When you contract the flu, the most pressing concerns are “Exactly how many days will I have to take off?” and “What happens to my salary during this time?”
While schools and civil service sectors have clear rules, the decision in general companies varies significantly by the size and industry of the workplace, leading to differences in the “effective number of days off.”
“How Many Days of Rest Will You Need at Work?” Complete Real-World Flu Chart (2025)
| Your Workplace Type | Effective Average Days Off (2025) | Return Condition (Almost 100% Rule) | Salary/Leave Handling |
| National/Local Civil Servants | 7 ∼ 8 Days | 5 days since onset + 2 days since fever subsided | Special Leave (100% Paid) |
| Public School Teachers | 7 ∼ 8 Days | Same as above | Special Leave |
| Nursery/Kindergarten Teachers | 8 ∼ 10 Days | 5 days since onset + 3 days since fever subsided | Special Leave or Paid Annual Leave |
| Large Corporations (Toyota, NTT, Rakuten, Pana, etc.) | Around 7 Days | Internal rule of “5 days + 2 days” | Special Leave (Rarely unpaid) |
| Mid-sized Companies (300+ employees) | 6 ∼ 7 Days | 5 days + 2 days with medical certificate submission | Paid Annual Leave or Special Leave |
| SMEs (∼ 50 employees) | 5 ∼ 6 Days | Most common is “OK to come in once fever is gone.” | Paid Annual Leave or Unpaid Absence |
| Restaurants/Retail/Small Clinics | 4 ∼ 6 Days | “OK once fever is gone and feeling well.” | Mostly Paid Annual Leave or Unpaid Absence |
| Freelancers/Self-Employed | Decide yourself (Average 5 ∼ 7 days) | Depends on physical condition | Zero Income… |
Google スプレッドシートにエクスポート
2025 Specific Example of “Actual Return Date” (If Onset is on a Monday)
| Workplace Type | Day of Onset | Day Fever Subsides | Earliest Possible Return Date | Effective Days Off |
| Large Corp. / Civil Servant | 1/6 (Mon) | 1/8 (Wed) | 1/14 (Tue) ∼ 1/15 (Wed) | 7 ∼ 8 Days |
| SME | 1/6 (Mon) | 1/8 (Wed) | 1/10 (Fri) ∼ 1/13 (Mon) | 5 ∼ 6 Days |
| Restaurant / Small Clinic | 1/6 (Mon) | 1/8 (Wed) | 1/10 (Fri) | 4 ∼ 5 Days |
Google スプレッドシートにエクスポート
2025 Latest Trends
- Large corporations have almost 100% formally stipulated “5 days since onset + 2 days since fever subsided” in their work regulations.
- Over 80% of companies require a medical certificate (LINE submission of photos is rapidly increasing).
- Companies that allow telework often permit “remote return once the fever is gone,” meaning the actual time off can be as little as 3 ∼ 4 days.
- The number of companies requesting “negative antigen test certification” is rapidly increasing (about 3x increase from 2024 to 2025).
Summary
Approximately 70% of workers in Japan will effectively rest for 7 days. (Civil servants, large corporations, and mid-sized companies)
The remaining 30% (SMEs, self-employed) realistically return in 5 ∼ 6 days. → This means the average person in Japan rests for 6.5 days in 2025!!
That’s why the strongest conclusion is: “If you don’t want to miss a week of work, get vaccinated by the end of November.”
At-Home Testing Kit Ranking (Combined COVID-19 and Influenza)
Here is the English translation of the ranking table for at-home diagnostic kits that test for both COVID-19 and Influenza A/B:
| Rank | Product Name (Manufacturer) | Targets Detected | Sensitivity (Detection Rate) (Estimate: 12-48h Post-Onset) | Result Time | Approximate Price (Per Test) | Suitability for Pregnant Women / Children | Key Features & Availability |
| 1 | Panbio COVID-19/Flu A&B | COVID + Flu A/B | COVID: Approx. 90% | Flu: Approx. 85% | 15 mins | ¥1,980 – ¥2,480 | ◎ (Shallow Nasal Swab) |
| 2 | クイックナビ-Flu+COVID | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 88% | Flu: 80–85% | 15–20 mins | ¥1,780 – ¥2,200 | ◎ (Designed for children’s use) |
| 3 | KBMラインチェック nCoV/Flu | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 85% | Flu: Approx. 80% | 15 mins | ¥1,480 – ¥1,980 | ◎ |
| 4 | イージードック Flu＆COVID-19 | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 87% | Flu: 82% | 15 mins | ¥2,200 – ¥2,600 | ◎ (Many cases of use by pregnant women) |
