#Japan #Employee Health #Kitakyushu #And-L Work #Nakagawa Foods

Embracing Employee Wellness: Nakagawa Foods Adopts And-L Work

Nakagawa Foods Co., Ltd., a notable manufacturer and distributor of konnyaku and mekabu based in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, has recently integrated the corporate health support service, And-L Work. This initiative aims to enhance employee well-being by streamlining access to medical services and improving mental health checks through an innovative online platform developed by And-L Co., Ltd.

Background Behind the Adoption

Founded in 1965, Nakagawa Foods has consistently prioritized community nourishment, pledging to deliver ‘gratitude to the table.’ Over the years, the organization has grown to employ around 130 individuals, a significant percentage of whom are factory workers. The challenge arose with the presence of approximately 30 employees who do not speak Japanese as their first language, resulting in increased operational burdens when accompanying colleagues to medical facilities during health issues. Therefore, the company sought a solution that would alleviate this load while promoting equitable health benefits for all staff members.

Management insisted on a system that would be accessible not just to new hires or long-standing staff but one that could be utilized by everyone, regardless of their role. Given that most employees work in hands-on roles rather than desk jobs, a flexible service that would cater to all types of workers was essential.

Ultimately, And-L Work was chosen for its user-friendly nature, allowing employees to complete the necessary health check-ups using just a smartphone, making it viable for their diverse working conditions. The shift to And-L Work also meant transitioning stress checks, previously conducted via paper through a health center, to the new online platform.

Positive Outcomes from Implementation

After approximately four months of operation, the uptake of And-L Work exceeded expectations, reaching various age groups within the company, particularly those initially thought to be less likely to utilize such a service.

Increase in Utilization Across Ages

Initial assumptions indicated that employees in their 50s and 60s might show reluctance in using the system. However, feedback has shown that many have actively engaged with the service, with some even encouraging family members to sign up. Notably, employees requiring regular prescriptions—such as those for pollen allergies, asthma, or dermatological care—have particularly benefitted, demonstrating that medical needs cross age boundaries.

Convenient Medical Visits During Work Hours

For some employees, the previous requirement to visit medical institutions after working hours or during limited days off posed substantial barriers. The introduction of And-L Work has significantly eased the scheduling burden, allowing staff to access medical attention more readily. This convenience is regarded as a major advancement in supporting the health of employees who often struggled to find time for necessary visits.

Enhanced Stress Check Management

Previously, the company managed stress checks manually, from distributing paper forms to following up with employees who hadn’t responded. With And-L Work, the process has been streamlined; links to the stress check survey are sent directly to employees' email addresses, and information for non-Japanese speakers is easily disseminated via existing social media communication channels. This transition has allowed for more nuanced data analysis, enabling more accurate groupings which reflect reality, rather than forcing disparate team members into the same categories as before.

In the coming months, Nakagawa Foods plans to further increase utilization of And-L Work, especially among employees who do not have Japanese as their mother tongue, and to expand its benefits to employees' families.

Note: Employees' personal health information remains fully confidential and will not be disclosed to the company without their consent.

About And-L Work

And-L Work is a comprehensive online health support service tailored for corporate clients, designed to bolster employee wellness via accessible medical services, expert counseling, and stress analysis tools. It includes features such as:

• - And-L Clinic: Minimizing appointment time and easing access to healthcare.
• - And-L Consultation Room: Offering a platform for mental health and personal issues.
• - Stress Checks and Pulse Surveys: Visualizing employee states for better management.
• - And-L Medical Examination Agency: Handling tedious health check processes with AI assistance.
• - Affordable options for corporate medical services and whistleblower hotlines.

For more details on the service, you can visit And-L Work.

About Nakagawa Foods

Nakagawa Foods Co., Ltd. specializes in the manufacturing and wholesale of traditional Japanese foods like konnyaku, mekabu, and tokoroten from its base in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. Since its inception, it has upheld the motto of bringing 'gratitude to the table' and has played an integral role in its local food landscape. In March 2020, Nakagawa Foods received the JFS-B certification for food safety management.

For more information, you can visit their website at Nakagawa Foods.