Workplace measures against COVID-19 during the winter third wave in Japan: Company size-based differences

Abstract

Objectives Little is known about workplace measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in Japan during the winter of 2020, especially in micro‐, small‐, and medium‐sized enterprises (MSMEs). This study aimed to provide an overview of the current situation of anti‐COVID‐19 measures in Japanese enterprises during the winter, considering company size. Methods This study was an Internet‐based nationwide cross‐sectional study. Individuals who were registered as full‐time workers were invited to participate in the survey. Data were collected using an online self‐administered questionnaire in December 2020. The chi‐squared test for trend was performed to calculate the P ‐value for trend for each workplace measure across company sizes. Results For the 27 036 participants, across company sizes, the most prevalent workplace measure was encouraging mask wearing at work, followed by requesting that employees refrain from going to work when ill and restricting work‐related social gatherings and entertainment. These measures were implemented by approximately 90% of large‐scale enterprises and by more than 40% of micro‐ and small‐scale enterprises. In contrast, encouraging remote working was implemented by less than half of large‐scale enterprises and by around 20% of micro‐ and small‐scale enterprises. There were statistically significant differences in all workplace measures by company size (all P < .001). Conclusions We found that various responses to COVID‐19 had been taken in workplaces. However, some measures, including remote working, were still not well‐implemented, especially in smaller enterprises. The findings suggest that occupational health support for MSMEs is urgently needed to mitigate the current wave of COVID‐19.

Industry and workplace characteristics associated with the downloading of a COVID-19 contact tracing app in Japan: a nation-wide cross-sectional study

“…One possible reason for this change in results is that most workplaces in these types of industries are small-scale, which may be the cause of insufficient downloading of the app. This idea is consistent with a previous study showing that small companies were relatively unlikely to implement workplace measures against COVID-19 [ 18 ]. This may be because of the limited opportunities to obtain information and the lack of human, time, and financial resources to take countermeasures against health threats at small companies [ 19 ].…”

Preventive Measures Against COVID-19 in Small- and Mid-sized Enterprises from an Early Stage of the Epidemic in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do

“…Odds ratio was calculated for more than the median of preventive measurements implementation. Additionally, the industry type, a factor identified in past literature [ 16 ], was adjusted. As part of the sensitivity analysis, multiple generalized linear regression with quasi-Poisson link function, which considered the outcome variable as a count variable, was additionally performed.…”

COVID-19 vaccination coverage by company size and the effects of workplace vaccination program in Japan: a cohort study

“…However, because it was necessary to arrange venues and medical personnel for the vaccination event and to coordinate costs, program utilization may vary greatly depending on company size. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, there were marked differences among companies of different sizes in the implementation of remote work and infection control measures [ 14 , 15 ]. So, the size of the company may affect the risk of COVID-19 infection in the workplace.…”

“…We hypothesized that while the workplace vaccination program facilitated COVID-19 vaccination, there was a size-dependent difference among companies in the timing of employees receiving the second vaccine dose and that this difference was influenced by the availability of a company-arranged vaccination opportunity. In a survey conducted in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were differences in the implementation of infection control measures and the opportunity to work remotely depending on the size of the company [ 14 , 15 ]. Disparities in occupational health measures, such as workplace environmental and health measures, have arisen and depend on the size of the company.…”