ABSTRACT
In presenting the material collected in this book, even allowing for the critical approach of contributing authors, there is danger of being overly optimistic about the possible effects of exercise and perhaps presenting a false impression of how common health promotion programmes in business and organizations actually are. The economic success which has occurred in Japan and the efforts of the hardworking Japanese people are often held up to workers in other countries as an ideal to which they should strive. For example, with the possible exception of South Korea and perhaps Taiwan, workers in Japanese manufacturing industry work longer hours than similar workers elsewhere in the world. In some cases, employees are estimated to work well over 60 hours per week. In several of the economically powerful countries, enforced changes in management practices within corporate and public organisations have created working conditions where employees are at greater risk from overload at work.
