#Japan #Tokyo #Workplace Culture #Harassment Prevention #Legal updates

Tackling Workplace Harassment: Emerging Obligations and Cultural Shifts

In recent years, the number of workplace harassment complaints has surged, growing nearly threefold within just three years. With December designated as the "Month for Eradicating Workplace Harassment" by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the need for effective strategies is more critical than ever. The Claire Human Resources Development Association, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, is organizing a seminar aimed at HR personnel and managers to address this pressing issue.

According to data from the Tokyo Labour Bureau, the number of harassment-related complaints reported increased from 3,788 in the fiscal year 2022 to an alarming 10,333 in fiscal year 2024, highlighting that harassment remediation has become a central business challenge for many organizations.

Increasing Concerns and Upcoming Legislative Changes

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has been advocating for the eradication of workplace harassment every December, focusing on public awareness and promotion of healthy workplace environments. However, feedback from companies indicates that confusion regarding customer harassment, along with appropriate responses to job seekers and interns, is prevalent.

Companies report concerns such as:

• - Uncertainty over the boundaries of customer harassment leaving employees to make subjective calls at work.
• - Difficulty determining the level of care required for interns and job candidates during recruitment.
• - Existing protocols and guidelines failing to align with on-the-ground communication needs.

With recent amendments to the Comprehensive Promotion of Labour Policy Act, business owners will soon be required to put in place measures addressing customer harassment and sexual harassment towards job seekers. Rather than merely adding regulations, it is imperative that organizations design rules tailored to their specific environments that protect both employees and customers.

This seminar will clarify the new legal obligations regarding customer harassment and harassment faced by job seekers while also tackling the blurry lines between guidance and harassment. Participants will engage with real-world examples and institutional designs to navigate these grey areas effectively.

Seminar Details

Date: December 5, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Organizer: Claire Human Resources Development Association
Location: Headquarters, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Note: This event is specifically for media and press for reporting and information purposes.

Potential Interview Angles

• - How will the 2025 law revisions impact corporate strategies towards customer harassment?
• - What are the current trends and factors contributing to the tripling of harassment complaints?
• - The challenges small to medium enterprises face regarding the realities of workplace dynamics that cannot be addressed through policy alone.
• - The rise in complaints from students and younger employees and its implications on talent acquisition.
• - The desire to cultivate HR specialists focused on harassment prevention within companies.

Speaker Introduction

Jun Ono
Certified Social Insurance and Labour Consultant with over 400 training sessions on harassment and labour issues conducted in corporations and educational institutions. Known for practical lectures emphasizing how to implement legal requirements effectively in the workplace, he also oversees training for the Employment Clean Planner certification program.

About Claire Human Resources Development Association

Founded in 2023, the Claire Human Resources Development Association operates as a group subsidiary of Company SA, focusing on training and certification related to employment, labor, and harassment prevention. The organization emphasizes protecting workers and their families through its Employment Clean Business initiative, providing training that directly applies to workplace scenarios. Over 650 professionals have earned the "Employment Clean Planner" qualification to work effectively across various sectors, including companies, public organizations, and educational institutions.

Visit our official website for more information: Claire Human Resources Development Association