Mazda is promoting companywide health improvement activities that emphasize enhanced mental health measures and lifestyle improvements. We will expand these activities globally, and are aiming to improve our system for offering counseling and advice to Group-related companies.
We have developed a consultation system comprising a team of five full-time company doctors, one part-time mental health occupational physician, and 28 public health nurses. We conduct ongoing seminars for managers, supervisors and other employees.
In FY2007, labor and management cooperated to establish the Mental Health Project, which aims to prevent mental illness and promote a more active workplace. This project team is central to the creation of a companywide support system for the prevention of mental illness.
In FY2008, Mazda introduced occupational stress diagnoses known as "vitality checkups" for all employees to reveal individual and organization-level risks, with company doctors, nurses, and workplace managers cooperating to follow up individuals and improve workplaces on the basis of the results. This project will be extended companywide during the next two years.
To improve managers' skills for dealing with mental health issues, new training (a basic version) by outside teachers was provided to all management staff, including directors. Assertiveness training has been introduced for ordinary employees to boost their communications skills, and this will be continued in the future.
In addition, the "Word Bouquet Campaign" to invigorate the workplace has been extended companywide.
- Workplace stress diagnosis 9,283 cases
- Mental health lectures for managers 1,251 participants
- Self-care seminar (autogenic training) 91 participants (cumulative total: 162 participants)
- Mental health training on demand 479 persons
- Line-based care (mental care acquired from case studies) 1,182 cases
- Training for new managers and supervisors 520 participants
Mazda regards promoting lifestyle improvements as an important commitment, and is implementing measures to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. These include setting the goal of reducing the percentage of smokers to 27% companywide, and promoting walking with the companywide goal of 70% or more 10,000-step days. In FY2008 the percentage of smokers was 35.6%, and the percentage of employees walking at least 10,000 steps per day was 45.8%.
In line with the new mandatory specific medical checkups and healthcare guidance, Mazda now offers individual guidance from public health nurses and trainers and is holding exercise classes to help prevent metabolic syndrome.
- Number of smokers: 35.6%
- Walking
Number of participants in the "10,000-steps Challenge" : 5,833
Percentage of employees who achieved 10,000 steps per day: 45.8% - Mazda Active Walking
Smile Course (2,000 km/year): 2,486 participants
Steady Course (2,500 km/year): 1,003 participants - Individual guidance for employees requiring motivational support: 51 cases
- Healthy eating lectures: 684 participants
- Exercise classes: 22 participants
Mazda has implemented a companywide smoke-free day twice a year, has banned smoking inside buildings, and is offering improved individual support with the ultimate aim of reducing the percentage of smokers in the Company to 27.0%. These activities have resulted in a year-on-year reduction in the ratio of smokers, with our smoking rate dropping 1.6% to 35.6% in FY2008.
Mazda has also set 70% or more 10,000-step days as a goal, and is promoting walking through measures such as the distribution of pedometers and the Eco-Walk Commuting Program (with allowance payment), and in FY2008 the 10,000-step Challenge, with the goal of walking 10,000 steps a day, was held three times for indirect employees. A total of 5,833 people participated in the 10,000-step Challenge, with a resulting 10,000-step achievement rate of 45.8%.
The Mazda Active Walking program also continued throughout the year, with the aim of encouraging employees to walk a total of 2,000 km or 2,500 km each year. A total of 3,489 employees took part.
We also provide tools on the Company intranet that help employees record their distances walked, thus increasing their interest in walking, in order to support improvements in employee health In addition, we have established an in-house walking course.
In FY2008, specific medical checkups and healthcare guidance became mandatory, and we have improved programs aimed at lifestyle improvements and preventing metabolic syndrome accordingly, while continuing to take into account the needs of employees and of the workplace.
Since FY2008 we have been offering specific medical guidance on a contract basis from the Mazda Health Insurance Union, and in January 2009 we began providing individual guidance by public health nurses and trainers, mainly for employees requiring motivational support. So far, 51 employees have so far taken part in this program. From FY2009, both group guidance for employees requiring motivational support and individual guidance from employees requiring strong support are scheduled to undergo full-scale expansion.
Voluntary exercise classes led by trainers are held outside working hours as a measure to prevent metabolic syndrome and to provide opportunities to acquire and maintain effective exercise habits, and 22 employees took part in FY2008.
In FY2008, Mazda held a lecture on healthy eating entitled "Healthy Eating: It' s Time to Eat With Your Head Rather Than Just Your Mouth," in which 684 employees took part. We plan to continue to hold lectures and seminars on a continual basis to offer guidance on healthy eating.
In addition, in October 2008 two "healthy meal" options were introduced experimentally as part of the company lunch menu. These healthy meals, which are low-calorie, low-salt, and use high-fiber ingredients, are enjoyed by employees and will continue to be offered twice a week from FY2009.
Mazda has developed and expanded falling-accident risk evaluation tests (performance safety tests) and enjoyable exercises to increase safety and protect aging employees. We will continue these activities with the aim of strengthening employees physically to make them less likely to fall.
In addition to health checkups for all employees, Mazda carries out half-day general physical checkups for employees when they reach the age of 30, 35 and 40 or more. Based on the results of these health checkups, we also promote health by offering guidance through company doctors and nurses and diet rallies*1 through the corporate intranet.
- *1Diet rallies are a way of supporting dieters by means of e-mail and Web sites, including individual advice from nurses, providing useful information for dieters, and progress-checking among participants, helping them achieve their diet goals.
- Percentage of employees receiving health checkups: 100%
- Number of comprehensive medical checkups (ages 30, 35, 40 or more): 13,176
- Number of general regular medical checkups: 16,162
- Number of specific medical checkups: 2,350
- Number of overseas medical checkups: 462
- Number of people receiving personal guidance on the basis of health checkup results: 758
- Number of face-to-face guidance sessions by company doctors or nurses (including lifestyle and nutritional guidance): 9,108
- Number of diet rallies (dieting seminars on the intranet): 256
- Number of employees prescribed nicotine patches: 357
In April 2003, Mazda initiated a system where company doctors conduct interviews with employees who work more than a certain amount of overtime*2 and nurses offer guidance to prevent potential sickness resulting from overwork.
In July 2007, we started a No-Overtime Week system in which these employees are prohibited from working overtime and from working on holidays.
To prevent the accumulation of fatigue, we have introduced a three-part health status check that we have called the SEE Check, which comprises reciprocal confirmation with supervisors about sleep (Are you sleeping enough?), eating (Are you eating well?), and enjoyment (Are you finding time to enjoy life?).
- *2This system applies to employees who work 100 hours or more of overtime in a single month, or if overtime during the past two to six months averages 80 hours or more, and those who work more than 45 hours of overtime per month and for whom consultation is recommended by company doctors.
AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) has been engaged in activities to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS since 2003. Its activities include education for employees and awareness-raising activities to help HIV/AIDS prevention. Twice a year, before the major holiday periods, it holds displays of panels about HIV/AIDS prevention, and is striving to improve awareness of the issue.
Free HIV/AIDS testing and counseling are also provided to employees and their families. The AAT Hope Club, composed of employee volunteers, also makes regular visits to HIV/AIDS-related facilities.
In August 2008, a doll to raise awareness HIV infection went on sale to employees, and the profits were donated to HIV/AIDS patients and their children. Many employees took part in this activity by purchasing the doll as an easy way of making a social contribution.
From 2009, awareness-raising activities will focus on students, as this age group has a high infection rate.
AAT' s continued efforts in employee education and its other initiatives to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS were recognized by its receipt of the ASO-T (AIDS-response Standard Organization Thailand) Platinum Award in May 2009. This award is offered by ASO-T, in association with the Thai Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Public Health, to companies and organizations that stand out for their educational or other initiatives in HIV/AIDS prevention. ASO-T has established the new Platinum Award in addition to its existing Silver and Gold Awards provide recognition to even more outstanding projects, and AAT is its first recipient. AAT will continue its proactive engagement in activities to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
