Influenza Vaccinations
In each region we endeavor to prevent infectious diseases by offering and paying for influenza vaccinations.
Health Management and Better-Health Promotion
- Basic Approach and Policy
- Health Promotion Initiatives
- Health Maintenance and Improvement Initiatives in Japan
Basic Approach and Policy
Background
The Olympus Global Code of Conduct states that “Safe and healthy workplace is a major priority. We take proactive steps to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses at work and promote good health and wellness as well as work-friendly environment.” We position the better health of employees as an important factor in supporting the sustainable growth of the company, maintain a system for the promotion of better health, and, taking account of local characteristics, actively engage in a variety of initiatives.
Priority Measures
- Fostering a healthy organizational culture, as well as fostering a workplace environment where employees can perform at their best with both their physical and mental well-being in good shape.
- Having employees understand that they perform at their best when both their physical and mental well-being are in good shape, and promoting improvements in the health awareness and healthy behavior of each employee.
Health Promotion Initiatives
On the basis of initiatives in the three health categories of medical examinations and care, healthy lifestyle, and mental health, our global sites collaborate and implement activities to promote better health. We have set cancer awareness and checkups as a priority theme that is shared around the world and are boosting activities to raise our employees’ knowledge about cancer and increase the ratio of employees undergoing checkups.
The Olympus Group’s cancer awareness activities are also introduced here.
Cancer Awareness Activities
| Category | Contents |
|---|---|
| Checkup & Care | Medical examinations |
| Raising knowledge about cancer and checkups | |
| Vaccinations against infectious diseases | |
| Creating Healthy Habits | Promotion of exercise (walking, etc.) |
| Promotion of healthy diet | |
| Promotion of quality breaks | |
| Mental health | Self-care education for employees |
| Line-care education for managers, etc. | |
| Mental health consultations (external counseling organizations, etc.) |
Checkup & Care
We implement medical examinations in each region aimed at the prevention, early detection, and early treatment of lifestyle-related and other illnesses. Furthermore, as measures for the prevention of infectious diseases, we provide opportunities for vaccination against influenza and so on.
Examples of Activities in Each Region
Olympus (Beijing, Shanghai) Sales & Service Co., Ltd. (Beijing, Shanghai)
Campaign to Promote Endoscopy Tests
Information, including endoscopy test explanations and hospitals providing the tests, is distributed to all employees with the aim of raising the ratio of employees undergoing endoscopy tests.
Olympus Corporation of the Americas (U.S.A.), Olympus Surgical Technologies America (U.S.A.), Olympus Europa SE & Co. KG (Germany), Olympus Australia Pty Ltd. (Australia), Olympus Belgium S.A./N.V. (Belgium), Olympus Estonia OÜ (North Europe)
Creating Healthy Habits
Various activities are organized with the aim of promoting good health, including educational events and campaigns to encourage exercise, good diets, and other healthy habits and recommendations for healthy eating.
Examples of Activities in Each Region
Olympus Corporation of the Americas (U.S.A.)
Be Well Program (Wellness Activities)
The Be Well program provides various wellness activities to support overall employee well-being in the physical, mental, environmental, economic, and social domains.
Walking Challenge
As one aspect of cancer awareness for men, walking was organized in a virtual fair for all male employees to promote healthy lifestyles and good health; 93 men participated.
Health Seminar for Women
A webinar was held for women of all ages on general symptoms and pelvic health throughout all stages of menopause; 20 women participated.
Olympus Surgical Technologies America (U.S.A.)
American Heart Month Event
In conjunction with the month for raising awareness of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among Americans, information was distributed to all employees to raise awareness relating to heart disease.
Olympus Corporation of Asia Pacific Limited, Olympus Hong Kong and China Limited (Hong Kong)
Tennis Tournament
A tennis tournament using game consoles was organized with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles; 45 people participated. This event promoted not only better health through exercise but also cooperation and exchange among employees.
Health Lecture (Work and Healthy Lifestyles)
To raise the health awareness of employees, a seminar was held on the topics of work and healthy lifestyles and happy workplaces with a speaker invited from the Industrial Health Division of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; 33 employees attended. The participants learned about methods to realize healthy lifestyles in the workplace, from healthy diets to the daily practice of stretch exercises, as well as the importance of communication to build optimum workplaces, and are practicing these lessons in their daily lives.
Olympus (Beijing, Shanghai) Sales & Service Co., Ltd. (Beijing, Shanghai)
Cycling Event
The labor union organized a cross-country cycling event in the vicinity of Beijing with the aim of promoting the health of employees; 35 employees took part.
Badminton Tournament
Eighty employees in Beijing took part in a preliminary trial, and then eight selected employees were chosen to represent the company in a badminton tournament, playing games against teams representing other companies.
Health Lecture (Children’s Health)
In conjunction with Children’s Day in June, a pediatrician specializing in Chinese medicine was invited to speak about children’s growth and development, massage, and other topics in a hybrid event held both online and in person; 50 employees participated.
Olympus (GuangZhou) Industrial Co., Ltd. (Shanghai)
Outdoor Exercise Event
An outdoor exercise event, in which participants engaged in team sports, was held for all employees with the aim of promoting their health.
Health Lecture (Prevention of Lifestyle-Related Illnesses and Cancer)
A lecture on safety and health knowledge, focusing on the topic of “preventing illness and taking care of your health,” was held by a government official in charge of safety and health education; 102 employees attended. Describing actual examples, the speaker talked about first aid and the prevention of such illnesses as high blood pressure, circulatory problems, and gout, as well as cancer. The aim of the lecture was to deepen understanding of the importance of health, promote health activities, and enhance first-aid skills.
Olympus Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)
Walk-Run Group
On the first Wednesday of every month a Walk-Run Group activity is held with the aim of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This activity is useful not only for health and wellness but also for creating bonds among colleagues.
Olympus Australia Pty Ltd. (Australia)
“Try-athlon” Event
As part of activities relating to physical health, the “Try-athlon” event was held over three weeks in April and May 2023 in which teams and individuals competed over their total times in swimming, running, and cycling; 47 employees participated.
March Try Something New Challenge
As part of a “physical” campaign, the Try Something New Challenge is held in March. In this event employees challenge something that is useful for spending an unforgettable day, such as meditation, or a game, or mastering a new skill. It is an effective way to promote mental health too.
Mental Health
In order to ensure better mental health for employees, we hold various seminars on self-care and line care. We also hold various mental health events and trainings, and ensure that employees are aware of opportunities for mental health consultations.
Examples of Activities in Each Region
Olympus Corporation of the America (U.S.A.)
Mental Health Awareness Training
The goal of mental health awareness training is to improve awareness of mental health issues, including general signs of mental illness and any problematic symptoms that can be observed in actions. We have also held mental health awareness training courses for leaders, as well as courses led by behavioral medicine doctors.
Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe (Germany)
Mental Health and Well-Being Podcasts
Our mental health and well-being podcasts not only provide various types of information on mental health, but also helpful suggestions on how each individual can learn to be kind to themselves and manage their own health effectively.
Olympus UK & Ireland (U.K.)
Mental Health Education Week
We held special events for the purpose of promoting mental health and well-being at the workplace over the period of a week in May 2023. The theme was “insecurity,” and the purpose was to encourage employees to acquire new skills and interests to mitigate any feelings of insecurity.
Monday: Pilates
Tuesday: Painting
Wednesday: Home-made sweets sales
Thursday: Somatic movement
Friday: Macrame
Olympus Corporation of Asia Pacific Limited、Olympus Hong Kong and China Limited (Hong Kong)
EAP (employee assistance program) Initiatives
A dedicated EAP available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day was launched in support of all employees in September 2023, free of charge. Posters have been put up, e-mails sent out, etc., in order to better promote knowledge of EAPs and inform employees of how to utilize the program.
Olympus Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)
Newsletter Distribution
The monthly newsletter features topics such as various hints and suggestions related to health and wellness.
Olympus Australia Pty Ltd. (Australia)
Mental Health Prevention Events
To facilitate better mental health, we have held group work, mindfulness activities, and meditation events.
Olympus Medical Systems India Private Limited (India)
Mental Health Prevention Events
With a view to improving both physical and mental health amongst employees, we offered an online program where attendees can ask questions of doctors. Approximately 120 employees attended.
Health Maintenance and Improvement Initiatives in Japan
Background to Initiatives
In 2008, a department to promote and oversee the health activities of employees was set up in the Human Resource Division of Olympus Corporation and began the centralized management of Japan subsidiaries while liaising with the Health Insurance Association. Since then, this department has established/maintained an industrial health system, standardization of health management operation, and a health management system, and promoted efforts based on the outcomes of these initiatives.
The Olympus Health Declaration
The Olympus Global Code of Conduct states that “Safe and healthy workplace is a major priority. We take proactive steps to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses at work and promote good health and wellness as well as work-friendly environment.” In Japan, also including Japan subsidiaries, we established the Olympus Health Declaration to help maintain and improve the health of employees and their families.
In line with the announcement of the Health Declaration, action to prevent passive smoking is to be made a priority. At the same time, we are introducing measures to help employees to become healthy and stay healthy, including advice with lifestyle improvements, recommendations and financial assistance with screenings to catch cancer at an early stage, and how to avoid mental health problems.
In this way, the Olympus Group wants to create a corporate culture that encourages employees to be healthy, both physically and mentally and for everyone to lead healthy and happy lives.
Olympus Health Declaration
Realization of a Better Livelihood and Happiness
Our corporate philosophy is to contribute to society by “Making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling.” We believe this is possible with the support of healthy employees and their families with vitality.
Olympus places top priority on the health of its employees and their facilities through the following activities.
- Olympus regards employee health as an important management issue and is committed to a corporate culture that places top priority on employee safety and health.
- Olympus will continue to create a workplace environment where employees are able to work with vitality and good physical and mental health.
- Olympus cooperates with the Health Insurance Association to support better health to each and every employee and their families.
Health Promotion System
Based on the plan for efforts each fiscal year, the Human Resources EHS Department leads the promotion of efforts across all Olympus’ group companies in Japan while working in unison with the Health Insurance Association, industrial health care personnel, and industrial physicians.
Health Management Strategy Map
By creating a Health Management Strategy Map that clarifies the ties between the initiatives relating to health management/better-health promotion of employees and management issues, and adopting absenteeism (average number of days off) and presenteeism (degree of fulfillment of work capacity) as health management indexes, initiatives to promote the better health of employees are actively ongoing. Each quarter, Group companies are subject to a company-wide review. Our goal is to improve the level of individual initiatives by way of feedback on issues and shared information. Also, at the end of the fiscal year, all projects implemented throughout the year are assessed. By clarifying the issues, we are able to successfully incorporate new information in project planning for the next fiscal year. We also report progress and performance to management every quarter. Based on instructions from management, we develop and implement health management strategies.
Targets and Priority Measures for Health Management and Better-Health Promotion
Based on the Health Management Strategy Map, by adopting (1) physical exams and follow-ups, cancer screenings, (2) creating good lifestyle habits, and (3) creating mental health as priority measures, various initiatives are actively ongoing to improve absenteeism and presenteeism, which are target indexes.
Regular Physical Examinations and Follow-ups, Cancer Screening
Undergoing physical examinations and understanding/improving the results of physical examinations are basic initiatives in terms of health management. Adopting the percentage of employees who undergo regular physical examinations and the percentage of employees who undergo cancer screenings as indexes, initiatives to make improvements are ongoing.
| Index | Target | |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of employees who undergo regular physical examinations | Blood pressure | An improvement on last year |
| Blood lipids | ||
| Blood sugar | ||
| Percentage of employees who undergo cancer screenings | ||
| Stomach | ||
| Colon | ||
| Breast cancer | ||
| Uterine cancer | ||
Creating good lifestyle habits
Creating good lifestyle habits is very important to prevent lifestyle diseases and maintain good physical and psychological health. Olympus’ group companies in Japan have set five good lifestyle habits and are continuing to make improvements in each index.
| Index | Target | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | The average number of habits possessed from the five good lifestyle habits | An improvement on last year | |
| Five good lifestyle habits | Exercise | Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, twice a week, for at least a year | |
| Rest | Ease of falling asleep, regular sleep, sleep duration, sleepiness during the day | ||
| Healthy diet | Eating breakfast every day, whether one eats snacks or not, nutritional balance, calories consumed | ||
| Not smoking | Smoking status each day (including electronic cigarettes and heated cigarettes) | ||
| Not drinking too much | Drinking alcohol no more than four days a week | ||
Mental health
With living and work environments changing significantly, mental health is becoming an increasingly important factor. Adopting the percentage of employees with high stress evident in stress check results as an index, a broad range of improvement measures are being rolled out such as stress prevention measures, responding to employees with stress issues, and supporting the reinstatement of persons returning from leave.
| Index | Target |
|---|---|
| Percentage of employees with high stress | An improvement on last year |
External Certification
Survey on Health and Productivity Management and Certified Health and Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (White 500) Certification
The Olympus Health Declaration was established by the Olympus Group in April 2018. Through collaboration with our health insurance association, we clarified our management policy in support of the health maintenance and improvement for our employees and their families. We have reviewed and bolstered implementation systems for health support as we delineate any health issues that may occur with employees in the Olympus Group. We actively implement various health strategies and lifestyle improvement strategies, in accordance with changes in work environment and work styles. In addition to verifying outcomes of individual strategies, we determine assessment indices for overall health management. This information is meticulously uploaded on the Olympus Group Company Website.
We have been named a Certified Health and Productivity Management Outstanding Organization (White 500) for eight years in a row starting in 2017.
Our affiliated companies Olympus Marketing and Aizu Olympus Corporation were at the same time recognized as Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations.
Olympus
Olympus Marketing
Aizu Olympus Corporation
- Olympus Certified as a 2024 White 500 Company for Outstanding Health and Productivity Management
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations Recognition Program
- Survey on Health and Productivity Management Results (precision machines and other products; pdf)
Sports Yell Company Certification
Olympus has been certified as a Sports Yell Company for four consecutive years by the Japan Sports Agency for being a company that works positively on the promotion and support of sports activities to promote the health of employees. In particular, its initiatives considerate of employee health such as working on eliminating the lack of exercise due to the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated highly. Further, our affiliated company Olympus Marketing was also awarded Sports Yell Company certification in 2024.
Olympus Certified as a 2024 Sports Yell Company by the Japan Sports Agency
Specific Initiatives
Regular Physical Exams and Follow-ups, Cancer Screenings
Regular physical exams and follow-ups
Conducted mainly by industrial doctors and medical staff permanently stationed at each site, we thoroughly implement regular health examinations and, based on post-exam measures, interviews and follow-up. We are also enhancing our efforts to encourage employees in whom health issues have been detected, and others who require them, to undergo full medical examinations.
Cancer screenings
At Olympus, we incorporate endoscopic tests using our own products into the health-exam menu toward the early detection and early treatment of cancer. We also actively encourage undergoing screenings, and have maintained high rates for both (70.6% for gastrointestinal endoscopies and 63.2% for colonoscopies in FY2024).
The Health Insurance Association fully subsidizes the costs of examinations, including those for family members, with some exceptions. The full support it provides also includes that for gynecological examinations in all age brackets.
In addition, we hold regular e-learning sessions and seminars to improve employee’s knowledge of cancer and to promote higher uptake for cancer screenings.
Cancer screening test support system
| Examination Item | Target | Health Insurance Cost Subsidy | Encouraged Yearly Interval* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stomach cancer (endoscope) | 35 years and older | 100% coverage | Once every two years |
| Stomach cancer (pepsinogen examination) | 35 years and older | 100% coverage | Year that gastrointestinal endoscopy is not undertaken |
| Colorectal cancer (endoscope) | 35 years and older | 100% coverage | Once every three years (40 years and older) |
| Colorectal cancer (fecal occult blood test) | 35 years and older | 100% coverage | Year that colonoscopy is not undertaken |
| Breast cancer/Cervical cancer | Women of all ages | 100% coverage | Once every two years |
| Prostate cancer (PSA marker) | Men 50 years and older | 100% coverage | Once every two years |
| Abdominal ultrasonography | 40 years and older | 100% coverage | Once every two years |
| Lung cancer (lung helical CT) | 40 years and older | 50% (upper limit of ¥5,000 yen, including tax) | Individual decides whether to receive health exam |
*Consultation encouraged: For those who have not yet taken the exam for certain period from the target age (those who have not yet taken an exam within the encouraged yearly interval).
Creating Healthy Habits
Developing healthy lifestyle habits is an important factor in preventing and ameliorating lifestyle-related diseases. Medical professionals at each of our sites take the lead in implementing a variety of activities to support proactive steps to achieve this by our employees.
Examples of activities in FY2024
| Exercise | Individual guidance with an exercise instructor |
|
|---|---|---|
| Walking campaigns |
|
|
| Sleep | Seminar |
|
| Food | Collaboration with employee cafeteria, seminar, etc. |
|
| Smoking | Smoking cessation |
|
| Information and educational campaigns | Health portal site |
|
| Distribution of newsletter |
|
Mental Health
At Olympus, mental health is positioned among our priority issues, and we are deploying measures to promote mental health taking in various angles. In addition, the content of mental health programs is being enhanced to reflect the extreme changes in lifestyles and work styles of recent times.
Uniform stress checks are conducted at Olympus Corporation and its Japan subsidiaries. The rate of those taking stress checks has remained above 90% each year and, besides conducting appropriate interviews with employees with high stress, we are also strengthening individual consultation and follow-up activities.
Activities in FY2024
| Self-care |
1) Mental health education ・Implementation of self-care e-learning seminars for all employees ・Implementation of online mindfulness seminars ・Implementation of self-care seminars by medical professionals for new employees |
|---|---|
| Line care |
1) Administrators education/support ・Implementation (online/in-person) of mental health seminars for administrators by rank ・Implementation (by video) of mental health seminars for all classes of employees ・Implementation of mental health seminars for new employees by rank |
| Care by industrial health care personnel at business sites |
1) Consultation services/return to work support ・Industrial physicians and medical professionals stationed at each site are available for consultation by employees and administrators. Appropriate responses are implemented in line with the content of consultations. 2) Interview with new employees ・Implementation of one-on-one interviews with all new employees and mid-career hires to support their education and understand their circumstances 3) Workplace status check Questionnaires (biannual) are conducted to determine any concerns at the workplace amongst manager-class employees, including mental health concerns. Strategies are implemented as needed based on these results. |
| Care provided by resources outside the business site |
1) External psychologists, etc. ・Implementation of one-on counseling by external psychologists by individual case ・Implementation of education seminars by external psychologists 2) Establishment of external consultation services ・Establishment of external services for consultation on health |
Support for Treatment and Continuing to Work
At Olympus, we emphasize the prevention of diseases and serious illnesses through each of our health management and promotion initiatives. At the same time, we promote proactive support measures for those who are recovering from illnesses from the perspective of helping them achieve a balance between their treatment and work, and create an environment in which employees can engage in their work in peace of mind. Specifically, industrial physicians and nurses permanently stationed at each site compile concrete assistance plans from recuperation to return to work for employees in need of medical treatment, making full use of paid leave, flextime, work-at-home, and other systems. To provide greater employee assistance, a special leave program was introduced in April 2020 for employees suffering from a disease for which the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recommends support.
Women’s Specific Health Support
We are promoting support activities to address women’s specific health issues. In FY2024, as in FY2023, we hosted an online seminar by an outside lecturer (physician). (Topic: Success at Work, Controlling Menopausal Disorders)
- Participants: 92 men and women; streamed in an on-demand format: 40 views
- Survey evaluation: 92% of participants or viewers indicated their satisfaction with the seminar content
Going forward, we will continue to actively deploy initiatives focused on women's specific health issues.
Health Support for Expatriate Employees
As of the end of FY2024, there are approximately 150 Japanese expatriate employees stationed at our overseas sites.
Industrial physicians, health care personnel and nurses are assigned to provide consultation on everyday matters of health, in addition to counseling before departure and on return to Japan as health support for expatriate employees. This initiative includes support for both expatriate employees and their families.
In addition to the statutory health examinations for expatriate employees required on departure and return to Japan, employees can undergo physical examinations (for the items covered in the comprehensive medical examination) during temporary returns to Japan. We are thus working to ensure that physical examinations are taken, as well as to enhance post-medical examination measures based on the results of examinations.
Further, industrial physicians are dispatched on a regular basis to overseas subsidiaries to upgrade the quality of health management for expatriate employees.
Action on Infectious Diseases
In addition to general precautionary measures, we have developed our own in-house guidelines to combat infectious diseases and implement appropriate measures aligned to the needs of particular work duties.
Examples of activities in FY2024
- Implementation of Hepatitis B antigen/antibody tests and vaccinations for all employees who visit medical institutions in the line of their work duties
- Education on preventing infectious diseases
- Drafting of vaccination guidelines and implementation of vaccinations for expatriate employees, their families, and those undertaking business trips
- Partial coverage of expenses for influenza vaccination
Activity Results
| Category | Contents | Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | FY2023 | FY2024 | ||||
| Absenteeism*1 | Days per person/year | 0.99 | 1.05 | |||
| Absenteeism*2 | % | 7.7 | 7.4 | |||
| Creating five healthy lifestyle habits | Average number with five healthy lifestyle habits | Persons | 3.4 | 3.4 | ||
|
Medical examination & post-medical examination measures Cancer screening |
Regular medical examination & post-medical examination measures | Rate of taking medical examinations (excluding long-term absentees) |
% | 100 | 100 | |
| Rate of employees in whom health issues were detected | Blood pressure | % | 16.1 | 16.1 | ||
| Blood lipids | % | 28.3 | 28.4 | |||
| Blood sugar | % | 6.8 | 6.9 | |||
| Rate of follow-up interviews | ％ | 19.5 | 22.0 | |||
| Rate of implementation of follow-up interviews | ％ | 99.5 | 99.6 | |||
| Cancer screening | Stomach cancer | % | 86.3 | 85.5 | ||
| Colorectal cancer | % | 82.1 | 82.5 | |||
| Breast cancer | % | 83.5 | 82.9 | |||
| Uterine cancer | % | 78.8 | 78.0 | |||
| Creating mental health | Percentage of employees with high stress | Rate of taking of stress checks | % | 91.8 | 91.6 | |
| Rate of employees with high stress | % | 14.8 | 15.3 | |||
| Rate of employees wishing to avail of consultations who underwent consultation | % | 100 | 100 | |||
| Rate change compared to previous year on health care expenditures per employee | % | +6.6 | +5.1 | |||
*1 Total yearly average for all employees of absences from non-occupational injuries or accidents
*2 Rate of self-evaluations of 69% or lower from surveys using University of Tokyo Single-Item Presenteeism Question (0-100%)