Shimizu Implements Company-Wide Smoking Ban During Work Hours, Effective October 1

― Providing Various Supportive Programs to Quit ―

  • Management

October 1, 2021

Today(October 1), Shimizu Corporation(President: Kazuyuki Inoue) banned smoking during working hours and closed smoking area in Head Office and in all permanent offices in Japan and overseas, as part of an effort to promote employee health and wellbeing.

After Japan banned indoor smoking under the April 2020 Revised Health Promotion Act, many Japanese companies took action to prevent passive smoking. Likewise, Shimizu decided to ban smoking during work hours to protect employees from the harmful effects of smoking, thereby demonstrating its commitment to employee health and wellbeing. Shimizu will also expand its program for encouraging smokers to quit. Until now, smokers have received smoking cessation clinic supporting from the clinic in Head Office. In addition to this measure, Shimizu will send supportive emails written by a public health nurse. It will also use digital signage and internal communications to send guidance about quitting smoking.

Shimizu has committed to employee health and wellness as part of an agenda to strengthen its management foundations, which itself forms part of the Mid-Term Management Plan(2019-2023) launched in 2019. In September 2020, the company declare to improve health management in which each employee can be healthy, work energetically, and demonstrate the skills they possess. Since then, Shimizu has taken active measures to improve employees’ health. Specifically, it has enhanced mental healthcare and Covid safety measures, introduced healthier options in the cafeteria menu, and strengthened guidance for healthier lifestyles. In recognition of these efforts, Shimizu was certified an outstanding organization in health and productivity management in March 2021, under a program run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Committed as ever to health and wellbeing, Shimizu will continue promoting occupational health and building an ever healthier workplace to improve the job satisfaction and happiness of every employee.

The information contained in this news release is the current information on the date of publication. Please be aware that this information may have changed by the time you view it. Please contact the company to inquire for further details.