Week 3: Employment as a SDH Flashcards
In the article “Fragmentation in the future of work,” what defines the future of work and what are the implications of this?
The future of work is predicted to include a lot of technological advancements which will in turn disrupt the jobs of many people and the jobs that are available
What are vulnerable workers?
Vulnerable workers are exposed to structural factors (ex: racism, ableism, sexism) that may contribute to adverse working conditions that have a detrimental impact on their health. These work conditions could be precarious work, low-wage employment and hazardous conditions
- T/F: Vulnerable workers are represented in the union
2. T/F: Vulnerable workers have enough regulatory protection provided by the larger institution they are under
- F - not represented by the union
2. F - lack regulatory protection –> why they are in adverse conditions
- Research shows that working conditions are directly related to the ______ and _______ health of workers
- working conditions contribute to _____ inequities in the workplace
- Why is employment income a crucial SDH?
- physical, mental health
- health
- Income is tied to other SDH like safe housing, education, food security, social services, health care. It is the foundation of one’s ability to have other SDH
What type of study was conducted in the article called “Fragmentation in the future of work?”
Horizon scan = systematically identify and and gather evidence from academic literature and social media
What is NOT a future of work trend listed in the “fragmentation of the future of work article”
a) technological
b) economic
c) political
d) environmental
e) urbanization
f) social
e)
T/F: workers in certain occupations that are reliant on soft skills may be less likely to be disrupted by technological or automated systems
True
- What are the 3 most common health effects from job stress?
- T/F: work-related stressors can lead to fatal conditions, but are not as deadly as diabetes, Alzheimer’s or Influenza because only about 10,000 people each year are killed.
- Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, decreased mental health
- FALSE: they are even more deadly than those diseases killing more than 120,000 people each year!
Explain each of the most common work-related stressors:
a) Lack of health insurance
b) erratic schedules
c) fear of downsizing
a) lack of health insurance leads to financial stress. Not having access to health care can delay treatment for serious health issues which can cause mortality
b) working long hours in precarious work environments can lead to hypertension and other injuries. Lack of sleep, decreased mental health and being over worked can lead to bad health decisions or burn out
c) employees reported getting more sick/ cardiovascular disease from the fear of downsizing
Answer the following about the Maquiladoras documentary:
1. What is a promotora? What impact have they had?
- List the most common health effects from the factories reported from the employees
- Identify the statement that is TRUE. Correct the false statements:
a) in the factory, the colour of your smock (shirt) determined your ranking as an employee
b) women represent less than half of the workforce in the Maquiladoras industry
c) Union factories are very common and many employees know about them
d) in 2001, the American countries were booming which led to an economic downfall - Explain the idea of “women as commodities” in relation to globalization
- Promotoras are women in the factories working towards change in their communities and in the traditional norms of the workplace. They learn about their rights as women and workers and spread the word to defend their violated rights
- exposed to chemicals (cancer causing), pollution in the water, burns on feet from the water, breathing problems, factories burned plastic, chemicals etc and people would get the remittance in their eyes and on their clothes, kids being electrocuted, kids being born with birth defects from the pollution
- a) is true
b) women represent 80% because it is cheap and they have little hands
c) union factories are described as “ghost factories” because employees don’t know they exist. Many employees are not allowed to form unions
d) the Asian countries were booming - From globalization, women are treated as commodities (objects). when this commodity is not attractive to globalization if they defend their rights, then companies will just find another woman to work
What defines a good job?
- job security
- safety
- adequate conditions
- good hours
- opportunities for self-expression and development in one’s role
- feeling worthy and valued as an employee
- WORK-LIFE BALANCE!
what defines job security?
Security is one’s ability to have control over their own life and development because they feel safe and as if they have the resources to succeed. Job security then is having a job that will allow you to feel secure and protected. It is the definer of what makes a job more or less stressful and is essential in the workplace
Explain how jobs have shifted in Canada in relation to these factors:
a) non-standard work
b) unionized jobs
c) factory work
d) service sector jobs
e) downsizing
a) rise in non-standard work meaning part time, contract
b) unionized jobs, which provide workers with jobs for life and pensions are no longer as common
c) factor work has migrated to places where employees are not protected and are forced to work in adverse conditions. This is because it costs less for companies and the labour is cheap
d) service sector jobs are underpaid and having irregular hours
e) secure jobs always have the risk of downsizing which is an insecurity
what is gig work? What are the impacts
reduced time work, part-time, casual work. This means lower earnings and higher job insecurity because it is an atmosphere of uncertainty
Answer the questions about intensification:
a) what is intensification and where is this trend most common today?
b) __/__ Canadians work more than 45 hours per week and this has been the trend for the last 30 years
a) a trend with increased deadlines for better work and faster paced schedules. It is a trend in US, Europe and Canada
b) 2/3
__% of North Americans who had vacations as part of their employee contract had not taken it
70%
What is the definition of objective, subjective and contextual employment conditions and trends. Give an example
Objective: can be observed and are measurable. Ex: being unemployed objectively reduces one’s income and ability to secure resources and may objectively limit one’s own or children’s ability to participate fully in society
subjective: different individuals experience objective conditions of employment but in different ways. Ex: being unemployed has a different subjective impact on different people; how we respond to each objective condition is subjective
contextual: the working conditions faced are socially determined and engrained from society. ex: the individual differences are the result of our social circumstances and status
Explain the objective, subjective and contextual part of this situation:
An electronic company is downsizing and will get rid of about 10% of employees within the manufacturing sector. Mary works in this sector and is facing a lot of stress due to the potential of her losing her job. She is already struggling financially to afford resources for her children as well as to pay for her rent
objective: the electronic company is downsizing which will objectively affect all the people who lose their jobs.
subjective: Mary feels a lot of stress due to the potential of her losing her job. She fears for her own life as well as for her children. How she feels may be different than how another person who also loses their job feels
contextual: her position in society and social environment is different than someone else’s status who may lose their job too
answer the questions about injury caused from working conditions:
- __ in ___ injuries requiring medical attention in Canada occur at work
- manufacturing and construction jobs make up __% of employment in Canada but are composed of __% of work related injuries
- people are commonly exposed to ______
- an example of an injury is _________
- 1 in 6
- 20%, 40% (just below 1/2)
- chemicals
- repetitive strain injuries
Answer the questions about stress induced physiological changes?
- what is stress induced physiological changes? Explain the impact on health
- approx __ in __ find their work days are always stressful
- Explain the impact of physiological changes on cortisol levels
- It is the changes that occur to the body’s levels of cortisol production and is linked to burnout and unhealthy coping behaviours
- 1 in 3
- Cortisol levels are decreased which causes fatigue, insomnia and depression. This is due to mental exhaustion
What is allostatic overload? What is it caused by?
The buildup of chronic stress effects throughout a person’s life that causes them to go into a state of burnout and mental exhaustion.
caused by a person’s work life and lack of access to other SDH that can induce long term stress
Allostatic overload is when the (personal/environmental) challenges ______ the individuals ability to cope.
environmental, exceed
What physiological regulatory system below is NOT affected by work stressors:
a) hypothalamic pituitary
b) adrenal axis
c) endocrine system
d) sympathetic nervous system
e) immune inflammatory system
f) cardiovascular and metabolic system
c)
What is epigenetics?
gene expression is not predetermined but rather depends on one’s social environment and life conditions/experiences.
Whether the genes are expressed is effected by working conditions and the SUBJECTIVE response in relation to their makeup.
