59.3% of Part-time Workers Experienced Off-Hours Communication, Approximately 80% Felt Stress
Dip Corporation and iRidge Inc. conducted a survey on the reality of off-hours work communication among part-time workers. Approximately 80% (78.4%) of those receiving such communications experienced stress, and about half (54.7%) considered quitting because of it. The reliance on personal SNS for business communication was identified as a key factor contributing to psychological burden.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 10:31
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Dip Corporation (hereinafter "Dip") and iRidge Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth: 3917, hereinafter "iRidge") conducted a survey titled "Survey on the Actual Situation of Off-Hours Work Communication Among Part-time Workers" (hereinafter "this Survey") targeting 398 users of the part-time job information service "Baitoru."
The results of this Survey revealed that approximately 80% (78.4%) (※) of part-time employees who receive work-related communications outside working hours feel stressed, and approximately one in two (54.7%) (※) of part-time employees who receive communications outside working hours have actually considered quitting due to it.
(※) Calculated based on the number of part-time workers who receive work-related communications outside working hours (n=236).
■ Background to this Survey: The "Vicious Cycle of Feeling Apologetic" Happening on the Ground
① Psychological Burden Created by Good Intentions
In the field of store operations, when there is a sudden staff shortage or shift adjustment, store managers, despite feeling apologetic for contacting them on their days off, are forced to use personal SNS for communication. On the other hand, employees who receive these messages also feel apologetic if they don't reply quickly, resulting in a "vicious cycle of feeling apologetic" where both sides become mentally exhausted.
② "Right to Disconnect" Gaining Attention with Legal Reforms and the Dilemma on the Ground
Amid discussions for revising the Labor Standards Act, the establishment of operational guidelines for the "right to disconnect," which allows individuals to be free from work communications outside working hours, is being recommended. However, in store operations, due to the convenience of personal SNS, sudden shift adjustments and other communications tend to occur outside working hours. Establishing rules and systems that allow both managers and employees to communicate without stress is an urgent task.
③ Environment Improvement to Be Reviewed "Now" as a New Life Begins
April is a season when the part-time market becomes particularly active due to new beginnings such as entering higher education or starting a job. At this time, when many stores welcome new staff, creating an environment that prevents early turnover of newly hired part-time employees and encourages them to continue working with motivation becomes more important than ever.
■ Survey Digest
① "Off-Hours Communication" as a Trigger for Quitting
54.7% of part-time employees who receive communications outside working hours reported having considered quitting their part-time job directly because of off-hours communications.
② Contact from Store Managers is the Biggest Source of Stress
It was found that 78.4% felt stress from communications originating from store managers, who are the most frequent senders.
③ "Personal SNS" Creates Psychological Pressure
The specific causes of stress were primarily "the mental burden of considering reply content (50.8%)" and "the rush to reply quickly (41.7%)."
④ Dedicated Communication Tools as a Deciding Factor for Employment
Approximately half (49.2%) evaluated the introduction of a dedicated chat tool that does not use personal SNS as a deciding factor for applying or a source of reassurance.
■ Survey Details
1. "Potential Turnover Risk" Triggered by Off-Hours Communication
Over half, 54.7%, of part-time employees who receive communications outside working hours reported having considered quitting for that reason. The correlation with communication frequency is particularly significant, with 61.3% of those who receive communications almost daily considering quitting. This indicates that the risk of turnover more than doubles compared to those who receive no communications at all (26.5% intention to quit). From this data, it is believed that controlling off-hours communication influences retention rates.
2. "Psychological Burden" Amplified by Content and Sender
The most frequent sender of communications is "store managers (full-time employees)," and 78.4% of part-time employees feel stressed by these communications.
Especially, receiving urgent content such as "confirmation of complaints or errors (90.6%)" or "requests for urgent shift substitutions (82.1%)" via personal SNS creates strong psychological pressure, as these demand responsibility and immediate response. This suggests that the issue is not with the communication style of individual store managers, but rather with the system that forces the use of personal SNS for important business communications.
3. Psychological "Standby State" Where the Mind Cannot Rest Even on Days Off
The true nature of the burden felt by part-time employees is that their minds remain in a psychological "standby state" where work is never far from their thoughts, even during private time, beyond physical working hours. The use of personal SNS for work reveals a reality where part-time employees are exhausted by being constantly bound by workplace relationships and responsibilities, even in their private spaces.
4. An Environment Respecting the "Right to Disconnect" as a Condition for Selection
Awareness of the "right to disconnect," also a focus in discussions for revising the Labor Standards Act, is increasing among part-time workers.
Survey results indicate part-time employees...
The results of this Survey revealed that approximately 80% (78.4%) (※) of part-time employees who receive work-related communications outside working hours feel stressed, and approximately one in two (54.7%) (※) of part-time employees who receive communications outside working hours have actually considered quitting due to it.
(※) Calculated based on the number of part-time workers who receive work-related communications outside working hours (n=236).
■ Background to this Survey: The "Vicious Cycle of Feeling Apologetic" Happening on the Ground
① Psychological Burden Created by Good Intentions
In the field of store operations, when there is a sudden staff shortage or shift adjustment, store managers, despite feeling apologetic for contacting them on their days off, are forced to use personal SNS for communication. On the other hand, employees who receive these messages also feel apologetic if they don't reply quickly, resulting in a "vicious cycle of feeling apologetic" where both sides become mentally exhausted.
② "Right to Disconnect" Gaining Attention with Legal Reforms and the Dilemma on the Ground
Amid discussions for revising the Labor Standards Act, the establishment of operational guidelines for the "right to disconnect," which allows individuals to be free from work communications outside working hours, is being recommended. However, in store operations, due to the convenience of personal SNS, sudden shift adjustments and other communications tend to occur outside working hours. Establishing rules and systems that allow both managers and employees to communicate without stress is an urgent task.
③ Environment Improvement to Be Reviewed "Now" as a New Life Begins
April is a season when the part-time market becomes particularly active due to new beginnings such as entering higher education or starting a job. At this time, when many stores welcome new staff, creating an environment that prevents early turnover of newly hired part-time employees and encourages them to continue working with motivation becomes more important than ever.
■ Survey Digest
① "Off-Hours Communication" as a Trigger for Quitting
54.7% of part-time employees who receive communications outside working hours reported having considered quitting their part-time job directly because of off-hours communications.
② Contact from Store Managers is the Biggest Source of Stress
It was found that 78.4% felt stress from communications originating from store managers, who are the most frequent senders.
③ "Personal SNS" Creates Psychological Pressure
The specific causes of stress were primarily "the mental burden of considering reply content (50.8%)" and "the rush to reply quickly (41.7%)."
④ Dedicated Communication Tools as a Deciding Factor for Employment
Approximately half (49.2%) evaluated the introduction of a dedicated chat tool that does not use personal SNS as a deciding factor for applying or a source of reassurance.
■ Survey Details
1. "Potential Turnover Risk" Triggered by Off-Hours Communication
Over half, 54.7%, of part-time employees who receive communications outside working hours reported having considered quitting for that reason. The correlation with communication frequency is particularly significant, with 61.3% of those who receive communications almost daily considering quitting. This indicates that the risk of turnover more than doubles compared to those who receive no communications at all (26.5% intention to quit). From this data, it is believed that controlling off-hours communication influences retention rates.
2. "Psychological Burden" Amplified by Content and Sender
The most frequent sender of communications is "store managers (full-time employees)," and 78.4% of part-time employees feel stressed by these communications.
Especially, receiving urgent content such as "confirmation of complaints or errors (90.6%)" or "requests for urgent shift substitutions (82.1%)" via personal SNS creates strong psychological pressure, as these demand responsibility and immediate response. This suggests that the issue is not with the communication style of individual store managers, but rather with the system that forces the use of personal SNS for important business communications.
3. Psychological "Standby State" Where the Mind Cannot Rest Even on Days Off
The true nature of the burden felt by part-time employees is that their minds remain in a psychological "standby state" where work is never far from their thoughts, even during private time, beyond physical working hours. The use of personal SNS for work reveals a reality where part-time employees are exhausted by being constantly bound by workplace relationships and responsibilities, even in their private spaces.
4. An Environment Respecting the "Right to Disconnect" as a Condition for Selection
Awareness of the "right to disconnect," also a focus in discussions for revising the Labor Standards Act, is increasing among part-time workers.
Survey results indicate part-time employees...