原田英語の英検二次面接 ぜんぶ攻略くん
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英検1級 二次 予想トピック 17 ・ 💼 働き方・経済 ・ To what extent

To what extent are employers responsible for their employees' mental health?

社員のメンタルヘルスに対して、雇用主はどの程度責任を負うのか。

このトピックを選ぶべき人

働き方やストレスの問題に関心があり、会社と個人の役割を分けて話せる人向け。

骨組み理由3つ（どちらの立場でも話せる）

賛成（Yes）で話すなら

I believe employers are responsible to a large extent, because work is one of the main sources of stress in people's lives.

  1. source of stressLong hours, heavy workloads, and harassment can seriously damage mental health. Japan even has a word, karoshi, for death caused by overwork.
  2. legal dutyEmployers already have a duty to protect workers' safety, and that should include mental health. In Japan, larger workplaces are already required to offer annual stress checks.
  3. business benefitEmployees who are mentally healthy are more productive and less likely to quit. Supporting them is not only a duty but also a smart investment.

反対（No）で話すなら

I believe employers are responsible only to a limited extent, because mental health depends on many factors outside work.

  1. private lifeStress can also come from family problems, money worries, or health issues. Companies cannot and should not control their employees' private lives.
  2. privacyMany people do not want their employers to know about their mental health. Too much involvement could make employees uncomfortable.
  3. professional careEmployers are not medical experts. Their role should be to provide access to counselors and doctors, rather than to deal with problems themselves.

想定質疑面接委員はこう突っ込んでくる

QHow far should a company go? Should it get involved in employees' private lives?

No, I don't think it should. Admittedly, stress from private life can affect work. However, the company's main responsibility is to fix the problems it causes, such as long hours and harassment. Beyond that, it should simply make professional support easy to access.

Q：会社はどこまで踏み込むべきですか。社員の私生活にも関わるべきですか。
A：いいえ、そうは思いません。確かに、私生活のストレスが仕事に影響することはあります。しかし、会社の主な責任は、長時間労働やハラスメントのように自らが生み出す問題を正すことです。それ以上は、専門家の支援を受けやすくしておけば十分です。

QWhat can small companies with limited budgets do?

Even small companies can make simple changes, such as limiting overtime and encouraging people to take paid holidays. They can also use public counseling services instead of hiring their own experts. Creating an atmosphere where people can talk openly doesn't cost much.

Q：予算の限られた小さな会社には何ができますか。
A：小さな会社でも、残業を減らしたり、有給休暇の取得を勧めたりといった簡単な改善はできます。自前で専門家を雇わなくても、公的な相談窓口を利用できます。何でも話しやすい雰囲気をつくるのに、お金はあまりかかりません。

QWhy do you think many Japanese workers hesitate to take time off for mental health reasons?

I think it's because they worry about causing trouble for their colleagues. There is also still some stigma around mental illness in Japan. Managers who openly encourage people to rest can help change that culture.

Q：心の不調で休むことを、多くの日本の働き手がためらうのはなぜだと思いますか。
A：同僚に迷惑をかけることを心配するからだと思います。日本では、心の病気への偏見もまだ残っています。休むことを管理職が率先して勧めれば、その文化を変える助けになります。

語彙このトピックで使える表現