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Japan Post Bans ‘Punitive Bicycle’ Assignments After Heat-Day Delivery Case

NHK reports the company reached its finding without broad employee interviews.

Overview

  • On Oct. 17, Japan Post acknowledged an inappropriate case in which a delivery worker who had caused a motorbike property-damage accident was made to deliver by bicycle during extreme heat, while stating there was no punitive intent.
  • Japan Post issued an Oct. 14 notice to post offices prohibiting such assignments because they lack business rationale and could be perceived as punitive or harassment.
  • According to the company, a male trainee at a Tokyo post office delivered by electric-assist bicycle for eight days between late August and early September because he could not ride a motorbike during training.
  • NHK reported that the company reached its conclusion on the matter without conducting wide-ranging interviews with employees.
  • Labor union representatives say similar practices have occurred in the past and have been referred to as ‘punitive bicycle delivery.’