key: cord-0830033-6pvrar82
authors: Ishimaru, T.; Nagata, M.; Hino, A.; Yamashita, S.; Tateishi, S.; Tsuji, M.; Ogami, A.; Matsuda, S.; Fujino, Y.
title: Workplace measures against COVID-19 during the winter third wave in Japan: company size-based differences
date: 2021-02-16
journal: nan
DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.14.21251716
sha: 0c768ad3e99f37a9ec42632a6bd27e039b1a810a
doc_id: 830033
cord_uid: 6pvrar82

Objectives: Little is known about workplace measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan after the first state of emergency period, especially in micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This study aimed to provide an overview of the current situation of anti-COVID-19 measures in Japanese enterprises, considering company size. Methods: This study was an Internet-based nationwide cross-sectional study. Data were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire in December 2020 during the third wave of COVID-19. The chi-squared test for trend was performed to calculate the p-value for trend for each workplace measure across company sizes. Results: For the 27,036 participants, across company sizes, the most prevalent workplace measure was encouraging mask wearing at work, followed by requesting that employees refrain from going to work when ill and restricting work-related social gatherings and entertainment. These measures were implemented by approximately 90% of large-scale enterprises and by more than 40% of micro- and small-scale enterprises. In contrast, encouraging remote working and restricting eating and drinking at personal workspaces were implemented by less than half of large-scale enterprises and by around 15% of micro- and small-scale enterprises. There were statistically significant differences in all workplace measures by company size (all p-values < .001). Conclusions: We found that various responses to COVID-19 had been taken in workplaces. However, some measures, including remote working, were still not well implemented, especially in smaller enterprises. The findings suggest that occupational health support for MSMEs is urgently needed to mitigate the current wave of COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 63 that is easily transmitted between persons; therefore, infection prevention and control in 64 the workplace are of major concern. 1 A previous study in Japan reported that most 65 companies had taken individual-level precautions, such as hand washing and cough 66 etiquette, but lagged behind in terms of organizational-level initiatives such as remote 67 working and staggered commuting, especially in micro-, small-, and medium-sized 68 enterprises (MSMEs), because of limited resources to respond to 69 this previous study was conducted in mid-March 2020 during the early stages of the 70 epidemic, and the current situation may differ. in Japanese enterprises, taking company size into account. The findings will offer 82 evidence on good practice for balancing business and infection control. The results will 83 be useful for both countries and workplaces struggling during the pandemic.

All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission.

(which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. conducted, the numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths were much higher than in 97 the first and second waves; therefore, Japan was on maximum alert during the third 98 wave. The current study provides an overview of workplace measures against COVID-19 during 144 the winter third wave in Japan, taking company size into account. We found that, Another remarkable finding of this study is that smaller enterprises were less likely to December 2020. Accessed February 1, 2021. 

The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: What we know

Restricting eating and drinking at personal workspaces, n (%)

Company size (number of employees) 1-9 n = 6,165