Evaluation of workplace infection prevention and control measures for COVID-19: A prospective cohort study in Japan.

Background: Encouraging the implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures has been necessary to prevent workplace infections caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the effectiveness of these measures in reducing infections has not been thoroughly evaluated. We evaluated employees' COVID-19 infection rates in relation to the implementation of IPC measures at their workplaces to identify effective workplace measures. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted between December 2020 and December 2021 using Internet-based self-assessment questionnaires, with 11,982 participants included from the baseline. To estimate whether implementing workplace IPC measures was associated with COVID-19 incidence rates among participants, we estimated multivariate-adjusted relative risk (RR) using a log-binomial model. Results: After adjusting for sex, age, education, household members, occupation-related factors, and personal preventive behaviors, requesting ill employees to refrain from going to work showed significantly lower COVID-19 infection rates than not requesting it (RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34-0.91, p = 0.019). Conclusions: Employees restricted from reporting to work when ill had significantly lower COVID-19 infection rates than those who did not follow this measure. The results indicated that not coming to work when ill was effective in reducing COVID-19 infections at the workplace. We suggest that companies proactively adopt this policy and encourage their employees to comply with it.

Factors associated with acceptance of a digital contact tracing application for COVID-19 in the Japanese working-age population.

The working-age population is at the epicenter of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. Therefore, it is important to increase the acceptance of digital contact tracing apps in this population. Contact-Confirming Application (COCOA) is the only digital contact tracing app in Japan. This study aimed to determine factors associated with acceptance of the COCOA for COVID-19 in the Japanese working-age population. A cross-sectional study was performed for 27,036 full-time workers registered with an internet survey company during December 2020 in Japan. Factors associated with COCOA adoption were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The rate of downloading the COCOA was 25.1%. The COCOA was more likely to be accepted by people with married status, university graduation or above, higher income, and occupations involving desk work. Fear of COVID-19 transmission, wearing a mask, using hand disinfection, willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and presence of an acquaintance infected with COVID-19 were also associated with a greater likelihood of adopting the app. The rate of downloading the COCOA in Japan was not very high. The present findings have important implications for widespread adoption of digital contact tracing apps in working-age populations in Japan and elsewhere.

The effects of telecommuting and family cohabiting situation on psychological distress in Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether telecommuting's impact on psychological distress differed depending on the status of workers' cohabiting family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We collected data from 33 302 workers in Japan through an Internet survey, and included 27 036 valid responses in the analysis. The survey included items on family cohabitation and telecommuting status during the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed workers' psychological distress using the Kessler 6. RESULTS: The psychological distress odds ratios (ORs) were higher for participants who lived with family members requiring care (OR = 1.38, P < .001), and lower for participants living with preschool children (OR = 0.77, P < .001) or a spouse (OR = 0.80, P < .001). Furthermore, odds ratios were higher for participants who worked from home and lived with family members requiring care or preschool children (OR = 1.52, P = .002; OR = 1.28, P = .028). Stratified by the presence or absence of family members living with them, psychological distress was higher for telecommuters with family members requiring care, preschool children, or elementary school children. CONCLUSION: The association between telecommuting and psychological distress varies, depending on workers' living situation with family members.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Association Between Telecommuting Environments and Shoulder Pain Among Japanese Telecommuting Workers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between telecommuting environments and shoulder pain in Japanese telecommuters. METHODS: We conducted an Internet-monitored, cross-sectional study and analyzed 2537 participants who mainly telecommuted at least 4 days per week. We assessed the presence of shoulder pain using a numerical rating scale and the characteristics of the telecommuting environment by asking eight questions. We used multilevel logistic regression analysis with the city of residence as a random effect. RESULTS: Inadequate desk brightness (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.78), inadequate foot space (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02-1.58), and uncomfortable temperature and humidity (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.16-1.72) were associated with shoulder pain in multilevel logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Inappropriate telecommuting environments were associated with an increase in the prevalence of shoulder pain in Japanese telecommuters.

Changes in work/sleep patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with psychological distress among Japanese workers.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted working life quality. This study investigated whether changes in work/sleep patterns due to the pandemic are related to poor psychological status among Japanese workers during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2020). We hypothesized that workers who experienced drastic changes in working hours and sleep duration would be at an increased risk of psychological distress. Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered Internet survey was conducted that included questions regarding socio-demographics, lifestyle, health, and occupational background and conditions. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to examine the association between psychological distress and a combination of changes in working hours and sleep duration. Results: Among 25,762 workers, decreased work hours and decreased sleep duration presented 2.59 times higher odds of psychological distress (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.05-3.28) compared to those who had no changes in work hours combined with unchanged sleep duration (reference group). Increased work hours and decreased sleep duration were associated with 1.98 times higher odds of psychological distress (95% CI = 1.64-2.39). Conclusion: Our observations confirmed that decreased sleep duration could be a key factor for psychological distress, irrespective of working hours. Interestingly, workers with a combination of decreased work hours and sleep duration posed the highest risk of psychological distress. Decreased work hours accompanied by financial difficulties in the early stage of the pandemic may have caused decreased sleep duration, resulting in a high prevalence of psychological distress. Our study underlined the importance of sleep management in maintaining workers' mental health, moreover, the need to consider situations and conditions of other daily tasks, such as work hours, for better sleep management.

Personal infection prevention behaviors and campaign to encourage travel during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: The Go To Travel campaign in Japan was launched to subsidize travel and accommodation costs for tourists through vouchers that could be used at domestic destinations. Infection prevention behavior can lead to refraining from travel owing to infection concerns; conversely, taking preventive action can promote travel. There is a lack of information about the association between infection prevention behaviors and desire to travel. During a pandemic of infection, there is the difficult challenge of balancing the promotion of infection prevention behavior with economic revitalization. Thus, we examined the relationship between personal infection prevention behaviors and using Go To Travel. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 26,637 workers who responded to a large-scale questionnaire survey about COVID-19 in Japan. We built multilevel logistic regression models adjusted for confounders to assess the association between each personal infection prevention behavior and using Go To Travel. We analyzed the seven infection prevention behavior individually: wearing a mask when among other people; disinfecting hands with alcohol before going indoors; washing hands after using the toilet; gargling upon returning home; opening a window to ventilate a room; carrying an alcohol sanitizer; and disinfecting hands after touching objects outside. Results: Among the 26,637 participants, 7,959 (30%) used Go To Travel. For "wearing a mask in the presence of others" and "washing hands after using the toilet," the majority of respondents answered "almost always: 86.5 and 85.6% respectively. Action "carrying alcohol disinfectant" was the least implemented, with 36.9% of respondents saying "almost never." Two of the seven preventive behaviors ("disinfecting hands with alcohol before going indoors" and "carrying alcohol disinfectant") were positively related to using Go To Travel, that is, the more of these actions they took, the more they used Go To Travel (p for trend <0.001). Conclusions: To balance pandemic preparedness with economic preparedness, it is also necessary to promote travel when the infection situation is calm. However, since human mobility can be a factor that exacerbates the infection situation, it is necessary to promote more infection prevention behaviors among individuals. We confirmed that Go To Travel users were basically doing a good infection prevention behaviors, but they tended not to wash their hands after touching things or carry alcohol sanitizer. It is necessary to encourage these measures to be taken when traveling.

Association between preventive measures against workplace infection and preventive behavior against personal infection.

To prevent the spread of infection, it is necessary for each individual to adopt infection prevention behavior. We investigated the effect of infection control measures implemented in the workplace on personal infection prevention behavior. We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey through the Internet from December 22 to 25, 2020, during which period coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was spreading. Among respondents aged 20 to 65 years (n=27,036), 21,915 workers were included in the analysis. The results showed that as the number of infection control measures in the workplace increased, implementation of infection prevention behavior by individuals also significantly increased. However, the relationship differed depending on the type of personal infection prevention behavior. Specifically, infection control measures against COVID-19 in the workplace may affect personal infection prevention behavior. Implementation of infection control measures in the workplace increases awareness of the importance of individual infection prevention behavior and its implementation by all individuals. These findings may be applicable not only to COVID-19 measures but also to responses to other emerging infections and seasonal influenza.

Job stress and work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic among Japanese workers: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: The work style reforms and the coronavirus disease pandemic in Japan have prompted efforts toward teleworking, mainly work from home (WFH). This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the impact of WFH on job stress among Japanese workers. Methods: This online survey-based prospective cohort study was conducted from December 2020 (baseline) to December 2021 (1-year follow-up) using self-administered questionnaires. At baseline, 27,036 participants completed the questionnaires, whereas 18,560 (68.7%) participated in the 1-year follow-up. After excluding the 11,604 participants who left or changed workplaces within 1 year or who were physical laborers and hospitality workers, data from 6,956 participants were analyzed. We asked participants about WFH frequency at baseline and conducted a follow-up using the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ). Participants were divided into four groups according to WFH frequency. The odds ratios of poor states of the association of the four subscales (job demand, job control, supervisor support, and coworker support) determined by the BJSQ with WFH frequency were estimated using a multilevel logistic model. Results: In both the gender-age adjusted and multivariate models, compared to the non-WFH group, the medium and low WFH groups were less likely to have poor job control, whereas the high WFH group were likely to have similar levels as the non-WFH group. In both models, compared to non-WFH participants, the high WFH group were more likely to have poor supervisor and coworker support. Conclusions: High-frequency WFH requires further attention, because it may increase job stress by exacerbating deficits of social support in the workplace. Medium- and low-frequency WFH workers were more likely to have satisfactory job control; therefore, limiting WFH to three or fewer days per week may lead to better job stress management.

Psychological Distress, Japanese Teleworkers, and Supervisor Support During COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, teleworking became the new workplace norm, creating a new challenge for workplace communication. This study investigated the association between source-specific workplace social support and psychological distress among Japanese teleworkers and nonteleworkers. METHODS: A total of 15,045 workers were extracted from a cross-sectional web-based survey that assessed psychological distress, workplace social support from supervisors and coworkers. After grouping participants into four groups based on their positions (managers, staff members) and teleworking arrangements (teleworking, nonteleworking), multiple logistic regression analyses were performed separately. RESULTS: Teleworkers with less supervisor support demonstrated the highest risk of psychological distress (adjusted odds ratio = 2.55, P = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient supervisor support for teleworking staff members may be a key occupational risk factor for psychological distress in the postpandemic future.

Occupational Factors Associated with Telemedicine Use in the Japanese Working-Age Population: A Web-Based Study Conducted during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Telemedicine has significant potential for helping workers access medical treatment. To improve workers' access to telemedicine, it is important to analyze current utilization rates and influencing factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the associations between occupational factors and telemedicine use. A 1-year follow-up study of 4,882 full-time workers receiving regular treatment in Japan was conducted from December 2020 to December 2021. Occupational factors associated with the use of telemedicine were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. In total, 191 participants had experience of using telemedicine (3.9%). The most common comorbidity was hypertension (37.0%), followed by back pain and arthritis (19.8%) and depression and psychiatric disorders (14.5%). Managers and executives [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68-3.43, P < = 0.026], finance industry workers (aOR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.24-5.49, P = 0.011), and individuals with experience of teleworking (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.52-2.85, P < 0.001) were more likely to use telemedicine. Telemedicine usage was least common among workers aged 50-59 years (aOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.22-0.57, P < 0.001) and those with long working hours (≥ 9.0 hours/day) (aOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.38-0.93, P < 0.022). The utilization rate of telemedicine in Japan is still low. This study identified occupational factors related to the use of telemedicine, such as worker's age, employee status, working hours, and experience of teleworking. Our findings suggest that flexible work arrangements could promote widespread use of telemedicine.

Association between Perceived Organizational Support for Infection Prevention and Work Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Japanese Workers: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Although the correlation between perceived organizational support (POS) and work engagement has been investigated in several studies, the relationship between health-focused POS and work engagement has not been clarified. We prospectively evaluated the influence of workers' POS for infection prevention (POS-IP) on employees' work engagement. This prospective cohort study was conducted from December 2020 (baseline) to December 2021 (1-year follow-up) using a self-administered internet questionnaire. At follow-up, there were 18,560 respondents, and after excluding 6677 respondents who had changed jobs or retired since baseline or who were self-employed; thus, 11,883 participants were included in the analysis. We asked participants a single question on POS-IP and the three-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-3), and then analyzed the relationship between POS-IP at baseline and UWES-3 at follow-up using multilevel regression analysis. Work engagement at follow-up was significantly higher in the groups with "low", "high", and "very high" POS-IP at baseline as compared with the "very low" group (all, p < 0.001). A dose-response relationship was also observed between the POS-IP categories at baseline and work engagement at follow-up (p for trend < 0.001). During the COVID-19 pandemic, POS-IP can increase work engagement after 1 year.

Workplace Infection Control Measures and Perceived Organizational Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether workplace infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic could increase perceived organizational support (POS). METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in Japan from December 2020 to December 2021 using a questionnaire survey. There were 18,560 respondents at follow-up; we investigated 4971 who rated low POS at baseline. The participants were asked a single question about POS and nine about workplace infection control measures. We determined the odds ratios (ORs) of high POS at follow-up using multilevel logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The groups of 5 to 6 (OR = 1.29, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.57, P = 0.014) and 7 to 9 workplace infection control measures (OR = 1.54, 95% confidence interval, 1.28-1.85, P < 0.001) had significantly higher ORs than the group with 0 to 2 measures. CONCLUSIONS: Health support for employees through workplace infection control measures can increase POS.

Workplace vaccination opportunity against COVID-19 contributed to high perceived organizational support of employees in Japan: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Perceived organizational support is a broad perception by employees about the extent to which their employer values their contributions and cares about their well-being. We examined the relationship between workplace vaccination opportunities for COVID-19 provided by companies and increases and decreases in perceived organizational support, using a prospective cohort study. METHODS: This study was conducted between December 2020 and December 2021 using a self-administered questionnaire survey in Japan. In total, 18 560 people responded to the follow-up, and were included in this study. The odds ratios (ORs) for the association between company-arranged vaccination opportunities and high perceived organizational support at the follow-up for participants (a) with low perceived organizational support at the baseline (n = 4971), and (b) with high perceived organizational support at the baseline (n = 6912) were separately estimated using a multilevel logistic model. RESULTS: The OR of high perceived organizational support at the follow-up after low baseline levels was significantly higher in participants given a vaccination opportunity than those not given this opportunity (OR 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-1.67; p < .001). The OR of high perceived organizational support at the follow-up after high baseline levels was also significantly highly in participants given a vaccination opportunity than not (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.23-1.54; p < .001). These significant differences remained after adjusting for workplace infection control measures. CONCLUSIONS: Employee health support provided through a workplace vaccination program can contribute to high perceived organizational support.

Workplace infection prevention control measures and work engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic among Japanese workers: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to assess the effect of appropriate workplace IPC measures on employees' work engagement. It could be important to note how workplace infection prevention control (IPC) measures for COVID-19 contribute to positive mental health among workers. We hypothesized that if workplace IPC measures are adequately implemented, they would have a positive effect on employees' work engagement. METHODS: We conducted an internet-based prospective cohort study from December 2020 (baseline) to December 2021 (follow-up after 1 year) using self-administered questionnaires. At baseline, 27036 workers completed the questionnaires, while 18 560 (68.7%) participated in the one-year follow-up. After excluding the 6578 participants who changed jobs or retired during the survey period, or telecommuted more than 4 days per week, 11 982 participants were analyzed. We asked participants about the implementation of workplace IPC measures at baseline and conducted a follow-up using a nine-item version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). RESULTS: Four groups were created according to the number of workplace IPC measures implemented. The mean (SD) UWES-9 score of the "0-2" group was the lowest at 18.3 (13.2), while that of the "8" group was the highest at 22.6 (12.6). The scores of the "3-5," "6-7," and "8" groups were significantly higher than that of the "0-2" group (all, p < .001). The p trend of the four groups was also significant (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Promoting workplace IPC measures improves workers' work engagement, and a dose-response relationship exists between workplace IPC measures and work engagement.

COVID-19 vaccination coverage by company size and the effects of workplace vaccination program in Japan: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is considered the most effective control measure against COVID-19. Vaccine hesitancy and equitable vaccine allocation are important challenges to disseminating developed vaccines. To promote COVID-19 vaccination coverage, the government of Japan established the workplace vaccination program. However, while it appears that the program was effective in overcoming vaccine hesitancy, the program may have hindered the equitable allocation of vaccines because it mainly focused on employees of large companies. We investigated the relationship between company size and COVID-19 vaccination completion status of employees and the impact of the workplace vaccination program on this relationship. METHODS: We conducted an internet-based prospective cohort study from December 2020 (baseline) to December 2021. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire survey. Briefly, 27,036 workers completed the questionnaire at baseline and 18,560 at follow-up. After excluding ineligible respondents, we finally analyzed the data from 15,829 participants. At baseline, the participants were asked about the size of the company they worked for, and at follow-up they were asked about the month in which they received their second COVID-19 vaccine dose and the availability of a company-arranged vaccination opportunity. RESULTS: In each month throughout the observation period, the odds of having received a second COVID-19 vaccine dose were significantly lower for small-company employees than for large-company employees in the sex- and age-adjusted model. This difference decreased after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, and there was no significant difference after adjusting for the availability of a company-arranged vaccination opportunity. CONCLUSIONS: The workplace vaccination program implemented in Japan to control the COVID-19 pandemic may have been effective in overcoming vaccine hesitancy in workers; however, it may have caused an inequitable allocation of vaccines between companies of different sizes. Because people who worked for small companies were less likely to be vaccinated, it will be necessary to enhance support of vaccination for this population in the event of future infectious disease outbreaks. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Study Protocol and Preliminary Results of the Impact of Occupational Health Workers' Activities on Their Health: Nationwide Prospective Internet-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, work environments and systems, as well as occupational health measures or activities that fall within our research field, are constantly changing. It is necessary to assess the impact of these changes on the physical and mental health of workers. OBJECTIVE: To assess how occupational health measures affect the health of workers, we conducted a baseline, longitudinal internet-based survey among Japanese workers in October 2021 and additionally scheduled 2 follow-up surveys for 2022 and 2023. We describe the details of the protocol of the work systems and health internet research (WSHIR) study, provide an overview of the results of the baseline survey, and discuss the study procedures and data used in the study. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted online among internet monitors. The baseline survey was conducted from October 1 to 7, 2021. This study targeted those who were working and between the ages of 20 and 69 years. A total of 5111 respondents who passed the screening survey and proceeded to the main survey were enrolled according to collection units organized by sex and age. For the screening and main surveys, the questionnaire consisted of 9 and 33 items with 9 and 55 questions, respectively. Consistency and completeness checks were performed after the questionnaires were submitted. We compared basic characteristics, such as sex, age group, educational background, and marital status, among all participants, including those who withdrew from the analysis. RESULTS: Of the 5111 initial survey respondents, 571 (11.2%) were considered fraudulent. The data of the remaining 4540 (88.8%) participants (2273, 50.1%, males; 2267, 49.9%, females) included in the analysis were well balanced across participant sex and age groups according to the sampling plan because there was no significant difference by sex and age group using the chi-square test for checking the distribution bias of the participants (P=.84). Compared to female participants, male participants tended to be more likely to be managers and supervisors (323, 14.2%, males; 86, 3.8%, females), to work in a secondary industry (742, 32.6%, males; 357, 15.7%, females), and to have an annual income of ≥5 million yen (976, 42.9%, males; 429, 18.9%, females). For the evaluation of a psychological indicator, Kessler 6 (K6) score, by sex and age group, the characteristics of the score distribution of the included participants were similar to those reported in previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a protocol and overview of the results of an internet-based occupational health survey of workers. Using the results of this survey, we hope to evaluate the changes in occupational health activities and their impact on workers' health while controlling for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association between willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and sources of health information among Japanese workers: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It is important to achieve herd immunity by vaccinating as many people as possible to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the relationship between willingness to receive vaccination and sources of health information among those who did not want to be vaccinated against COVID-19. METHODS: This prospective cohort study collected data using a self-administered questionnaire survey. The baseline survey was conducted during December 22-25, 2020, and the follow-up survey during February 18-19, 2021. Participants were aged 20-65 years and worked at the time of the baseline survey (N = 33,087). After excluding 6,051 invalid responses, we included responses from 27,036 participants at baseline. In total, 19,941 people responded to the follow-up survey (74% follow-up rate). We excluded 7,415 participants who answered "yes" to the question "If a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, would you like to get it?" in the baseline survey. We finally analyzed 12,526 participants. RESULTS: The odds ratio for change in willingness to be vaccinated from "no" to "yes" differed by source of health information. Compared with workers that used TV as a source of information, significantly fewer people who reported getting information from the Internet and friends/colleagues were willing to get the vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to approach workers who do not watch TV when implementing workplace vaccination programs. It is likely that willingness to be vaccinated can be increased through an active company policy whereby the top management recommend vaccination, coupled with an individual approach by occupational health professionals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Job stress among workers who telecommute during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The work system reform and the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan have prompted efforts toward telecommuting in Japan. However, only a few studies have investigated the stress and health effects of telecommuting. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between telecommuting and job stress among Japanese workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. In December 2020, during the "third wave" of the COVID-19 pandemic, an Internet-based nationwide health survey of 33 087 Japanese workers (The Collaborative Online Research on Novel-coronavirus and Work, CORoNaWork study) was conducted. Data of 27 036 individuals were included after excluding 6051 invalid responses. The authors analyzed a sample of 13 468 office workers from this database. The participants were classified into 4 groups according to their telecommuting frequency, while comparing scores on the subscale of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and subjective job stress between the high-frequency, medium-frequency, low-frequency, and non-telecommuters groups. A linear mixed model and an ordinal logistic regression analysis were used. RESULTS: A significant difference in the job control scores of the JCQ among the 4 groups was found, after adjusting for multiple confounding factors. The high-frequency telecommuters group had the highest job control score. Further, after adjusting for multiple confounding factors, the subjective job stress scores of the high- and medium-frequency telecommuters groups were significantly lower than those of the non-telecommuters group. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that high-frequency telecommuting was associated with high job control and low subjective job stress. The widespread adoption of telecommuting as a countermeasure to the public health challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may also have a positive impact on job stress. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(3):339-51.

Association Between Work Attendance When Experiencing Fever or Cold Symptoms and Company Characteristics and Socioeconomic Status in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japanese Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between attending work while experiencing fever or cold symptoms and workers' socioeconomic background and company characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was performed. Of a total of 33,302 participants, 3676 workers who experienced fever or cold symptoms after April 2020 were included. The odds ratios (ORs) of attending work while sick associated with workers' socioeconomic background and company characteristics were evaluated using a multilevel logistic model. RESULTS: The OR of attending work while sick associated with a lack of policy prohibiting workers from working when ill was 2.75 (95% CI: 2.28 to 3.20, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that clear company policies on work and illness can be effective for preventing employees from attending work while sick.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Psychosocial Factors and Sickness Presenteeism in Japanese Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: We examined the association between socioeconomic and health status, and lifestyle and sickness presenteeism among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 epidemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using an Internet-monitor survey was conducted in December, 2020 in Japan. Of 33,302 survey participants, we analyzed 27,036 participants (13,814 men and 13,222 women) who reported experience with sickness presenteeism. RESULTS: The odds ratio (OR) of sickness presenteeism associated with unmarried versus married status was 1.15. Respective figures for other variables were 1.11 for manual laboring work compared to desk work; 1.79 and 2.29 for loss of employment at the time the pandemic began and continuation of unemployment compared with maintaining employment during the pandemic; and 3.34 for a feeling of financial instability compared with stability. CONCLUSION: The issue of sickness presenteeism has become more prominent under the COVID-19 epidemic.