Health and Productivity Management
We believe that ensuring the physical and mental health of each employee will lead to increasing corporate value. Therefore, we have been working to establish systems and create workplace environments that allow employees to work without worrying about their health. In October 2017, we published our Health Declaration and began promoting health management. We also started offering new healthcare technologies and services created by Shimadzu to employees.
Health Declaration
The health and safety of each employee and their ability to work positively and with vitality serve as the basis for achieving Shimadzu Corporation's management principle "Realizing Our Wishes for the Well-being of both Mankind and the Earth". Accordingly, we declare that we will strive toward realizing our wishes for health.
1. Ensuring Health
We will be highly mindful of our health and engage in independently maintaining our own health. In addition, together with our colleagues we will endeavor to create a secure, safe, and comfortable workplace.
2. Sustaining Businesses Through Health
We will uphold the company spirit of promoting employee health, which has continued since the company was founded in 1875. In addition, by supplying leading-edge scientific technologies and services, we will help ensure the health of employees and society and promote the growth and prosperity of our businesses.
3. Contributing to Future of Society Through Health
We will grow together with society and strive to help create a prosperous future for mankind based on ensuring the health of our employees and their families, who are at the core of our business operations, and based on our corporate philosophy "Contributing to Society through Science and Technology".
Promotional Organization
Introducing the “kencom” Health Web Service
The “kencom” online health service was introduced to raise health awareness and encourage healthy habits among all Shimadzu employees. Enrollment in the service stood at 84.0 % as of the end of March 2024. Employees can use kencom to record step counts, track their weight, join health-oriented events, view the results of their health checkups, and see their medication histories, among other features. The service aims to encourage healthy living in a fun and engaging way by awarding points for participation in health-oriented events and activities that lead to lifestyle improvements. The points accrued can then be exchanged for gift certificates and other products. During the “Walking Activity” step count competition, which encouraged users to form teams and work together to achieve rewards, a photography event was organized concurrently to stimulate interest in walking-oriented activities, spark communication, and encourage healthy changes in behavior among nonparticipants.
MCI Screening Exam Plus Subsidization Program
MCI (mild cognitive impairment) is a disorder that precedes the more serious condition of dementia. We have come to understand that identifying dementia at an early stage and adopting suitable preventive measures can help reduce the subsequent progression of the disease. MCI Screening Exam Plus is a test that assesses the risk for MCI by measuring levels of a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease in the blood. Shimadzu’s analytical instruments are used for this detection, and Shimadzu is subsidizing the cost of MCI Screening Exam Plus to share the benefits of Shimadzu’s technology with its employees.
Subsidizing Breast Cancer Examination Expenses with Elmammo Avant Class Dedicated Breast PET System
In cooperation with Medical Corporation Chionkai, we established a system for subsidizing the cost of obtaining a breast cancer examination using a Shimadzu Elmammo Avant Class dedicated breast PET system. The subsidy system was established to promote the early detection and early treatment of breast cancer by increasing the ratio of women receiving breast exams. Female employees or spouses of male
Elmammo Avant Class
Dedicated Breast PET System
PCR Testing Program at Shimadzu In-House Clinic
Shimadzu Group employees can undergo PCR testing for the COVID-19 virus at Shimadzu’s in-house clinic. First established in the spring of 2021, testing is performed by in-house clinic physicians and nurses using Shimadzu’s AutoAmp genetic analyzer (class I, general medical devices) and Ampdirect2019-CoV detection kit (in-vitro diagnostics), and diagnostic results are available on the day of testing at the earliest. The program is mainly utilized by employees in businesses with products linked to COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Health & Productivity Stock Selection 2021-2023
For the third consecutive year, Shimadzu Corporation is selected as a "2023 Health & Productivity Stock Selection" jointly by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Tokyo Stock Exchange to select companies that are strategically pursuing employee health management from a managerial perspective.
Recognized as "White 500" Company with Superior Health Management
For the eighth consecutive year, Shimadzu Corporation is recognized jointly by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi as a 2024 “White 500” company, which recognizes large corporations with outstanding health and productivity management practices.
Mil – Mil – Genki Exercise
Original Exercise "KEEP Fit!"
You can easily stretch your body anytime during work, business trip or at home. Just like eating and sleeping, it is a habit in daily life, and we made an original exercise for the purpose of keeping it comfortable and enjoyable. This exercise consists of three patterns: upper body, lower body, and eyes. Some departments do it every morning to wake the body from the inside and make the day comfortable.
【Effect of exercise】
- Improving concentration by balancing autonomic nerves
- Suppression of fatigue by improving basic physical strength
- Disease prevention through improved defense capability
- Preventing occupational accidents by softening muscles and joints
Implementation of health promotion events
A sports event, the Breakers Sports Festival 2023, was organized by Shimadzu’s tennis, rugby, and baseball teams (all of whom play under the name SHIMADZU Breakers) to encourage communication across Shimadzu Group and support and improve the health and well-being of Shimadzu Group employees and their families. The employees and their family members who participated in the event experienced tennis, rugby, and baseball training under the expert guidance of active and retired athletes. Some of the comments from the happy participants included, “I didn’t know exercise could be this fun,” and “I usually don’t get to do this sport, so it’s definitely got me interested.”
Shimadzu is committed to helping its employees and their families live an active and healthy life through exercise.
※【Healthcare Day】
Shimadzu launched a “No Overtime Day” initiative in 1992 to encourage employees to leave work on time once a week. Since January 2017, the number of days covered has been expanded to 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The name of the day on which employees leave the office on time has been changed to "refresh day". This name reflects the way they use and spend their time after leaving the office. This change has been used to promote the health of employees and improve their abilities.
- the day on which employees leave the office on time (No Overtime day): “Refresh Day”
- Monday: Skill up Day
- Wednesday: Healthcare Day
- Friday: Communication Day
Tennis teams 「SHIMADZU Breakers」
Rugby teams 「SHIMADZU Breakers」
Baseball teams 「SHIMADZU Breakers」
Participation in Kyoto Marathon
Shimadzu has been a partner of the Kyoto Marathon since 2019. On February 18, 29 Shimadzu Group employees participated in the Kyoto Marathon 2024 as charity runners and individual entrants, aiming to complete a marathon course that passes well-known locations and World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. In the three months leading up to the marathon, exercise events that offered stretching and physical conditioning were held with the help of SHIMADZU Breakers to promote and raise interest in exercise among all employees, not just those planning to run the marathon.
At the “Welcome Plaza” event held alongside the marathon entrant registration on February 16th and 17th, Shimadzu exhibited products and technologies that aid athlete performance and offered attendees a hands-on experience with a test for AGEs (advanced glycogen end products), which have been linked to health and aging-related phenomena. Attendees who were tested said it was nice to check their physical condition before the race and to see the benefits of their health choices quantified.
Through involvement with the Kyoto Marathon, Shimadzu hopes to support the health of its employees and everyone connected with Shimadzu.
Tennis Workshop by Shimadzu Tennis Team Members
The SHIMADZU Breakers tennis team members conducted a tennis workshop for employees, their families, and children from the local community. The joy of playing tennis was conveyed through technical advice from and interaction with the world-ranked athletes on the team. The “For Your Winning!” column posted on the Breakers team website is written by the athletes themselves. The articles about conditioning the mind and body help encourage people who do not exercise enough to start exercising and those who already enjoy sports to have even more fun.
Activities to Reduce Smoking
Shimazu Group aims for total non-smoking and less than 10% smoking rate in 2025!
Since the declaration of health in October 2017, the passive smoking prevention project was launched in April 2018 from the viewpoints of (1) securing a healthy labor force, (2) improving productivity, (3) improving employee morale, and (4) improving employee health literacy.
In March 2020, with the exception of some branches, all business sites abolished indoor smoking areas. Since April 2020, smoking has been prohibited during working hours (except for lunch break).
In addition to efforts to prevent passive smoking, efforts are being made to promote smoking cessation, such as sending PURE AIR communications and distributing free nicotine gum patches.
Health x Dining Collaboration to Improve Dietary Habits and Breakfast Project
The company cafeteria offers healthy and smart lunch choices designed around total calories, fat levels, and other important dietary factors. Given that the younger generation is more likely to skip breakfast, Shimadzu is also actively promoting the importance of breakfast, holding seminars on chrono-nutrition, and providing information on how breakfast can benefit an active lifestyle. Shimadzu also provides new food options for its employees, such as selling NARO Style Bento meals, which reduce visceral fat developed by the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, along with initiatives based on food diversity.
Improving Sleep with Sleep Checkups and Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) Examinations
In 2023, an optional sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) test was added to regular health screening.
This initiative intends to reduce presenteeism and lifestyle diseases through early discovery and treatment. The SAS test should also lead to safer working practices among company drivers.
Supporting Personal and Organizational Mental Health with Stress Checks and In-House and External Counseling Services
A “Stress Check” is undertaken annually, and personal and organizational support is provided based on the results.
Shimadzu has full-time mental health experts, including certified psychologists and clinical psychologists, who are available in-house to provide employees with counseling on mental health issues. Shimadzu has also set up an external counseling service under an external Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that can be used by employees and family members at any time.
Blood Drive Activities
Conducting a Blood Drive
The Shimadzu Blood Drive Committee sponsors two annual blood drives (spring and fall) at four Shimadzu sites (Sanjo Works, Murasakino Works, Keihanna, and Seta Works). In FY 2023, 391 people donated blood during the spring and fall events.
Number of Blood Drive Participants