Employee Health and Wellness
Providing safe and healthy workplaces where our employees can demonstrate their full potential is one of ’s top priorities. Guided by the Rakuten Health Declaration, “Well-being First,“ we aim to create the conditions for a motivated and engaged workforce that is highly productive and innovative.
Health and Wellness at Rakuten
Rakuten Health Declaration
Our Approach
Health, safety and wellness initiatives at Rakuten are not limited to internal efforts. We leverage our network of partners and data-driven culture to improve the health of our employees through collaboration with them and external stakeholders such as government agencies, educational institutions and hospitals. Through these, we aim to do our part in improving the Well-being of society at large.
We are committed to continually improving the performance of our wellness management system, and to establishing priorities and related action plans with quantitative goal-setting.
Management System
Rakuten has established a system for promoting group-wide health, safety and wellness management, starting with our CEO.
Under the leadership of our Chief Well-Being Officer (CWO), the Wellness Department liaises with group companies and implement a range of initiatives to promote a healthy body, mind and connection with society, with the goal of fostering an organizational culture that allows employees to work in a healthy and sustainable manner. These health-management initiatives take place at a Group-wide level in the form of regular health management working groups to spread knowledge and share information, as well as hearings on health issues and current health status.
Rakuten Kenpo, Rakuten’s Health Insurance Association, supports the health of our employees and their families through the provision of healthcare information, various health checkups for disease and illness prevention and access to exercise and recreation facilities.
Health Management Strategy Map
The well-being of employees and of the organization as a whole, and its effects on business performance are complex issues which depend on multiple and interconnected factors. Our health management strategy is based on a firm understanding of this complexity and our initiatives launched with concrete outcomes expected on these different parameters.
Understanding
Well-being Survey
We analyze our employees’ physical and mental health by regularly conducting well-being surveys covering three aspects: body, mind and connection with society. With questions related to job performance and the ways in which wellness culture is fostered within the company, we get a clear picture of our employees’ physical and mental health status and identify issues to be addressed.
The survey results conducted to date have identified three challenges: Lack of physical exercise, poor sleep quality and weight management. Rakuten is implementing a variety of initiatives with the goal of reducing the percentage of employees experiencing each of these issues by 30% per year.
Data from Wellness Survey
- Absenteeism*1
- FY 2021: 1.74 days
- FY 2022: 3.86 days
- Presenteeism*2
- FY 2021: 86.6%
- FY 2022: 82.08%
- Total Employee Experience (TEX)*3
- FY 2022: 3.75/5
- *1 Absenteeism: Late arrival or early departure due to health issues, time off due to inability to work
- *2 Presenteeism: Poor performance due to health issues, even when present for work
- *3 Total Employee Experience (TEX): Employees' level of vitality, enthusiasm and immersion in the workplace
Stress Check
Rakuten conducts annual employee stress checks in an effort to help our employees better understand their mental health. This also helps the company to recognize stress-related trends in the workplace. The results are reviewed by industrial physicians and nurses. Employees are encouraged to seek further consultation according to their individual needs.
Improving
Employee Participation Initiatives
Health Committee
To effectively promote our health activities, the Health Committee was established as a way for employees and management to work together to investigate and think about important health matters.
Regular Health Checkup
Periodic health checkups are conducted so that employees can monitor their own health status and find out how to maintain and improve their overall wellness. We also issue newsletters explaining how to review checkup results so that employees can better manage their health. Health guidance is provided for employees who meet specific criteria to establish a long-term healthcare plan.
Wellness Seminars and Events
We organize seminars on a regular basis to raise employees' awareness and promote exemplary health practices. Various experts are invited to share concrete and practical advice for wellness improvement.
Our seminars have so far covered themes including:
Body
- Relieving back pain, neck and shoulder stiffness: Insights and advice on body posture and easy stretching exercises.
- Eye care: How to prevent and treat eye strain and eye fatigue.
- Brain health: Knowledge on strokes and other common brain maladies.
- Lifestyle diseases: How to interpret health checkup results, basic knowledge of lifestyle diseases and how to avoid them by improving daily routines.
- Dental health: Oral care for business professionals.
- Building an ideal body: Training methods for better posture.
Mind
Connection with Society
Women’s health
- Pre-conception care: How to organize your lifestyle, health and career for a possible pregnancy.
- Infertility treatment: Fundamentals of infertility treatment, balancing treatment with work, tips from guests with personal experience.
- Menstruation: Fundamentals of women's health for business professionals.
Events such as yoga, stretching and calisthenics classes are held regularly as well. Through these events, we support the development of healthy habits among our employees and promote a sense of togetherness. In addition, stretching sessions are held during Asakai, Rakuten’s weekly morning meetings. Please visit our social media accounts to see the stretch exercise videos produced by Rakuten.
No. of wellness seminar
participants as of Sep 2022
6,778
No. of wellness event
participants as of Sep 2022
8,944
No. of wellness channel
views as of Sep 2022
12,000
Employee walking initiative
Over a period of three weeks, employees use a health monitoring app to contend for the most total steps. Aiming to fortify our One Team spirit, this initiative looks to build community and boost motivation through the sharing of photos and information among participants. For the Summer 2022 iteration of this event, we created the CWO Award, which our Chief Well-Being Officer awards to the employee who took the most steps. This is a collaborative health initiative, held in cooperation with Rakuten KENPO.
Employee walking initiative
Over a period of three weeks, employees use a health monitoring app to contend for the most total steps. Aiming to fortify our One Team spirit, this initiative looks to build community and boost motivation through the sharing of photos and information among participants. For the Summer 2022 iteration of this event, we created the CWO Award, which our Chief Well-Being Officer awards to the employee who took the most steps. This is a collaborative health initiative, held in cooperation with Rakuten KENPO.
Asakai stretching
We stage a wellness segment at our all-hands meeting ‘Asakai.’ Employees across the company take the time to stretch, guided by a stretching video made by Rakuten. This video is also available on our internal portal so that it can be used by individual employees or at team huddles.
Asakai stretching
We stage a wellness segment at our all-hands meeting ‘Asakai.’ Employees across the company take the time to stretch, guided by a stretching video made by Rakuten. This video is also available on our internal portal so that it can be used by individual employees or at team huddles.
InBody (body composition analysis machine) events
We hold regular InBody analysis events. By measuring body composition, muscle mass and fat levels, employees can gain an in-depth understanding of their health, encouraging them to develop exercising habits where necessary.
InBody (body composition analysis machine) events
We hold regular InBody analysis events. By measuring body composition, muscle mass and fat levels, employees can gain an in-depth understanding of their health, encouraging them to develop exercising habits where necessary.
Fitness programs
Through small-class programs such as circuit training, we provide opportunities for employees to have fun building strength at our in-house gym.
Fitness programs
Through small-class programs such as circuit training, we provide opportunities for employees to have fun building strength at our in-house gym.
Pilates classes
To help employees relieve stiff joints, we carry out 15-minute lunchtime Pilates classes in our fitness gym.
Pilates classes
To help employees relieve stiff joints, we carry out 15-minute lunchtime Pilates classes in our fitness gym.
Seminar on Women’s Health Issues
In collaboration with the Preconception Care Center at the National Center for Child Health and Development, we stage seminars to spread awareness of preconception care. These seminars aim to improve health in young men and women to enable them to raise their quality of life; improve health outlooks for children of the next generation; and invigorate society as a whole.
We have also created a series of seminars surrounding women’s health, which we hold regularly.
Seminar on Women’s Health Issues
In collaboration with the Preconception Care Center at the National Center for Child Health and Development, we stage seminars to spread awareness of preconception care. These seminars aim to improve health in young men and women to enable them to raise their quality of life; improve health outlooks for children of the next generation; and invigorate society as a whole.
We have also created a series of seminars surrounding women’s health, which we hold regularly.
Mindfulness Network
The Mindfulness Network is one of the employee-led networks at Rakuten where groups of employees connect based on shared characteristics, interests and life experiences. The Mindfulness Network carries out activities to improve productivity, communication skills and mental health through the practice of mindfulness. The Network offers an environment where employees can deepen their knowledge and understanding of mindfulness using scientifically proven data. Regular workshops, internal training, guest lectures and collaborative research on mindfulness with external stakeholders are conducted.
An Environment that Supports the Health of Employees
Health Consultation Desk
We offer a contact point where employees can consult with industrial physicians when they feel unwell due to mental, physical or workplace concerns. Industrial physicians offer specific and practical advice to employees, aiming for early recovery and resolution.
Workplaces that Support Employees’ Health
Rakuten Crimson House, Rakuten's headquarters, provides nutritionally balanced meals as well as gym and spa facilities to support employees’ health. We also have an in-house clinic open for consultation on health concerns.
COVID-19 Countermeasures
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections, several measures have been implemented at our offices. Flextime was introduced to adapt to new remote working styles, but also to enable employees who need to commute to avoid rush-hour crowds when taking public transportation. In the offices, body temperature is checked at the entrance. Employees are expected to use a social distancing app that notifies them of close contact with COVID-19 positive users at all times. Protective screens are also placed between desks, and the number of people in meeting rooms, elevators and other common spaces is restricted.
Awards and Recognitions
In 2023, Rakuten Group, Inc. was recognized as a White 500 company for the second consecutive year. In addition, Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. and Rakuten Communications Corp. were listed as Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations. The recognition program by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi highlights outstanding entreprises implementing health and productivity management, among which the top 500 receives the "White 500" distinction.
Rakuten was recognized as a Sports Yell Company 2023 as a company actively engaged in promoting sports activities to improve employee health. This recognition was for our efforts in promoting employees’ health through incorporating stretch sessions into Asakai, providing online fitness programs and health seminars, and promoting a healthy lifestyle using smartphone apps. This award highlighted our effective use of technology as well as content promoting fundamental transformations of employees’ lifestyles and daily routines.
Health and Safety Data
Total number of employee fatalities:
0
Lost-time occupational injury frequency rate:
0*
Lost-time occupational disease frequency rate:
0.06*
- Calculation method:
- (Number of employees absent from work for one day or more or who have lost function of part of their body due to a work-related injury x 1,000,000)/total working hours.
- (Number of employees absent from work for one day or more or who have lost function of part of their body due to a work-related illness x 1,000,000)/total working hours.
- *Number of cases per million hours worked.