How to Deal With Workplace Harassment in Japan

Are you or a friend subject to workplace harassment in Japan?

Although I have never experienced this, I found myself at a loss when it happened to a friend. Recently, I have seen many people seeking help in various support groups and on social media. So, I have decided to write this summary regarding power harassment in the workplace, focusing especially on your rights and the actions you can take.

Harassment Should Never Be Tolerated

Since April 2022, small and medium-sized companies must take measures to prevent power harassment. Power harassment is a form of harassment in which someone in a superior position uses their power to harass a person in a lower position. Here, the term “superior” does not only means in terms of hierarchical position but also “superior” in ability, experience, or even personality. Therefore, a worker can commit power harassment to their boss.（That is called“Gyaku Pawahara”(逆パワハラ) in Japanese, which means” reverse power harassment.”

Measures that should be taken by companies mainly include promoting awareness regarding power and moral harassment and building a reporting system for taking appropriate measures in case of a problem.

However, “Many companies still have not started establishing such measures, or even…