Japan whistleblower sidelined despite court ruling
Daily Legal News
An employee at Japanese medical equipment maker Olympus said Wednesday
that his humiliating treatment has not changed despite a Supreme Court
ruling that his demotion for whistleblowing was illegal.
Masaharu Hamada said he is still isolated in the office and after last
month's court judgment is not given any work. His was the first
whistleblower case to reach Japan's highest court.
His lawyer Koichi Kozen said Hamada may have to file another lawsuit,
complaining of human rights violations. Japan remains behind Western
countries in penalizing companies that fail to abide by court rulings,
and some fines are so small companies would rather pay up than abide,
Kozen said.
"We would hope the company would respond quickly, but there has been
no response," Kozen said. "We want Mr. Hamada to get a new assignment,
where he can be happy."
Hamada, 51, an Olympus salesman with experience in the United States,
first sued in 2008, alleging punishment for relaying a supplier's
complaint.
He is considered a whistleblower in Japan because he raised questions
about colleagues' professional behavior and was subjected to bizarre
and humiliating punishment, such as taking rudimentary tests.
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