You see 相談窓口 in a workplace notice, but you are unsure whether you can contact it, what to say, or who will learn about your concern. It means a consultation desk. Check the notice for the contact method, then describe what happened in concrete terms and ask how your information will be handled. You do not need to decide the legal label for the incident before asking for advice.
Words on a workplace consultation notice
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning in this notice |
|---|---|---|
| 相談窓口 | sōdan madoguchi | Consultation desk or contact point |
| 社内窓口／社外窓口 | shanai madoguchi / shagai madoguchi | Internal desk / external desk contracted or designated by the employer |
| 人事・労務 | jinji / rōmu | Human resources / labor affairs |
| ハラスメント | harasumento | Harassment |
| 相談方法 | sōdan hōhō | How to contact the desk, such as email, phone or a form |
| 匿名 | tokumei | Anonymous; check whether the particular channel accepts it |
| 秘密厳守 | himitsu genshu | Confidential handling; ask who may receive the details during an inquiry |
| プライバシー保護 | puraibashī hogo | Protection of privacy |
| 不利益な取扱い | furieki na toriatsukai | Disadvantageous treatment |
| 事実確認 | jijitsu kakunin | Checking the facts |
| 総合労働相談コーナー | sōgō rōdō sōdan kōnā | Government general labor consultation service |
Reading note: A company may put several contacts on one page: a manager, HR, an outside contractor, or a separate labor or mental health service. Read the scope and contact hours of each before choosing. An external company desk is different from a government consultation office.
Before you contact the desk
- Find the channel. Look on your intranet, onboarding papers or workplace rules for 相談窓口, ハラスメント相談, or 人事・労務. Note whether it accepts email, a form, a call or an appointment.
- Write a factual timeline. Record the date, place, people involved, what was said or done, any witnesses, and how it affected your work. Keep relevant messages according to workplace rules. Separate what you directly observed from what someone else told you. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) recommends recording the circumstances and consulting an appropriate person or desk. See its guidance for people experiencing harassment.
- State what you need now. You might want the conduct to stop, a change in contact arrangements, advice on the next step, or simply an explanation of the process. It is fine to say you are unsure.
- Ask about handling. Ask who will see your name and account, whether the other person will be contacted, what information might need to be shared to check facts, and when you should expect a reply. MHLW’s employer guidance on consultation systems discusses privacy protection and treatment of people who consult.
Short Japanese you can use
| Japanese phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 職場での出来事について相談したいです。 | Shokuba de no dekigoto ni tsuite sōdan shitai desu. | I would like to discuss something that happened at work. |
| 〇月〇日、〇〇で、次のことがありました。 | 〇-gatsu 〇-nichi, 〇〇 de, tsugi no koto ga arimashita. | On [date], at [place], the following happened. |
| まず相談の流れと、誰に情報が共有されるか教えてください。 | Mazu sōdan no nagare to, dare ni jōhō ga kyōyū sareru ka oshiete kudasai. | Please first explain the process and who will receive the information. |
| 英語で相談できますか。通訳を利用できますか。 | Eigo de sōdan dekimasu ka. Tsūyaku o riyō dekimasu ka. | Can I consult in English? Can I use an interpreter? |
| 今後の連絡方法と、次の手順を確認したいです。 | Kongo no renraku hōhō to, tsugi no tejun o kakunin shitai desu. | I would like to confirm how you will contact me and the next step. |
For an initial email, you can write: 件名：職場での出来事についての相談 (“Subject: Consultation about an incident at work”). In the body, give a brief timeline and a safe way to contact you. Avoid sending more personal details to a general inbox than you need to establish the right contact.
If the workplace channel feels difficult to use
The MHLW’s general labor consultation offices (総合労働相談コーナー) provide an outside route for workplace concerns. Their page explains where to find a desk and what details to prepare. For questions about working conditions in another language, check the MHLW’s current foreign language consultation contacts; languages, hours and numbers vary by service.
A notice saying 秘密厳守 does not necessarily mean an anonymous report or that no one else can be told anything. Fact finding may require limited sharing. Ask the desk to explain its process before giving sensitive details. A consultation also does not promise a particular finding or remedy. If your concern affects your health or attendance, see our guides to reporting an absence or lateness and medical leave and 休職. Those procedures have their own contacts and requirements. For the broader sequence of employment documents, see our Working in Japan guide.
