Workplace Measures Against COVID-19 and Mistreatment in the Workplace Among Japanese Employees

This 1-year prospective cohort study investigated the workplace COVID-19 infection prevention measures that risk being perceived as mistreatment by workers. It is important to implement the measures that are less burden on employees in the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. This study showed that the burden on workers varies depending on the measures. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to identify the COVID-19 infection prevention measures that are at risk of being perceived by employees as mistreatment in the workplace.MethodsThis study included full-time workers who enrolled as subjects in a nationwide prospective cohort study. Baseline surveys performed during the pandemic were used to identify the workplace measures against COVID-19. A tracing survey was conducted 1 year later to assess workplace mistreatment.ResultsOf the 18,170 participants, 276 judged that they had experienced mistreatment by the measures. "Enforcing daily temperature measurement" and "stopping business trips" were associated with mistreatment. Meanwhile, "requesting that employees refrain from going to work when ill" and "restricting work-related social gatherings and entertainment" had the potential to reduce workplace mistreatment.ConclusionsCertain measures against COVID-19 can reduce or increase the burden on employees.