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Friday, July 6, 2012

Overwork A Recognized Compensable Condition

The Japanesse courts have coined "overwork" as a soaring compensable mental health condition based on depression cause by adverse work conditions. The worldwide economic downturn has resulted in more demanding working conditions which have become adverse to employee health. Fatigue, caused by demanding schedules and long work hours has been found as a major contributing cause of depression for Japanese workers.

The Economist reported. "HARA-KIRI is a uniquely Japanese form of suicide. Its corporate equivalent is karoshi, “death by overwork”. Karōshi (過労死?), which can be translated literally from Japanese as "death from overwork", is occupational sudden death. Although this category has a significant count, Japan is one of the few countries that reports it in the statistics as a separate category. The major medical causes of karōshi deaths are heart attack and stroke due to stress.


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For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered work related accident and injuries.



Related Blog Post

Feb 28, 2012
The Compensabilty of Death By Overwork. Late in the 1970s, serious social concern over health problems due to long working hours has arisen in Japan. This report briefly summarizes the Japanese circumstances about long ...


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