Stress checks become mandatory for workplaces with fewer than 50 workers (April 2028)Even small companies will have to do a "stress check"
Under the amended Industrial Safety and Health Act promulgated in May 2025, stress checks, which had been only a "best-efforts" obligation for the time being at workplaces with fewer than 50 workers, will become mandatory from April 1, 2028 (Reiwa 10). In February 2026 (Reiwa 8), the MHLW published an implementation manual for small workplaces.
- May 2025Amended Industrial Safety and Health Act promulgated
- February 2026 (Reiwa 8)Implementation manual for small workplaces published
- April 1, 2027 (Reiwa 9)Rules specify group analysis must not identify individuals
- April 1, 2028 (Reiwa 10)Stress checks become mandatory even for workplaces with fewer than 50 workers
Key points
- Applies to workplaces with fewer than 50 workers. Until now this has been a best-efforts obligation for the time being
- Takes effect on April 1, 2028 (Reiwa 10)
- From April 1, 2027 (Reiwa 9), the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health will specify that group analysis must be done in a way that does not identify individuals
- In February 2026 (Reiwa 8), the "Stress Check System Implementation Manual for Small Workplaces" was published
What to do in practice
- Consider the setup for the implementer and implementation staff, and outsourcing to an external provider, by April 2028
- Check the implementation flow in the published manual
A stress check is a questionnaire that finds out whether work is wearing out your mind. Until now, companies with few people were only asked to "do it if you can," but from April 2028, even small companies must do it.
- 1. NowSmall companies "do it if they can"
- 2. PrepareRead the manual and decide who will do it
- 3. April 1, 2028Even small companies must do it
Points
- It applies to companies and workplaces with fewer than 50 workers
- It starts on April 1, 2028 (Reiwa 10)
- The government has published a manual explaining how to do it for small companies
What the words mean
- Stress check
- A questionnaire that measures how tired your mind is from work
- Workplace (jigyojo)
- The place where people actually work, such as a head office or a branch
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) (Shiga Labour Bureau): Shiga Labour Bureau: Stress checks will become mandatory from April 1, 2028 (Reiwa 10) for workplaces with fewer than 50 workers
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) (Shiga Labour Bureau): Yamanashi Labour Bureau: Stress check system and mental health measures (from April 1, 2028 (Reiwa 10))
This article summarizes and explains materials published by government agencies and is not advice on any individual case. Rules can change, so for actual procedures and decisions always check the latest original materials and consult professionals such as tax accountants or labor and social security attorneys. English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions are translations prepared from the Japanese articles for convenience. If anything differs, the Japanese text and the original source take precedence.