Employees are also advising the incoming members of the workforce that they don't have to put up with it
Majority of employees in Japan believe that they don't have to put up with physical and mental discomfort at work and are advising the younger generation to do the same, according to reports.
The Mainichi reported this week a new survey by Tsumura & Co. on employees' and students' perspectives on putting up with illness in the workplace.
Among 1,000 employees with three to five years of experience, 79.9% said they don't have to put up with illnesses or discomfort just because they're now members of the workforce.
The discomforts cited in the survey include headaches, fatigue, menstrual pain, and anxiety, according to the report.
It also found 81.7% of working adults don't want new employees to push themselves to hard, and to consult them when they're having a hard time due to illness.
The findings come as the report also found 75.6% of students agreed or somewhat agreed that they "should not cause trouble because of sickness."
According to the report, 84.8% of employees had experienced putting up with physical or mental ailments within one year of entering the workforce. This indicates that employees are likely concerned that new staff will also suffer from similar experiences.
Straying from Gen Zs
Students' drive to be resilient despite illness may also stem from their desire to be differentiated from Gen Zs who are currently entering the workforce.
According to the report, 68.9% of students said they don't want to be as "spoiled as members of Generation Z."
Gen Zs, whose numbers are growing further in the workforce, have been branded as entitled by employers who are trying to avoid recruiting them, according to previous reports.
Employers, however, are reminded that many Gen Z employees come from a COVID-disrupted educational backgrounds and are advised to prioritise soft skills advancement to help their new staff.
