Recent reports from various cities across Japan have unveiled alarming statistics concerning workplace harassment, indicating widespread issues within municipal environments. For the first time, Ishigaki City conducted a survey on harassment, including power harassment and sexual harassment, among its employees, showing troubling results. According to the survey, 58% of respondents acknowledged the existence of such harassment within their workplace.
The survey, conducted from November 25 to December 6, 2024, targeted approximately 1,000 city employees, with 320 responses collected. The results revealed significant awareness of harassment, with 31% of respondents experiencing it personally, 43% witnessing it, and 18% receiving complaints on harassment matters. Meanwhile, 42% claimed they had not encountered any harassment, which means nearly 60% recognized its occurrence.
The lack of consent and the consequences of harassment were starkly illustrated, as the survey found power harassment (90% of cases reported) to be most prevalent. Of those who reported harassment, 79% identified their perpetrators as supervisors. Other sources of harassment included colleagues, special positions, city legislators, and citizens.
Nature of the power harassment ranged from intimidation, defamation, and insults to excessive demands hindering employees' tasks. Disturbingly, 77% of victims reported feeling uncomfortable following their experiences, with 42% wanting to transfer departments and 39% contemplating resignation. Of those who sought help, 49% consulted colleagues, 34% reached out to family or friends, and 33% spoke to supervisors; yet, 72% reported no change following their consultations.
Municipal officials emphasized the need for more effective measures to prevent such harassment, with 62% of respondents advocating for more open work environments. The establishment of external consultation points (58%) and strengthening counseling systems (43%) also topped the list of recommended strategies. The city has historically established systems for consulting harassment cases and implemented various training modules. Nonetheless, city council members urged systemic data collection to gauge harassment incidence quantitatively.
These initiatives appear necessary, especially after another alarming report from the Inaizawa City Fire Department, where two instances of power harassment were officially recognized. One case dated back to 2021 involved abusive language directed at employees during work duties, which led to disciplinary action against the perpetrator. The other case described was significantly more egregious, with the supervisor reported to have thrown away employees’ driver's licenses and spat on them.
Such incidents have recently sparked additional scrutiny toward municipal work conditions and the behavior of elected officials. Following allegations against municipal council members, including vice-chairman Mokuichi Murakami from Shibetsu City, commitments for improved accountability and anti-harassment measures have garnered public attention. Murakami stated, "We are taking this gravely. We need our efforts to be recognized by the citizens moving forward."
Unfortunately, workplace harassment is not just limited to city offices. Heightened attention to these cases highlights the pressing need for structural change across various municipalities. Victims have made clear their demands for sensible solutions and stronger preventative measures in their workplaces.
Addressing these serious allegations appears to be only the beginning. Municipalities across Japan are now facing the urgent task of implementing reforms within their work environments to combat harassment effectively. If such measures are not adopted, these issues could escalate, contributing to detrimental impacts on the mental health and job satisfaction of public service employees across the nation. This growing movement calls for ethical management practices and accountability to cultivate safer and more supportive workplaces.
Now, municipalities must tackle these underlying issues head-on to reclaim trust within their organizations. […] Each initiative taken will play a significant role moving forward.