![An AI-generated image depicting Japan's emerging leave-of-absence proxy service, in which a third party handles the administrative process of taking medical or stress leave on behalf of workers who are too mentally strained to communicate directly with their employers. [Created using ChatGPT]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/07/14/news-p.v1.20260714.31c7dc95d1624d9d908381a7e3b0c6e3_P1.png)
"Please tell my company I'm taking leave."
A new type of service is spreading rapidly in Japan — one that contacts employers on behalf of workers and handles the entire process of arranging a leave of absence. Coming on the heels of "resignation proxy" services, which notify companies of an employee's intent to quit, the rise of leave-of-absence proxies is seen as a telling reflection of Japanese workplace culture.
According to the Sankei Shimbun on Tuesday, one Japanese law firm said requests for its leave-of-absence proxy service have nearly doubled since spring this year, with the firm now handling about 40 cases a month.
Most users have reached a mental breaking point due to workplace conflict, harassment or excessive workloads. Contacting an employer directly or navigating leave procedures can itself worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety, driving workers to seek outside help.
The user base is also broadening. Beyond workers in their 20s just starting their careers, the service is increasingly drawing middle managers in their 40s and 50s juggling work and family caregiving, as well as civil servants, who tend to have relatively well-established leave and reinstatement systems.
Leave-of-absence proxies involve more complexity than resignation proxies. An employee can unilaterally declare an intention to resign, but taking a leave of absence requires approval under company-specific employment rules and internal regulations rather than a uniform legal standard — meaning procedures vary from employer to employer.
Proxy firms therefore take on the full range of administrative tasks: notifying the company of the worker's intent, submitting medical certificates, reviewing internal regulations and negotiating the terms of the leave with the employer.
However, experts warn that using unlicensed private operators can create legal problems, including potential violations of the Attorneys Act. They advise workers to use services provided by a licensed attorney, noting that some companies have recently begun refusing requests from private proxy firms outright.
sjy@heraldcorp.com
