Workplace measures against COVID-19 during the winter third wave in Japan: company size-based differences

  1. Tomohiro Ishimaru
  2. Masako Nagata
  3. Ayako Hino
  4. Satoshi Yamashita
  5. Seiichiro Tateishi
  6. Mayumi Tsuji
  7. Akira Ogami
  8. Shinya Matsuda
  9. Yoshihisa Fujino
  10. for the CORoNaWork Project

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Abstract

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.

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  1. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2021.02.14.21251716: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board Statementnot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Software and Algorithms
    SentencesResources
    Statistical significance was assessed at p-value < 0.05. Stata/SE 16.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA) was used for the statistical analysis.
    StataCorp
    suggested: (Stata, RRID:SCR_012763)

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    This study has several limitations. First, the current study did not use random sampling or collect data from all companies. Consequently, the sample may not represent the national situation, and any generalization of the results should be carried out with care. For example, there is a risk of overestimation if multiple study participants were from the same organization. To cope with these problems, the current study was conducted using cluster sampling with stratification by sex, age, region, and job type. Second, the current study did not evaluate all types of workplace measures; for instance, information dissemination and actions for confirmed COVID-19 cases were not considered. However, because we focused on preventive measures listed in guidelines and relevant publications in Japan,2, 7, 8 we believe that these items reflect the current situation of measures against COVID-19 at each company. In conclusion, this study revealed the current situation regarding workplace measures against COVID-19 in Japan. We found that various responses to COVID-19 have been implemented at workplaces. However, some measures, including remote working, were still not well implemented, especially in relatively small enterprises. The findings suggest that occupational health support for MSMEs is urgently needed to mitigate the current wave of COVID-19.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  2. Version published to 10.1101/2021.02.14.21251716v1 on medRxiv
  3. Version published to 10.1002/1348-9585.12224