Article ID: JOSH-2024-0004-CHO
In recent years, reducing long working hours through objective methods of working time monitoring has been promoted. However, some studies have indicated a discrepancy between self-reported working hours and company-recorded working hours. This study aimed to examine the current methods of working time monitoring in the workplace. Additionally, the relationships between industry type, number of employees, and overtime work were analyzed. A survey cooperation request was sent to the safety and health managers of 35,000 randomly selected workplaces, and data from 3,587 responses were included in the analysis. Results indicated that approximately 70% of workplaces utilize timecards or IC cards for monitoring working hours, while 20% do not utilize any objective method. Additionally, the “manufacturing” and “wholesale and retail trade” industries tended to utilize objective methods more frequently. Furthermore, workplaces with a smaller number of employees were less likely to utilize objective methods, and those utilizing objective methods were less likely to report long working hours. Based on these findings, there is a need to reveal the current methods of working time monitoring in the workplace and its impact.
