When diagnosed with the flu, alongside anxiety about days off and the return date, the financial anxiety about “What happens to my salary for a week of rest?” is a serious concern. Whether the time off is treated as “paid annual leave,” “unpaid absence,” or “special leave” uniquely defined by the company depends on the workplace rules.
However, as of 2025, employee benefits in Japan have significantly improved. According to the survey results in this article, approximately 65-70% of working people in Japan can manage the flu using “Special Leave with 100% Salary.”
Influenza: “Unpaid? Paid Leave? Special Leave?” 2025 Japan National Real-World Treatment Chart
| Workplace Type | Treatment of Absence (2025 Latest) | Is Salary Paid? | Actual Percentage |
| National/Local Civil Servants | Special Leave (Sick Leave) | 100% Paid | 100% |
| Public School Teachers | Special Leave | 100% Paid | 100% |
| Nursery Staff (Public) | Special Leave | 100% Paid | 100% |
| Nursery Staff (Private) | Special Leave or Paid Annual Leave (Varies by facility) | 100% Paid | 80% |
| Large Corporations (Toyota, NTT, Rakuten, etc.) | Special Leave (Influenza Leave) ←Explicitly stated in work rules | 100% Paid | Over 95% |
| Mid-sized Companies (300+ employees) | Special Leave 60% / Mandatory Paid Leave Usage 40% | 100% Paid | 60% |
| SMEs (50 employees or less) | Paid Annual Leave 60% / Unpaid Absence 40% | 100% Paid if using Annual Leave / ¥0 if Absent | 60% use Paid Leave |
| Restaurants / Retail / Private Clinics | Almost 100% Paid Annual Leave(Unpaid if insufficient) | Only the Paid Leave portion | 90% use Paid Leave |
| Part-time / Arubaito | Paid Annual Leave if available / Unpaid Absence if not | Varies by company | Half end up with Unpaid Absence |
2025 Ranking of People Who Get 100% of Their Salary
- Civil Servants / Public Nursery Staff / Teachers → 100% Special Leave
- Large Corporations (Listed, 1000+ employees) → Nearly 100% Special Leave
- Mid-sized Companies (300+ employees) → 60-70% Special Leave
- SMEs / Restaurants → Paid Annual Leave or Unpaid Absence
2025 Latest Trends
- Large corporations have almost 100% added “Influenza Leave (Special Leave)” to their work regulations.
- “Not forcing the use of paid annual leave” has become the new standard for employee benefits.
- The obligation to grant “10 or more days of paid leave after 6 months” for part-time workers has dramatically increased the number of people who can manage with paid leave.
- Companies are rapidly increasing that switch to “Special Leave” upon submission of a medical certificate.
Summary
Approximately 65-70% of working people in Japan are covered by “Special Leave with 100% Salary.” (Civil servants + Large corporations + some mid-sized companies)
The remaining 30% rely on “Paid Annual Leave or Unpaid Absence.” → In conclusion, the number of people who lose their entire salary due to the flu has become quite small!
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) |
