Three actions
Health management
Encouragement for health examinations
To facilitate the early detection and treatment of illness, we encourage employees to have regular health examinations and are working to educate them about the importance of doing so.
In addition to the HR and General Affairs Division Head and Well-being Promotion Office Head sending an e-mail to all employees stressing the importance of health examinations and rechecks, any employees who have not yet had their examinations are reminded to do so. Steps are also being taken to reinforce this message by enlisting the aid of the human resources staff responsible for the department and utilizing tools to remind not only the employees who have yet to have their examinations but also their supervisors.
Thanks to these measures, 100% coverage has been achieved for these regular health examinations since FY19. Moreover, the total sum spent on health examinations during FY24 was around 190 million yen.
| FY18 | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular health examination rate | 99.9% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
High-risk employees and those requiring follow-up examinations
| FY24 | |
|---|---|
| Follow-up examination rate | 75.8%*1 |
| Rate of consultation with industrial physician or public health nurse | 100% |
| Treatment rate for high-risk patients | 100% |
Since April 2022, the time required for examinations has been treated as working hours and employees reimbursed for their travel costs so as to create an environment where it is easy for employees to get health checks or follow-up examinations (repeat check-ups or detailed check-ups). A target of 80% has also been set for follow-up examinations in an effort to catch and treat ill-health early.
For those employees who are found by the examination to be in the high-risk group, the industrial physician and public health nurses provide health advice such as recommending by e-mail or through a consultation that they get their health checked at a medical institution.
- [Note]
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- *1As of September 5, 2025
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Encouragement for women's health, cancer, and dental examinations
Depending on patient age and gender, cancer and women's health examinations are conducted to facilitate the early detection and treatment of cancer and diseases specific to women. We encourage employees to have dental checkups guided by the health insurance association so that they can maintain good dental health.
Encouragement for stress checks
As part of our mental healthcare provision, we encourage all employees to take regular stress checks using the Wellness Eye system provided by group company SB AtWork Corp. This encourages self-care that helps prevent damage to mental wellbeing and has been useful in improving workplace conditions.
| FY25 | |
|---|---|
| Stress check consultation rate | 96.3% |
Safe and welcoming work environments
Establishment of a Wellness Center
Employees are given the opportunity to consult about their physical and mental health with public health nurses or industrial physicians specializing in internal or psychological medicine who are made available in partnership with the Wellness Center operated by SB Atwork Corp.
Counseling room
Qualified counselors are available to provide career counseling or to talk one-on-one about concerns such as work or relationships.
Massage room
Massage is available to rejuvenate staff and prevent the problems that come from PC and other deskwork, including eyestrain, stiffness in the neck or back, and lower back pain.
Offering mentoring
in the workplace
with the peer supporter system
We are introducing a “peer supporter system” in which employees who hold occupational counseling or health and safety related qualifications may volunteer as accessible counselors within the workplace after passing a specific selection process and receiving training.
Infectious disease control
Measures are being taken to prevent the spread of influenza and other infectious diseases. We make it easy for employees to get flu shots. Employees can receive influenza vaccinations at our head office and five regional locations.
In addition to influenza, time spent receiving vaccinations for COVID-19 and measles/rubella (including MR and antibody tests) are also deemed to be work hours, and transportation expenses incurred in receiving these are covered by the company.
The COVID-19 infection control measures have led us to review our new flu strains countermeasure operational plan.
And we are prepared to respond quickly in the event of a pandemic.
Smart office environment
The company headquarters relocated to Takeshiba in January 2021 to reinforce business continuity planning (BCP) and facilitate further working style reforms. The site provides a community-style workplace that embodies the concept of “Smart & Fun!”, enabling all employees to perform at their best. A variety of health-affirming measures have also been adopted at the offices to provide a safe and welcoming work environment.
Floors linked by internal stairways
Internal stairways have been installed between three floors to create an open and flexible workplace that allows for a wide variety of working styles, also helping employees to get more physical exercise as they work.
Exercise equipment
To promote health and relaxation, exercise equipment and rocking chairs are provided in a corner of the floor for use during break times.
Flexible working arrangements
Encouraging a clear distinction between work and private life
To make it easier to take annual paid leave, employees are encouraged to take off workdays during the Golden Week holidays or that fall between a weekend and a public holiday. The company also encourages a clear distinction between work time and private time, with one day each week being designated a “Go Home on Time Day” and support for participation in the Premium Friday campaign for leaving early on the last Friday of each month.
Introducing a work-interval system
To ensure that employees have enough time for their daily lives and sleep, we are introducing a “work-interval system” which establishes a set rest period from the time that employees finish work until the next time that they start work. All employees are required to take 10 or more consecutive hours of rest from when they finish work until they start working again.
Support for maintaining employment while undergoing cancer treatment
Outpatient Care/Cancer Treatment Leave* is a system established for employees who are unable to work due to cancer-related hospital visits, treatments, and feeling unwell the day after treatment. This system helps create an easy working environment for employees, balancing their treatment and work life.
- [Note]
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- *May be taken as accrued annual leave or Special unpaid leave
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Preventing workplace harassment
SoftBank provides awareness training through topic-based seminars and e-learning for all workers with the goal of ensuring a healthy and safe workplace free of all forms of harassment. Should a harassment incident occur, a primary contact point has been established so appropriate measures can be taken as quickly as possible. As part of that response, a counselor will first listen to what happened, and then discuss next steps with the employee. All consultations are handled with complete confidentiality.
Monthly Engagement Survey
By answering a total of 20 questions (about 3 minutes) on work, life, and health on a monthly basis, both organizations and employees can measure changes in their own condition. Furthermore, the survey is intended to facilitate timely communication among supervisors and members.
We initially introduced a “Pulse Survey” developed in-house in October 2019, and starting from August 2023, we have revamped and implemented it as the “Monthly Engagement Survey”.
Health maintenance and improvement
We have organized the themes that employees should focus on to improve their health into seven key themes, which are "improving eating habits," "encouraging exercise habits," "reducing the ratio of smokers," "improving mental healthcare," "Improving of sleep issues," "improving women's health," and "improving health literacy." To support these efforts, we disseminate information and provide forums for employees to engage in health-promoting activities.
Seminars have also been held, with most of these taking place online so that as many employees as possible could participate. Archived copies are also available on the company intranet site for employees who were unable to attend the live events. From 2021, October has been designated Health Promotion Month (renamed “Mental and Physical Health Month” in fiscal year 2022), with online seminars and other events held jointly with group company LY Corporation.
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- Provision of healthy options and sale of lunches that are certified “smart meals”* at the staff canteen
- Vege Check® at Family Day Hosting of a measurement event
- Raising awareness about proper drinking habits (Drink Smile® Seminar hosting)
- Provision of healthy breakfasts during company-wide morning meetings (monthly)
- Holding of health seminars to help employees improve their lifestyles (monthly)
- Training videos
- -“Health management (including alcohol consumption) for workers”
- -“Lifestyle-related diseases: Proper understanding and prevention”
- -“Proper understanding and practice - Good habits to prevent lifestyle-related diseases”
- -“Let's have a healthy relationship with alcohol - The relationship between alcohol and health”
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- Recipes for healthy eating
- [Note]
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- *Smart meals are nutritionally balanced meals containing healthy ingredients. The concept is part of an initiative by the Healthy Meal & Dietary Environment Consortium aimed at promoting healthy eating.
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Example activity [1]
Description Providing healthy menus at the staff canteen Challenge The prevalence rate tended to go up with the average age of the employees in question. The results of the health checkup showed that the most common findings were lipids followed by BMI, and a relationship between eating habits and the incidence rates is observed each year. Details - A healthy menu “Kokoka Lunch” is offered monthly in the staff canteen, based on employee health issues.
- The program is designed to help employees learn about food and how to choose well-balanced meals, and to empower them to put this knowledge into practice.
- In combination with the provision of monthly menus, provided information on employee health issues and quick bits of dietary advice via the group intranet and the staff canteen
- Provision of the Kanzen Meshi® menu in the staff canteen and installation of complete meal stands at three offices
- [Note]
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- *Employees can donate to the United Nations World Food Programme “Red Cup Campaign” through Chuo Food Service Co. (the company contracted to operate the staff canteen) by purchasing “Kokoka Lunch” or Smart Meal certified menu items (until March 2025)
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Example activity [2]
Description Vege Check® at Family Day Hosting measurement sessions Challenge According to the results of the health awareness survey, many employees answered that they were not getting enough vegetables, so we hosted Vege Check® measurement sessions on Family Day. The average estimate vegetable intake for employees was lower than the national average. Details - Measured the estimated vegetable intake to support employees and behavioral changes to improve eating habits
- Raised awareness at events to enable employees' families to understand health issues as well
Results - Number of participants in the Vege Check® measurement sessions: 762
- Creating opportunities for families to review their eating habits and contributing to increased vegetable intake
- The FY2024 health awareness survey results showed that in comparison to FY2023, the number of employees who answered that their "intake of vegetables was low" decreased by 1.8 points
- [Note]
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"Kanzen MeshiⓇ" and "Kanzen Meshi StandⓇ" are registered trademarks of Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd. "Vege CheckⓇ" is a registered trademark of Kagome Co., Ltd. "Drink Smile" is a registered trademark of Suntory Holdings Limited.
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- Holding of company-wide morning yoga before morning meetings and exercise function checks (total participants including online viewing: about 212,000 from October 2021 to March 2024)
- Holding of Zoom morning yoga and evening yoga sessions (average satisfaction rate: about 90%)
- Holding of walking events (held in spring and fall every year since 2021; total participants from 2021 to spring 2025: 12,290)
- Employees able to get simple physical strength measurements or do their own self-checks at home
- Encouragement of company club activities
Example activity [1]
Description Holding of company-wide morning yoga before morning meetings and exercise function checks Challenge The results of the annual health awareness survey showed that many employees complained of visual display terminal (VDT) syndrome symptoms such as stiff shoulders, back pain, eye strain, headaches, etc. as factors impacting their performance, and there were also concerns about a decrease in activity levels. Details - A yoga session is held prior to the company's monthly morning meeting, led by an employee who is a qualified yoga instructor since October 2021.
- Starting from October 2024, a quarterly exercise function check has been carried out by an employee with experience in the Hakone Ekiden running race
- Employees from all over Japan participate via live video, including the President and other senior management.
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Additional morning yoga sessions are held once a month, and evening sessions every two months.
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Results The participation of the management has communicated the importance of health management and promoted the adoption of exercise habits while also contributing to the spread of health management
Example activity [2]
Description HELPO Walkathon Challenge As with yoga, a health awareness survey conducted in FY2021 found that the number one health issue perceived by employees as a result of increased working at home was a decline in activity levels, and there was concern that the increase in working at home would further reduce activity levels. In addition, roughly one in three employees have abnormal lipid levels, and employees who walk fewer steps have higher levels of lipid abnormalities compared to employees with a high step count. Therefore, policies that increase the number of opportunities for employees to walk on a daily basis are important. Details - Walking events held in spring and fall every year since 2021, aimed at getting people into the habit of exercise and fostering workplace communication
- Events are held twice a year in spring and fall. Participants can enter personal or team challenges with a target of averaging 8,000 steps or more or 6,000 steps over a month-long period.
- A new participation award was established in FY2024 to increase the number of participants
Results - A total of 12,290 people participated between 2021 and the spring of 2025
- Of those who participated, 99% said they would like to participate again
- -In addition to comments such as, My health awareness has increased," employees also touched on positive mental effects saying, "I have more communication with people at work," "I sleep better," and "I feel more cheerful"
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- According to the results of the health awareness survey in FY2023, 32% of respondents walked more than 6,000 steps per day, but this figure increased to 36% in FY2024.
- Participants in walkathons tended to have better lipid prevalence rates than non-participants
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- Ban on smoking during working hours (every day since April 2020)
- Closure of workplace smoking rooms (73 such rooms closed at end of September 2019)
- Smokers and nonsmokers took up the Smoke-Free Challenge
- Implemented a smoke-free experience as a one-week challenge
- Training video “Smoking and Health”
- E-mail magazine and anti-smoking column
- Subsidies for cost of smoking cessation programs
- Smoking cessation advice from public health nurses
Example activity [1]
Description Ban on smoking during working hours Challenge The smoking rate in 2016 was in the 30% range but continues to be higher than the national average despite a gradual decline. Details - In an effort to prevent passive smoking, action is being taken to reduce smoking by 1% annually, to below 20% by 2030, as in the SDGs
- Introduced progressively, beginning in April 2019
- -From April 2019: Ban on smoking during working hours once a month (on Premium Friday)
- -From October 2019: Ban on smoking during working hours once a month (on Premium Friday) and once a week (Go Home on Time Day)
- -From April 2020: Ban on smoking during all working hours
- -From October 2020: Closure of workplace smoking rooms at all SoftBank offices (approximately 70 locations)
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Results Reduction in smoking rate from 30% range to 20% range (FY16: 31.3% → FY24: 24.4%) 
Example activity [2]
Description Expansion of measures to support the cessation of smoking Challenge As part of our efforts to support quitting smoking, we offer subsidies for the cost of smoking cessation programs, but few people use them. Details - To raise awareness and promote the use of subsidies for smoking cessation programs, we implemented a Smoke-Free Challenge for smokers and non-smokers which offers funds to participating pairs who meet the conditions for the Smoke-Free Challenge
- We learned that a certain number of employees every year are interested in or preparing to quit smoking, and we implemented a plan for a one-week smoke-free experience using anti-smoking gum for the purpose of raising the stage of behavioral change
Results - The number of employees using subsidies for smoking cessation programs increased by 4.7 times compared to the previous fiscal year
- Smoke-Free Challenge Participants: 7 pairs (14 people)
- Smoke-free experience Participants: 60 people
Many employees in the smoke-free experience answered that they wish to continue doing the Smoke-Free Challenge in the future, which proved useful for raising the level of behavioral change.
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- Training videos on “Self-Care” and “Resilience”
- Conduct mental health seminars for all employees
- Department-specific training
- -Foundations of mental health, motivation, and stress management
- -Training for managers on how to improve the workplace environment
- -Communication skills (listening, 1-on-1)
- -Mental health lectures by industrial physicians
- -Active participation of seniors and career development
- -Resilience and motivation control training
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- Implementation of e-learning covering measures to improve the workplace environment based on the results of stress checks
- -[For managers] "Feedback to increase engagement," "Psychological safety," and "Job crafting"
- -[For all employees] "Followership" and "Job crafting"
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- Counselor column and lecture development
- -Development of the "Weak Ties Effect" column
- -Development of the "Building relationships of mutual listening" counselor lecture in the Safety and Health Committee
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Example activity [1]
Description Group training for line managers in high-risk organizations based on the results of stress checks Purpose Check and improve workplace environments judged to be high-risk based on the results of stress checks Details Hold a total of seven group training sessions for the heads of organizations judged to be high-risk based on the results of stress checks - Learn to create a lively and highly productive workplace environment focusing on line care and interactive organizational development
Training name: "Creating a Better Organization: Line Care, Mutual Understanding, and Organizational Revitalization"
Results The company-wide stress check results showed that “Liveliness,” one of our key monitoring indicators, improved by two points. - Liveliness: 117 (Improved by 2 points from last year)
- Overall health risk: 83 (No change from last year)
Example activity [2]
Description Holding resilience seminars for all employees Challenge - The number of employees taking leave is not decreasing even though training and follow-up programs are being provided for employees returning from leave and their superiors
- The level of mental health literacy is insufficient among some employees
Details - Resilience seminars for all employees hosted as Zoom webinars during Mental and Physical Health Month (October)
Seminar name: "Building Resilience ~ Cultivating a Stress-resistant Mentality ~"
Results - Seminar participants: 628 people
- Of the 382 post-survey respondents, 98.4% said that their level of understanding increased
- Satisfaction and utilization were both above 90%
→Helped to increase employee awareness and literacy regarding mental health
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- Conducted a sleep improvement challenge (Number of participants: approx. 350 people)
- Provided archive streaming of the "Sleep Seminar" during the Mental and Physical Health Month usually held in October
- Provision of discounts for SAS testing (sleep apnea syndrome)
Example activity
Description Sleep improvement challenge Challenge From the results of the health awareness survey, we learned that roughly one in two employees gets less than six hours of sleep on average.
It has become apparent that employees who get less than six hours of sleep have many abnormal findings in their health checkup results, and those who suffer from poor health due to a lack of sleep tend to demonstrate a lower level of performance.Details Habituate sleep improvement behaviors (11 items) through self-checks over a period of 14 days (Number of participants: approx. 350 people) Results - More than half of the participants responded that they were able to habituate the sleep improvement behaviors
- The ratio of people getting 6 or more hours of sleep increased by 7.9 points
- Percentage of people who felt rested from sleep increased by 12.5 points
- Performance level increased by 3.3 points
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- HELPO actio+, women's health support service (purchase of femtech products, read columns, and more)
- Additional optional women's health checks are available, partly funded by the company
- Testing kits are available for purchase at a discount
- Established counseling (female industrial physicians are available for consultation)
- Past seminars have covered topics such as women's health issues (menstruation, PMS, menopause, etc.)
- Held a menstrual pain experience training session
- Training videos
- -[For managers] Women's Health: You Need to Understand Women's Health Because You Are a Manager
- -[All Employees] Everyone should Understand Women's Health
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- Short videos on the HELPO app
- Column on the company intranet supporting wellbeing
- Introduced a leave system that can be used for various situations such as menstruation, pregnancy, and childcare
Example activity
Description Hosting menstrual pain experience training sessions Purpose We hosted menstrual pain experience training sessions for the purpose of sharing the concerns that are specific to women by experiencing the menstrual pain that many women experience and thinking about a workplace environment in which women can play an active role. Details We asked Linkage Inc. to conduct the training and hosted a training session using the "Perionoid" menstrual pain VR experience device
(1) Seminar for learning basic knowledge about women's health
(2) Participants can actually experience the pain using a tool (Perionoid) that simulates menstrual pain
(3) Participants share insights gained through their experiences and discuss ways to improve the workplace environmentResults Hosting locations (5): Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sendai, and Nagoya
Attendance: 69
Satisfaction rate: 100%
The participants commented that the seminar was an opportunity to deepen their understanding of menstrual pain saying, "I was able to understand menstrual pain not simply as 'knowledge' but based on actual feeling" and "I considered the discomfort and pain I was feeling and decided to improve the situation going forward."
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Proactive dissemination of information about health management
We produced a document titled "Understanding SoftBank Health Management in 5 Minutes!" which introduces the thinking behind health management, the health issues of SoftBank employees, and the various consultation services, etc., and we are encouraging all employees to participate. The health literacy level in the 2024 was 82.8%*.
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- *percentage of respondents who answered “I think it's very high” or “I think it's high” or “I think it's Normal.”
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Wellness Eye Study Video Learning provided
SB AtWork Corp., our group company which offers Wellness Eye Study Video Learning, provides video content to all employees. It features a full range of healthcare-related content that is useful for self-care and life-care, including topics such as mental health, harassment, cancer prevention, and smoking.
HELPO Healthcare App provided
We have introduced the HELPO app offered by our group company Healthcare Technologies Corp.
In addition to health and medical consultations with a dedicated team of medical specialists including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, etc. that are available over chat 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the service also provides one-stop functions such as online medical consultations that can be conducted from home, hospital searches, and the purchase of over-the-counter medicines and other products.