import json


def read_json_file(filename):
    """
    Reads Json file
    Parameters:
        filename (string) : filename of json file to be read
    Returns:
        list of people and their stress level
    """
    try:
        with open(filename, "r", encoding='UTF-8') as read_file:
            data = json.load(read_file)
            return data
    except IOError:
        with open(filename, "w+", encoding='UTF-8') as read_file:
            read_file.write("{}")
            data = json.load(read_file)
            return data