Workplace reviews and discussion: 日本NEC集團_統智科技股份有限公司

There are many holidays

At a company gathering in early July this year, my colleague was subjected to inappropriate physical contact by someone from the company. She immediately felt uncomfortable and frightened. Afterwards, she formally reported the incident to her supervisor in accordance with company procedures and fully cooperated with three interviews (with her department supervisor, the legal department, and an external lawyer).

However, the company ultimately closed the case citing “insufficient evidence.” Even the fact that the person responsible had proactively sent her a message apologizing was deemed inadmissible as valid evidence. Throughout the investigation, she was forced to repeatedly recount the details of the incident, resulting in prolonged insomnia and low mood, with a clear impact on her work.

Even more confusingly, the investigation report initially required her to submit an additional application form, but later said this was unnecessary. The report was only formally provided a week later, after repeated reminders, causing her further psychological stress amid confusion and waiting.

She had originally believed that if she bravely raised the issue, the system would protect her. Instead, the experience left her disappointed—the current procedures not only struggle to protect victims, but may also cause further secondary harm.

This story reminds us that sexual harassment is not an individual problem, but a systemic one; no one should be forced to bear it alone when seeking help.