17 June 2012, Japan’s Ministry of Labor admitting that workplace stress is causing increased mental illness and even suicide.

Japan’s corporate world mirrors that of the United States.

From March 2011 to March 2012 (Japan’s year) 325 people qualified for worker’s compensation due to mental illness caused by the workplace.  That’s up 17 from 2010.

60 of those workers attempted to kill themselves, or succeeded in killing themselves.

Don’t blame the 11 March 2011 disasters, only 20 of those 325 workers were directly connected with the massive quake & tsunamis.

16% due to excessive work loads

15% due to severe accidents

12% due to workplace harassment/bullying

Another major factor is that Japanese companies are reducing staff, mainly those employees with the most experience, in order to save money.  The problem is that the majority of employees are now younger workers who get very little training, and, are being asked to take on the same responsibilities as the more experienced workers who were laid off!  (sound familiar to you workers of the United States of America?)