Japan Press Weekly

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2016 April 20 - 26 [LABOR]

High court recognizes suicide of city bus driver as work-related

The Nagoya High Court on April 21 overturned a lower court decision and recognized the suicide of a Nagoya City bus driver as work-related caused by heavy workloads and “power harassment”.

Yamada Akira, who was 37 years old at the time of his death, bore a psychological burden by taking on excessive workloads. His boss warned him about his onboard announcements, “Your announcements are gloomy like being at a funeral.” In addition, blaming Yamada for a minor in-vehicle accident, the boss forced him to go to the police. In July 2007, Yamada committed suicide after sending an e-mail to the boss to say that he is innocent and cannot accept the charge.

The judge stated that an average of more than 60-hour overtime a month probably deprived him of his mental and physical power to recuperate, and that he eventually suffered from a nervous breakdown due to verbal abuse from the boss and lengthy police interviews in regard to the accident which took place over a short period of time.

After the court ruling, his farther Isao, 75, said, “At last, my son can rest in peace. I hope City Bus will create a working atmosphere which is not detrimental to mental health.”