedy stiff shoulders and lower back pain, which were topics of high interest in a questionnaire survey of employees. Moreover, to provide information that deepens understanding of the necessity of cancer screening, a seminar on cancer is also held. The seminars have received high levels of satisfaction from the employees who participated in them. Since FY2022, the seminars have been recorded and streamed online to provide more employees with the opportunity to view the seminars.
Light Walking Seminar content
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| Retention period (fiscal years) |
Seminar contents | Number of participants (persons) | Total time* (hours) |
Understanding (%) | Satisfaction (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | Responsible Drinking Seminar | Approx.160 | Approx.160 | 98 | 95 |
| FY2021 | Sleep Seminar | Approx.220 | Approx.220 | 91 | 85 |
| Cancer Seminar | Approx.200 | Approx.200 | 98 | 92 | |
| Seminar for preventing stiff shoulders and back pain | Approx.250 | Approx.250 | 98 | 89 | |
| FY2022 | Diet and Sleep Seminar | Approx.220 | Approx.220 | 87 | 75 |
| Hormone Balance Seminar for Men and Women | Approx.130 | Approx.130 | 85 | 71 | |
| Oral Care Seminar | Approx.270 | Approx.270 | 93 | 90 | |
| Diet and Body Weight (BMI) Seminar | Approx.270 | Approx.270 | 93 | 84 | |
| Lung Cancer Seminar | Approx.210 | Approx.210 | 87 | 83 | |
| FY2023 | Seminar on Body Building for Fall Prevention | Approx.230 | Approx.230 | 94 | 87 |
| Seminar for Not Only Women | Approx.170 | Approx.170 | 94 | 95 | |
| Seminar on Improving Diet Before Health Checkups | Approx.260 | Approx.260 | 93 | 87 | |
| Light Walking Seminar | Approx.210 | Approx.210 | 88 | 87 |
*Participants × hours participated
Initiatives to Support Health Promotion
Although the Group contains approximately 30% of young employees in their 30s, they tend to have a higher risk of developing lifestyle diseases. Accordingly, it is necessary to take measures to improve the lifestyle habits of employees from a young age. For the Group as a whole, behavioral changes in exercise, eating, and drinking have emerged as an issue. In light of these health issues, we have implemented health measures since FY2020, including introducing a health support app, subsidizing the purchase of a wearable device that visualizes exercise and sleep, holding health seminars online, and providing smart meals and smoothies. As a result, a company-wide questionnaire survey, conducted in FY2021, showed that the percentage of employees who exercise at least once a week had increased by approximately 20%, indicating that employees’ health literacy was increasing. We will continue to implement measures to encourage the behavioral changes of employees in order to lead to improved employee performance and the revitalization of the organization.
Health promotion support using the CALOmama PLUS app
We have introduced a smartphone health app “CALOmama PLUS” which allows users to record and manage their diet, exercise, and sleep data, and receive health advice from an Al assistant. Since FY2021, we have held regular company-wide ranking events to compete on the average number of steps they take and their health score* on the CALOmama PLUS app. In post-event questionnaire surveys, participants answered: “It has become my habit to take a walk during my lunch break,” and “I have got into the habit of eating vegetables every day,” indicating that participation in events led to improvements in lifestyle habits such as exercise and diet.
- Health score: A score that measures the degree of health based on the diet and exercise data entered into the app
Health app “CALOmama PLUS”
Promotion of smoking cessation
We strengthen our efforts to promote smoking cessation with the aim of preventing health problems caused by smoking and preventing employees from experiencing passive smoke.
No smoking at our business sites
As a result of the gradual reduction and closure of smoking areas with the aim of banning smoking at our business sites for all employees of the Group, we achieved a complete ban on smoking at our business sites in January 2023.
Support through a smoking cessation program
We provide a smoking cessation program, in which our Health Insurance Society covers some of the costs of receiving support through a dedicated app and online interviews with nurses and pharmacists.
Eight employees successfully quit smoking in FY2021, and as of March 2023, nine employees successfully quit smoking in FY2022.
Smoking Rate Trend
Implementation of health checkups and follow-up measures
We conduct uniform health checkups across all Group companies, and maintain a 100% attendance rate for regular health checkups. For employees who have been determined by an occupational physician to require a thorough examination based on their health checkup results, in-house occupational health staff follow up with them by phone or email to encourage them to seek medical advice. We also provide advice on improving lifestyle habits to employees who are at high risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases. In the future, we aim to reduce the number of employees who are at risk for lifestyle-related diseases (due to abnormal Fats, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc.), and achieve a 100% participation rate in a thorough examination.
In FY2019, we introduced a health management system “Growbase” to centrally manage the results of regular health checkups for all employees of the Group. This has created an environment in which employees can check their regular health checkup results online at any time by accessing the employee page of the system.
Specific health guidance
Our Health Insurance Society continues to provide a three-to-four month lifestyle improvement program (specific health guidance) for all those eligible for “active support” or “motivational support” as a result of specific health checkups and comprehensive medical checkups. By carefully encouraging applications for specific health guidance and following up the progress of the guidance, we achieved a guidance implementation rate of 95% in FY2022, exceeding our target of 90% for the second consecutive year. Our ranking in the Health Scoring Report* has significantly improved, to 1009th in 2018, 899th in 2019, 46th in 2020, and 7th in 2021.
- Health Scoring Report: Issued jointly by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi, the Health Scoring Report visualizes changes over time in the data of each health insurance society compared to the average of all health insurance societies and industry averages, regarding members’ health conditions, medical costs, and the status of disease prevention and health promotion efforts.
Specific health guidance implementation percentage
Health guidance for young employees
Our Health Insurance Society has focused on the health checkup results of employees in their 30s, who have the highest proportion of employees in the Group, and has begun providing health guidance to employees under 40 who are at risk for metabolic syndrome. We aim to motivate young employees to improve their lifestyle habits.
Health guidance to prevent serious illness
Based on employees’ medical data and the results of special health checkups, our health insurance association is implementing a lifestyle improvement support program to prevent the onset and recurrence of vascular diseases and lifestyle-related diseases. To reduce the risk of serious illness and maintain healthy lifestyles, we help employees the medications they need and support lifestyle modifications tailored to each individual's symptoms.
Mental health measures
Implementation of stress checks and utilization of group analysis results
We conduct a stress check once a year for all employees of the Group, including those at overseas business sites. For employees judged to be under high stress, we recommend an interview with a doctor in an effort to prevent mental health problems. Based on the stress check results, group analysis is conducted, and its results are feedback to each organization along with a usage guide. Based on group analysis result data, we make individual interventions in the relevant organizations when necessary to improve the workplace environment.
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(unit: %)
| FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stress check inspection rate | 99 | 99 | 98 | 99 | 98 |
| Stress check high stress rate | 9.3 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 7.1 | 8.0 |
Implementation of mental health training
We continuously provide self-care and line manager-care training.
Measures for long working hours
To prevent health problems caused by long working hours, we use a health check sheet to assess the physical and mental health of employees who work overtime for more than 45 hours a month or on holidays, targeting all employees of the Group. When necessary, we arrange interviews between the relevant employees and an occupational physician, and work to give due considerations to their work based on the opinions of the occupational physician to ensure their health.
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| FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2025 (Target value) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly overtime hours (hours) | 4.8 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.0 or less |
Infectious disease measures
Responses to COVID-19
On February 18, 2020, we launched the COVID-19 Headquarters. Based on the idea that each individual should take thorough infection prevention measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and prepare for business continuity, we provided appropriate instructions and information on responses, requests, and rules related to COVID-19 through the intranet. We also recommended the use of the COVID-19 contact confirmation app “COCOA,” and in January 2021, we began subsidizing some of the costs for PCR and antibody tests for employees and their family members who wanted to be tested. These tests can be taken multiple times.
Implementation of workplace vaccinations
At the Kyoto Head Office, we completed the third round of workplace vaccinations for COVID-19. Those eligible for vaccination were not limited to employees of the Group who wished to be vaccinated, but were expanded to include employees’ families and neighboring company employees.
Distribution of antigen test kits
At the end of 2021, infection of Omicron, which is one of the variants of COVID-19, spread rapidly, and in some areas of Japan, PCR and antigen tests were not readily available. In this situation, we distributed antigen test kits free of charge to all employees so that they could quickly confirm whether or not they had been infected if infection was suspected.
Subsidy for influenza vaccination
Our Health Insurance Society subsidizes the cost of influenza vaccination to help prevent infectious diseases for employees and their families.
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| FY2019 | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flu vaccination rate (Employees only) (%) |
74 | 81 | 67 | 64 | 65 |
- Health Insurance Society subsidy for vaccinations recipient percentage
Health Management External Evaluation
Health and Productivity Management recognition
We have been recognized under the Health and Productivity Management Outstanding Organization Program, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi (Japan Health Council) for the sixth consecutive year in 2024. In the certification system, the status of initiatives in philosophy/policy, the organizational structure, implementation of systems/measures, and evaluations/improvements is quantified and top 500 companies are certified as the White 500 based on the comprehensive evaluation points of these items.
Lecture at Data Health and Preventive Services Trade Fair 2021 (co-hosted online by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies)
On November 30, 2021, a seminar titled “Toward increasing the value of health insurance business through a Pay For Success private sector outsourcing system (PFS)” was held, jointly organized by the National Federation of Health Insurance Societies and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in which a representative from our Health Insurance Society delivered a speech. This was because the establishment of health and productivity management in the Group and rapid improvements in specific health guidance caught the attention of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
Cancer Control Promotion Company Action award for the fourth consecutive year
Our Health Insurance Society was commended as a company with excellent performance in the Cancer Control Promotion Company Action program (FY2023) of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The award was given in recognition of our efforts to promote adult cancer education through online delivery, smoking cessation programs, and various cancer checkup initiatives such as colorectal cancer screening, breast ultrasonography, uterus cancer screening, stomach cancer risk classification screening, lifestyle-related diseases checkup, and specific health guidance.
This Action supports the cancer control efforts of corporate organizations under the philosophy of "Facing up to cancer, taking employees and the company to a higher level."
Approximately 5,000 companies and organizations are registered with it. Of these companies, 300 are recognized in this year's awards.
Message from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare for our specific health guidance implementation rate of 95.3% in FY2022
The specific health guidance implementation rate of our Health Insurance Society in FY2022 ranked among the top 10 among health insurance societies and mutual aid societies nationwide. Since this was a remarkable achievement, we received a message of appreciation from the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare for our efforts.