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Though the growth of the gig economy has coincided with increased economic precarity in the new economy, we know less about the extent to which gig work (compared with other self-employment arrangements and non-gig work) may fuel economic insecurity among American households. We fill this gap in the literature by drawing on a sample of 4,756 workers from a unique national survey capturing economic hardships among non-standard workers like app- and platform-based gig and other self-employed workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from generalized boosted regression modeling, utilizing machine learning to account for potential endogeneity, demonstrated that gig workers experienced significantly greater economic hardship than non-gig and other self-employed workers during the pandemic. For example, gig workers were more likely to experience food insecurity, miss bill payments, and suffer income loss compared with non-gig and other self-employed workers during the pandemic. While household liquid assets endowment prior to the pandemic reduced the effect of gig work on experiencing economic hardships, having dependent children in the household increased this effect. Thus, contrary to democratizing entrepreneurship opportunities, these findings suggest that the expansion of the gig economy may exacerbate labor market inequality, where wealth-endowed families are protected against adverse economic consequences of the gig economy. We discuss the implications of these findings for inequality-reducing labor market policies, including policies that account for the interconnectedness of family and the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores Hong Kong university students' concerns when making employment decisions after graduation and their attitudes towards working in mainland China, especially in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Two research questions were identified: What are Hong Kong students' attitudes towards working in the GBA? What factors influence Hong Kong students' employment choices? A qualitative research approach was adopted with semi‐structured interviews with 38 final‐year students from eight Hong Kong universities. Based on thematic analysis, the findings showed that Hong Kong university students' willingness to work in the GBA was mainly influenced by their previous connections with the destination and potential career development opportunities. However, Shenzhen was the only city out of nine in the GBA they considered for employment. University students were aware of the economic rationale for their employment preparation, but, more importantly, they placed a high value on professional development opportunities and work–life balance. They also valued opportunities for internationalisation and emphasised the importance of the work culture and environment in choosing employment. The findings have policy implications for graduate employment and the intra‐mobility of talented young people across GBA cities in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime industry is crucial for global trade and relies significantly on the commitment and expertise of seafarers, who encounter many difficulties throughout their journeys. This study examines the influence of environmental workplace characteristics on the rates at which seafarers leave their jobs, acknowledging the significance of comprehending how these aspects affect the ability to keep seafarers in their positions. The main objective of this study is to determine the crucial factors that influence seafarers' choices to exit the maritime business, specifically by applying the Random Forest algorithm to forecast turnover. This study is based on a quantitative examination of data obtained from 230 seafarers. Out of these, 200 valid responses were assessed. The study investigates the environmental factors that influence the rates at which seafarers leave their profession. A correlation analysis was performed to investigate the association between these factors and turnover. The Random Forest method was utilized to construct a predictive model, discerning the most influential factors contributing to seafarer turnover. The results indicate a robust and statistically significant association between environmental conditions and the rate at which seafarers leave their jobs. The Random Forest model found job satisfaction, autonomy, and work-life balance as significant indicators that strongly influence turnover. These observations provide the foundation for creating focused interventions aimed at decreasing turnover rates in the maritime industry. Resolving the issue of seafarer turnover necessitates a collaborative endeavour including many entities in the maritime industry, such as shipowners, operators, and regulatory authorities. The study suggests the development of policies and programs that give priority to the well-being of seafarers, decrease stress levels, and improve working conditions in order to encourage seafarers to stay at sea for extended periods of time. This research provides significant suggestions for enhancing staff management and retention tactics in the marine industry by utilizing the predictive capabilities of the Random Forest algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employment conditions are important social and commercial determinants of health. Informal employment—also known as 'cash-in-hand' and 'undeclared' work—is a discrete employment condition that has salience around the world. Fuelled by neoliberal ideology, informal employment has become increasingly common in high-income countries. Public health research concerning the health of informal workers comes largely from low- and middle-income countries, where the phenomenon is more visible. There has been little research on the health effects of informal employment in high-income countries including Australia. Twenty-nine workers aged 18 years and older, who were undertaking informal work activities, were recruited using social media and an online marketplace in Tarndanya (Adelaide-Kaurna Country), Australia. Qualitative narrative data, demographic profiles, and physical and mental health scores were collected. Most informal workers reported unfair and indecent employment conditions including job insecurity, low income, coercion, and lack of respect and dignity at work, and were often exposed to unsafe and unhealthy work environments. Workplace injuries and exposure to occupational hazards were common; and Physical and Mental Component Scores were poorer among informal workers when compared to the population of South Australia as a whole. With informal employment in Australia described as part of a 'significant, pervasive, damaging and growing' problem, there is a need for a health promotion lens over industrial relations policies in the interest of creating equitable access to fair and decent work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to reposition freelance creative and cultural workers (CCWs) and conditions of creative work as the foundations of cultural policy making. Using a case study of Dundee, Scotland, in the immediate aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the article draws on focus groups and interviews with creative freelancers, representatives of cultural organisations and members of a cultural strategy development group in Dundee. It presents how freelancers were not only missing from policy (national and local), their precarity was also exacerbated by cultural organisations in their response to pandemic-induced uncertainty. The potential for more caring modes of engagement with freelance CCWs are identified. Crucially, the article argues that this support work must also be resourced to be effective and sustainable. The article presents opportunities for rethinking the position of freelancers in cultural policy and sector leadership, and reflects on the capacity for academic research to support such work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precarious Employment (PE) is characterized by job, income, and benefit insecurities. Studies surrounding PE and well-being have been predominantly quantitative, leaving a gap in rich descriptions of employment experiences. We recruited a sample of 40 adults aged 25-55 who were involved in PE during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic or lost employment due to the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were administered. Employment and income insecurities were common and had negative impacts on the well-being of participants and their families. Uncertainty about future employment prospects and job and income loss resulted in chronic distress. Other insecurities—access to benefits, violation of worker rights, worker safety—was also reported as impacting well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic deepened insecurities, hardships, and distress among workers with PE conditions. Given the myriad insecurities experienced by those engaged in PE, the focus of precarious work research should also include working conditions, violation of worker rights, and managerial domination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precarious employment (PE), which encompasses the power relations between workers and employers, is a well-established social determinant of health that has strong ramifications for health and health inequity. In this review, we discuss advances in the measurement of this multidimensional construct and provide recommendations for overcoming continued measurement challenges. We then evaluate recent evidence of the negative health impacts of PE, with a focus on the burgeoning studies from North America and South America. We also establish the role of PE in maintaining and perpetuating health inequities and review potential policy solutions to help alleviate its health burden. Last, we discuss future research directions with a call for a better understanding of the heterogeneity within PE and for research that focuses both on upstream drivers that shape PE and its impacts on health, as well as on the mechanisms by which PE causes poor health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Female migrant domestic workers (MDW), approximately 8.5 million globally, often live in their employer’s home under vulnerable conditions. In Hong Kong, MDWs currently comprise 5% of the population. This study was conducted to assess the association between employment conditions and mental health, and the mediating roles stress and job satisfaction have, among female MDWs in Hong Kong. Methods Participants completed an online cross-sectional survey. A total of 1,965 survey were collected between August 2020 and August 2021. Questions in the survey were related to MDWs background information, employment conditions, stress, job satisfaction, and two mental health outcomes: anxiety and depression. An employment conditions score was created to assess the cumulative effect poor employment conditions had on mental health. A multicategorical parallel mediation analysis was used to assess the direct effect employment conditions have on mental health and the indirect effects through stress and job satisfaction. Results Overall, 17.7% of MDWs were reported to be suffering from anxiety and 30.8% from depression. An increase in poor employment conditions was statistically associated with an increase in both outcomes, while stress levels and job satisfaction mediated this association. Conclusions The findings call for increased scrutiny of employment conditions and mental well-being of MDWs.

Background: Female migrant domestic workers (MDW), approximately 8.5 million globally, often live in their employer's home under vulnerable conditions. In Hong Kong, MDWs currently comprise 5% of the population. This study was conducted to assess the association between employment conditions and mental health, and the mediating roles stress and job satisfaction have, among female MDWs in Hong Kong. Methods: Participants completed an online cross-sectional survey. A total of 1,965 survey were collected between August 2020 and August 2021. Questions in the survey were related to MDWs background information, employment conditions, stress, job satisfaction, and two mental health outcomes: anxiety and depression. An employment conditions score was created to assess the cumulative effect poor employment conditions had on mental health. A multicategorical parallel mediation analysis was used to assess the direct effect employment conditions have on mental health and the indirect effects through stress and job satisfaction. Results: Overall, 17.7% of MDWs were reported to be suffering from anxiety and 30.8% from depression. An increase in poor employment conditions was statistically associated with an increase in both outcomes, while stress levels and job satisfaction mediated this association. Conclusions: The findings call for increased scrutiny of employment conditions and mental well-being of MDWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to expose how maternity protection has been structured in Colombia in light of national and international regulations, as well as legal decisions, through a documentary, qualitative, and descriptive investigation. It also seeks to highlight the effectiveness of the legal process for obtaining the Ministry of Labor’s resolution by employers, which authorizes the dismissal of pregnant women. Furthermore, it aims to identify the legal scope of Labor inspectors’ decisions regarding the termination of employment contracts for pregnant women when there is just cause and analyze the legal avenues available in Colombian law that allow for the justified dismissal of pregnant women. The goal is to verify whether these parameters set by the Ministry of Labor are met in practice concerning the role of the Labor inspector in the termination process of the employment contract with just cause for pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Workplaces can be sources of both stress and support, affecting employees' mental health and productivity. Yet, little research has investigated variability in workplace risk factors for poor mental health in conservation. We aimed to explore how patterns of psychological distress—a state of emotional disturbance—and associated workplace risk factors vary between conservation job roles. Working with three case study organizations in India, South Africa, and Cambodia, we surveyed 280 field‐based, office‐based, and research staff. Moderate or severe psychological distress was reported by 28.9%. Field‐based practitioners reported a greater imbalance between workplace efforts and rewards (0.35 standard deviation (SD), 95% credibility interval (CI) 0.03–0.67) than their colleagues, which was associated with greater psychological distress (0.24 SD, 95% CI 0.10–0.39). After controlling for this mediated relationship, researchers reported greater psychological distress than field‐based practitioners (0.37 SD, 95% CI 0.02–0.72). However, when accounting for all direct and indirect effects, there was no overall difference in distress between roles. Employers, funders, professional societies, and other institutions seeking to support conservationists' mental health should understand and offer support tailored to role‐specific challenges. Doing so might enhance conservationists' wellbeing while strengthening their ability to reverse global nature loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Workplaces can be sources of both stress and support, affecting employees' mental health and productivity. Yet, little research has investigated variability in workplace risk factors for poor mental health in conservation. We aimed to explore how patterns of psychological distress—a state of emotional disturbance—and associated workplace risk factors vary between conservation job roles. Working with three case study organizations in India, South Africa, and Cambodia, we surveyed 280 field‐based, office‐based, and research staff. Moderate or severe psychological distress was reported by 28.9%. Field‐based practitioners reported a greater imbalance between workplace efforts and rewards (0.35 standard deviation (SD), 95% credibility interval (CI) 0.03–0.67) than their colleagues, which was associated with greater psychological distress (0.24 SD, 95% CI 0.10–0.39). After controlling for this mediated relationship, researchers reported greater psychological distress than field‐based practitioners (0.37 SD, 95% CI 0.02–0.72). However, when accounting for all direct and indirect effects, there was no overall difference in distress between roles. Employers, funders, professional societies, and other institutions seeking to support conservationists' mental health should understand and offer support tailored to role‐specific challenges. Doing so might enhance conservationists' wellbeing while strengthening their ability to reverse global nature loss.

In the massive littoral tourist spaces of Ibero-America, the employment of housekeepers is very precarious, with low incomes and predominantly occupied by women and immigrants. The aim of this article is to show empirically, from a comparative study between the chambermaids of two representative coastal regions of littoral tourism in Ibero-America: the Riviera Maya (Mexico) and the Costa del Sol (Spain), the perception of these workers -- based on 36 in-depth interviews-- about their contractual conditions, interaction with their bosses and tourists, as well as their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How fishermen produce and live has been a hot topic of academic concern in recent years. However, existing research has focused excessively on marine fishermen. Inland fisheries make a significant but often overlooked contribution to rural livelihoods in developing countries. In this paper, we constructed a framework for fishermen's livelihood strategies and used questionnaires and in-depth interviews to study 275 households of inland fishermen in a professional fishing village at Poyang Lake. The results show that (1) the impact of the comprehensive fishing ban has led to significant changes in the livelihood capital of inland fishermen, leading to fishermen being forced to change their livelihood strategies. (2) The current livelihood strategies can be divided into four categories, which are non-fishing employment, self-employment, public welfare positions and retirement respectively. (3) Livelihood capital such as age, education, social interaction and fishing rights influence their choice of livelihood strategies. (4) The fishing ban proposal generally meets the interests of fishermen, but there is some capacity for improvement in terms of implementation details and policy flexibility. Based on these findings, we recommend that the government conducts further in-depth research and adjusts and improves its policy options in good time. To the satisfaction of all parties, the current policy protects the environment and achieves sustainable human development, making Chinese contributions and proposing Chinese plans to address global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted economically-disadvantaged populations in the United States (US). Precarious employment conditions may contribute to these disparities by impeding workers in such conditions from adopting COVID-19 mitigation measures to reduce infection risk. This study investigated the relationship between employment and economic conditions and the adoption of COVID-19 protective behaviors among US workers during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Employing a social media advertisement campaign, an online, self-administered survey was used to collect data from 2,845 working adults in April 2020. Hierarchical generalized linear models were performed to assess the differences in engagement with recommended protective behaviors based on employment and economic conditions, while controlling for knowledge and perceived threat of COVID-19, as would be predicted by the Health Belief Model (HBM). Results Essential workers had more precarious employment and economic conditions than non-essential workers: 67% had variable income; 30% did not have paid sick leave; 42% had lost income due to COVID-19, and 15% were food insecure. The adoption of protective behaviors was high in the sample: 77% of participants avoided leaving home, and 93% increased hand hygiene. Consistent with the HBM, COVID-19 knowledge scores and perceived threat were positively associated with engaging in all protective behaviors. However, after controlling for these, essential workers were 60% and 70% less likely than non-essential workers, who by the nature of their jobs cannot stay at home, to stay at home and increase hand hygiene, respectively. Similarly, participants who could not afford to quarantine were 50% less likely to avoid leaving home (AOR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4, 0.6) than those who could, whereas there were no significant differences concerning hand hygiene. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with the accumulating evidence that the employment conditions of essential workers and other low-income earners are precarious, that they have experienced disproportionately higher rates of income loss during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and face significant barriers to adopting protective measures. Our findings underscore the importance and need of policy responses focusing on expanding social protection and benefits to prevent the further deepening of existing health disparities in the US.

Abstract Background More than half of the working population in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries is engaged in informal employment. The few previous studies indicate that this employment condition could have negative consequences for workers’ health. The aim of the present study was to estimate the association between self-perceived health and informality in LAC countries according to gender and welfare state type. Methods The cross-sectional study based on different working conditions and health national surveys was carried out in 13 LAC countries between 2012 and 2018. A sample of 176,786 workers was selected from these surveys. The association between health and informality was estimated using Poisson regression. Finally, a random effects meta-analysis was carried out by country. All results were stratified by sex and type of welfare state (statalist or familialist). Results Informal workers reported significantly worse health than formal workers, for both women (1.28 [95% CI 1.14-1.43]) and men (1.30 [1.12-1.50]). This difference was broader and more significant in countries with statalist welfare state regimes, among both women (1.40 [1.22-1.60]) and men (1.51 [1.30-1.74]), than in familialist regime countries (1.19 [1.03-1.38] and 1.24 [1.03-1.49], respectively). Conclusions This study provides strong evidence of the association between informal employment and worker health. Welfare states appear to have a modifying effect on this association. The transition from the informal to the formal labour market in LAC is essential to improving the health of the population.

While the health of all depends on the food chain, few studies have focused systematically on the health of food chain workers themselves (production, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, and commercial and institutional services). In this study we used 2018 and 2019 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to examine health-related metrics of food chain workers, combined and by industry sector, compared to non-food chain workers, among 32 U.S. states. Logistic regression indicated U.S. food chain workers had higher prevalences of barriers to health care access, smoking, no physical exercise, and poor self-reported health than all other workers. Patterns were similar among food chain workers in all industry sectors except wholesale. Additionally, commercial food services workers had higher prevalence of poor mental health, while institutional food services workers had higher prevalences of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension than all other workers. We discuss implications of these results for interventions, with specific attention to improving employment conditions. Food chain worker health is critical for food system sustainability and population health equity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Abstract Background Nurses and midwives play a critical role in the provision of care and the optimization of health services resources worldwide, which is particularly relevant during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, they can only provide quality services if their work environment provides adequate conditions to support them. Today the employment and working conditions of many nurses worldwide are precarious, and the current pandemic has prompted more visibility to the vulnerability to health-damaging factors of nurses’ globally. This desk review explores how employment relations, and employment and working conditions may be negatively affecting the health of nurses in countries such as Brazil, Croatia, India, Ireland, Italy, México, Nepal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Main body Nurses’ health is influenced by the broader social, economic, and political system and the redistribution of power relations that creates new policies regarding the labour market and the welfare state. The vulnerability faced by nurses is heightened by gender inequalities, in addition to social class, ethnicity/race (and caste), age and migrant status, that are inequality axes that explain why nurses’ workers, and often their families, are exposed to multiple risks and/or poorer health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, informalization of nurses’ employment and working conditions were unfair and harmed their health. During COVID-19 pandemic, there is evidence that the employment and working conditions of nurses are associated to poor physical and mental health. Conclusion The protection of nurses’ health is paramount. International and national enforceable standards are needed, along with economic and health policies designed to substantially improve employment and working conditions for nurses and work–life balance. More knowledge is needed to understand the pathways and mechanisms on how precariousness might affect nurses’ health and monitor the progress towards nurses’ health equity.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted economically-disadvantaged populations in the United States (US). Precarious employment conditions may contribute to these disparities by impeding workers in such conditions from adopting COVID-19 mitigation measures to reduce infection risk. This study investigated the relationship between employment and economic conditions and the adoption of COVID-19 protective behaviors among US workers during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Employing a social media advertisement campaign, an online, self-administered survey was used to collect data from 2,845 working adults in April 2020. Hierarchical generalized linear models were performed to assess the differences in engagement with recommended protective behaviors based on employment and economic conditions, while controlling for knowledge and perceived threat of COVID-19, as would be predicted by the Health Belief Model (HBM).Results: Essential workers had more precarious employment and economic conditions than non-essential workers: 67% had variable income; 30% did not have paid sick leave; 42% had lost income due to COVID-19, and 15% were food insecure. The adoption of protective behaviors was high in the sample: 77% of participants avoided leaving home, and 93% increased hand hygiene. Consistent with the HBM, COVID-19 knowledge scores and perceived threat were positively associated with engaging in all protective behaviors. However, after controlling for these, essential workers were 60% and 70% less likely than non-essential workers, who by the nature of their jobs cannot stay at home, to stay at home and increase hand hygiene, respectively. Similarly, participants who could not afford to quarantine were 50% less likely to avoid leaving home (AOR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4, 0.6) than those who could, whereas there were no significant differences concerning hand hygiene.Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the accumulating evidence that the employment conditions of essential workers and other low-income earners are precarious, that they have experienced disproportionately higher rates of income loss during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and face significant barriers to adopting protective measures. Our findings underscore the importance and need of policy responses focusing on expanding social protection and benefits to prevent the further deepening of existing health disparities in the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study investigated the perceptions of Shared Value (SV) and its antecedents and outcomes within the mining industry in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: After conducting a literature overview of the South African mining industry and theories linked to SV, a hypothesised model of the study was developed. This study used a quantitative research methodology. An explanatory hypothesis-generating approach was employed through an empirical investigation using the survey method. The survey items were self-developed based on hypothesised variables. The study’s respondents were identified via non-probability sampling, namely convenience and snowball sampling. A total of 340 respondents participated in the study. Results/Findings: The empirical results confirmed that automation and employment conditions are the antecedents of SV in the mining industry. The study illustrated three approaches of SV: reconceiving the products or services and markets, reimagining value chain productivity and development of the enabling environment. Furthermore, the study revealed competitive advantage and sustainability performance as the outcomes of SV in the mining industry in South Africa. Practical implications: The study contributes by making practical recommendations to the mining industry role players on how to increase SV and improving competitiveness and sustainability performance whilst increasing economic prosperity by resolving social and environmental issues that are of mutual interest to stakeholders. Originality/value: The study fills a knowledge gap on SV in South Africa because of limited national mining studies. Furthermore, as SV is a novel and significant advancement in management sciences, the study is a valuable resource for SV decision-making across industries.

Background: More than half of the working population in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries is engaged in informal employment. The few previous studies indicate that this employment condition could have negative consequences for workers' health. The aim of the present study was to estimate the association between self-perceived health and informality in LAC countries according to gender and welfare state type. Methods: The cross-sectional study based on different working conditions and health national surveys was carried out in 13 LAC countries between 2012 and 2018. A sample of 176,786 workers was selected from these surveys. The association between health and informality was estimated using Poisson regression. Finally, a random effects meta-analysis was carried out by country. All results were stratified by sex and type of welfare state (statalist or familialist). Results: Informal workers reported significantly worse health than formal workers, for both women (1.28 [95% CI 1.14-1.43]) and men (1.30 [1.12-1.50]). This difference was broader and more significant in countries with statalist welfare state regimes, among both women (1.40 [1.22-1.60]) and men (1.51 [1.30-1.74]), than in familialist regime countries (1.19 [1.03-1.38] and 1.24 [1.03-1.49], respectively). Conclusions: This study provides strong evidence of the association between informal employment and worker health. Welfare states appear to have a modifying effect on this association. The transition from the informal to the formal labour market in LAC is essential to improving the health of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2018, Barcelona City Council implemented a pilot phase of an organisational change in the municipal home care service (HCS) system. Inspired in the Buurtzorg model, the new model promotes the creation of self-managing teams operating in a restricted community setting., Objective: To assess the pilot phase of the new model, focusing on employees' working and employment conditions as well as on their health and well-being outcomes., Methods: Mixed-methods impact evaluation. First, a quantitative evaluation was conducted between October 2018 and October 2020, using a pre-post study design with one pretest and two posttest measurements in an intervention and a comparison group. The intervention group was composed of the members of the work teams implemented in the pilot phase from October 2018 onwards (baseline n = 44). The comparison group consisted of workers from the same districts working under the usual HCS system (baseline n = 72). Next, a qualitative study was conducted in workers from the intervention group in winter 2021-2022 (n = 10)., Results: The pre-post study results yielded positive changes for the intervention group in social support and autonomy, as well as in many of the employment conditions. This group also experienced increases in psychological demands, painful positions, fatigue and psychological distress. Two main themes affecting workers' well-being emerged from the interviews: factors inherent to the self-management model and external factors., Conclusions: Health and well-being outcomes seem to depend on the balance between job demands, resources, and ways of channelling conflicts within teams.

How fishermen produce and live has been a hot topic of academic concern in recent years. However, existing research has focused excessively on marine fishermen. Inland fisheries make a significant but often overlooked contribution to rural livelihoods in developing countries. In this paper, we constructed a framework for fishermen’s livelihood strategies and used questionnaires and in-depth interviews to study 275 households of inland fishermen in a professional fishing village at Poyang Lake. The results show that (1) the impact of the comprehensive fishing ban has led to significant changes in the livelihood capital of inland fishermen, leading to fishermen being forced to change their livelihood strategies. (2) The current livelihood strategies can be divided into four categories, which are non-fishing employment, self-employment, public welfare positions and retirement respectively. (3) Livelihood capital such as age, education, social interaction and fishing rights influence their choice of livelihood strategies. (4) The fishing ban proposal generally meets the interests of fishermen, but there is some capacity for improvement in terms of implementation details and policy flexibility. Based on these findings, we recommend that the government conducts further in-depth research and adjusts and improves its policy options in good time. To the satisfaction of all parties, the current policy protects the environment and achieves sustainable human development, making Chinese contributions and proposing Chinese plans to address global environmental change.

Background: Nurses and midwives play a critical role in the provision of care and the optimization of health services resources worldwide, which is particularly relevant during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, they can only provide quality services if their work environment provides adequate conditions to support them. Today the employment and working conditions of many nurses worldwide are precarious, and the current pandemic has prompted more visibility to the vulnerability to health-damaging factors of nurses' globally. This desk review explores how employment relations, and employment and working conditions may be negatively affecting the health of nurses in countries such as Brazil, Croatia, India, Ireland, Italy, México, Nepal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.Main Body: Nurses' health is influenced by the broader social, economic, and political system and the redistribution of power relations that creates new policies regarding the labour market and the welfare state. The vulnerability faced by nurses is heightened by gender inequalities, in addition to social class, ethnicity/race (and caste), age and migrant status, that are inequality axes that explain why nurses' workers, and often their families, are exposed to multiple risks and/or poorer health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, informalization of nurses' employment and working conditions were unfair and harmed their health. During COVID-19 pandemic, there is evidence that the employment and working conditions of nurses are associated to poor physical and mental health.Conclusion: The protection of nurses' health is paramount. International and national enforceable standards are needed, along with economic and health policies designed to substantially improve employment and working conditions for nurses and work-life balance. More knowledge is needed to understand the pathways and mechanisms on how precariousness might affect nurses' health and monitor the progress towards nurses' health equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though work and paid employment are generally beneficial, and unemployment is frequently harmful, precarious employment relations are also health damaging. This study compared the health status of workers in highly precarious employment with unemployed individuals in 35 European countries. We used data from the 6th European Working Conditions Survey (2015) (n = 33,938). The prevalence of precariousness was 58.99%. We fitted a multi-level generalized linear model (GLMM) to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of health-related outcomes according to quartiles of precariousness and unemployment. We calculated the aPR of health-related outcomes in the highly precariously employed (quartile 4 of precariousness), with reference to unemployed individuals. We found significant associations of higher prevalence of bad health status, headache, skin and hearing problems, anxiety, fatigue, backache, upper and lower muscular pain and injuries among quartiles 3 and 4 of precariousness compared with those with no precarious employment. The confidence intervals of the aPR for most of health-related outcomes overlapped between the highest quartiles of precariousness and recent unemployment, indicating no significant differences among these groups. We conclude that unemployment and higher degrees of precariousness can be similarly health damaging. Therefore, we propose that employment conditions should be better monitored. This is an essential first step in order to document, and identify interventions to prevent, the health-damaging consequences of growing levels of precarious employment. This will be essential for achieving the 8th sustainable development goal of decent work and economic growth by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telework as a new form of employment has become particularly relevant with the advent of the COVID-19 restrictions. So far, telework has been used occasionally, and only a few employers and employees have resorted to this mode of work. Due to the COVID-19 situation, telework has become a reality, and at times it is the only possibility to work. Although telework is widely used, the legal regulation might not be apparent. The article explores the specific aspects of legal regulation regarding telework in Estonia.

Purpose: To assess the quality of the research about how employment conditions and psychosocial workplace exposures impact the mental health of young workers, and to summarize the available evidence. Methods: We undertook a systematic search of three databases using a tiered search strategy. Studies were included if they: (a) assessed employment conditions such as working hours, precarious employment, contract type, insecurity, and flexible work, or psychosocial workplace exposures such as violence, harassment and bullying, social support, job demand and control, effort-reward imbalance, and organizational justice; (b) included a validated mental health measure; and (c) presented results specific to young people aged ≤ 30 years or were stratified by age group to provide an estimate for young people aged ≤ 30 years. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) tool. Results: Nine studies were included in the review. Four were related to employment conditions, capturing contract type and working hours. Five studies captured concepts relevant to psychosocial workplace exposures including workplace sexual harassment, psychosocial job quality, work stressors, and job control. The quality of the included studies was generally low, with six of the nine at serious risk of bias. Three studies at moderate risk of bias were included in the qualitative synthesis, and results of these showed contemporaneous exposure to sexual harassment and poor psychosocial job quality was associated with poorer mental health outcomes among young workers. Longitudinal evidence showed that exposure to low job control was associated with incident depression diagnosis among young workers. Conclusions: The findings of this review illustrate that even better studies are at moderate risk of bias. Addressing issues related to confounding, selection of participants, measurement of exposures and outcomes, and missing data will improve the quality of future research in this area and lead to a clearer understanding of how employment conditions and psychosocial workplace exposures impact the mental health of young people. Generating high-quality evidence is particularly critical given the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on young people's employment. In preparing for a post-pandemic world where poor-quality employment conditions and exposure to psychosocial workplace exposures may become more prevalent, rigorous research must exist to inform policy to protect the mental health of young workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to analyse the degree of segmentation and restriction within the French artistic jobs system by studying the example of dance and circus arts. On the basis of the distribution of job structure and volume of work, it investigates the conditions of inclusion within a "professional core", including the associated effects on continued activity. We use data from Pôle Emploi relating to monthly employer statements (AEM) and single simplified declarations (DUS). These data allow us to exhaustively process the 8.5 million employment contracts for the 100,000 individuals who worked in one of the two selected artistic fields during the 2006-2016 period. In both fields, albeit in varying proportions and at varying rates, we see more restrictive conditions of employment and access to the segment of artists likely to benefit from the "intermittent" status, an unemployment benefit system specific to artistic workers due to the irregular nature of their work. And yet, trends show that potential workers are being increasingly excluded from these two labour markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general objective of this research is to analyze the employment conditions in Venezuela as a result of COVID-19, for which a descriptive documentary research methodology was used, through an analytical technique. Applying the method of collecting secondary sources, the review of various documents, both printed and digital, was used; One of the main sources analyzed in this study can be highlighted as the State of Alarm Decree No. 4,160 (2020), in addition to the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (1999), the Penal Code (2000), the Organic Law on States of Exception (2000); and international documents published by the International Labor Organization (ILO). This methodology made it possible to establish the definition of unemployment and explain how this affects the population and the impact it has on companies, in turn it made it possible to state how the pandemic crisis caused by COVID-19 modified working conditions and explain strategies to maintain the optimum environment in the workplace. It can be concluded that the distancing and biosecurity measures have helped in a certain way to prevent the spread of COVID-19; but as a result of this, economic concerns have increased, making it necessary for the national government to adopt more measures that protect workers and companies, with social significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The worldwide contingency for COVID-19 disease has caused substantial changes in the lifestyle of the population, modifying consumption habits, and perceptions of individuals. In the case of young people, the pandemic has revealed problems, needs, and challenges related to health, violence, education, and employment. Method: The objective of this study is to identify the perceptions of the young population aged 16 to 29 years in the city of Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, during the health contingency of the COVID-19 disease generated by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The sample consists of 1386 cases, collected from May to July. The stratified sampling by quotas was used to ensure the representation of the entire young population in the metropolitan area of the municipality. The measurement instrument consists of 48 questions divided into 5 elements: Perception of contingency, Physical and Mental Health, Education, Employment, and Consumption Habits. Results: In the study, 847 women and 539 men participated, being 61.1% of feminine gender and 38.9% masculine individuals; 84.9% of the participating individuals declared to pass the contingency with family members. The marital status of the participants is 87.7% single, 6.3% married, and 7.9% in concubinage. 20.6% of the respondents declared to be in charge of children, and 18.3% to be in charge of people over 65 years old. 65.9% of the participants declared to stay at home and only leave for specific situations; On the other hand, government official press conferences and social networks, followed by open and pay-tv have been the most used media to be informed. There is a strong interest in receiving information about COVID-19 and psychological care, as well as receiving consultations and medicines at home, also the main concerns of young people are the family and personal financial aspects. Areas affected by young people highlighted job stability, job opportunities, and are feared that school cycles will not be completed satisfactorily. Discussion or Conclusion: The main findings of this study are that the young population of the city seeks official information from the Ministry of Health through electronic means, as well as consuming information such as government conferences. In the health section, the youths have declared substantial changes in their physical and mental health, related to confinement and physical distance measures. In the education section, the participants mentioned a decrease interest in academic issues and a considerable increase in the academic load. In the employment section, the youths declared changes in the way of working, using digital tools, reducing time in the workplace. Finally, an increase in frequency and quantity consumed of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and other psychotropic substances is declared, in addition to the time of browsing on social networks and the Internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telework as a new form of employment has become particularly relevant with the advent of the COVID-19 restrictions. So far, telework has been used occasionally, and only a few employers and employees have resorted to this mode of work. Due to the COVID-19 situation, telework has become a reality, and at times it is the only possibility to work. Although telework is widely used, the legal regulation might not be apparent. The article explores the specific aspects of legal regulation regarding telework in Estonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many other countries, Australian government policy focuses on extending working life as a response to concern about the cost of an ageing population. In this article, we focus on older aged care workers and highlight how poor employment conditions hinder their capacity to work in later life. Many of these workers are at risk of time and income poverty, since they are on low wage, part-time, low-hour contracts and need to pick up extra shifts to earn a living wage. The interactions between time poverty and income poverty have been developed within a body of literature that analyses the quantities of time individuals and households allocate to paid employment, household, family and caring responsibilities, sleep and self-care. Burchardt's notion of 'time and income capability' brings insights from this corpus into dialogue with the capabilities approach, a political philosophy that equates wellbeing with the breadth of realistic opportunities for people to do things that they have reason to value. This study uses Burchardt's construct to analyse qualitative data from interviews with 20 older personal care workers. While all the workers we spoke with engaged in self-sustaining practices, there were varying levels of opportunity to pursue them. Workers with less time and income capability found it more difficult to sustain themselves and their households. Some employer practices diminished workers' time and income capability: unrealistic workloads necessitating unpaid hours; providing little opportunity for input into rostering; and late-notice roster changes. When time and income capability was too low, workers' informal care duties, social connections and health were compromised. In the Australian aged care sector, several changes can enable longer working lives: sufficient paid hours to perform the role, wage loading for hours in addition to those contracted, written notice for roster changes, and increased wages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the associations between precarious employment and health-related outcomes in salaried workers from 28 countries in Europe (2014). We used data from the Flash Eurobarometer 398 among salaried workers (n = 7,702). We fitted multi-level generalized linear models (GLMM) using the Poisson family and country as the random effect, to calculate the crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with their 95%CI of health-related outcomes (health problems, sick leave, health and safety risks in the workplace) according to precarious employment. We found significant associations between having a precarious employment and health problems caused or worsened by the work (stress/depression/anxiety, musculoskeletal problems, infectious diseases, respiratory problems, accidents/injuries and allergies), sick leave of more than 15 days [aPR: 1.43, (CI95%: 1.09;1.87)] and exposure to violence or harassment [aPR: 1.82, (CI95%: 1.42;2.34)]. Our study shows an association of precarious employment, understood as a multidimensional construct, and negative health-related outcomes and sick leave of more than 15 days. Therefore, we recommend prioritizing legislative measures for reducing non-standard arrangements and for improving the conditions of workers in non-standard arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There has been a rising trend of labor migration globally. Given their alien status within the legal framework of the host countries, migrant domestic workers (MDWs) are especially vulnerable to poor employment conditions that may affect their health status, yet there is still a lack of quantitative evidence in this population hitherto. Using randomly sampled data from a cross-sectional survey of 2,017 live-in female MDWs in Hong Kong, a setting with a high concentration of MDWs, this study examined the association of employment conditions with physical and mental health among the MDWs. We observed poorer physical and mental health status among the MDWs when compared with the general population in Hong Kong. Our findings suggest that employment conditions, including household size, working on the rest day, and housing type, and age were associated with physical health, while employment conditions, including not ever receiving wages on time, frequency of financial remittances, paying the employment agency, having a private room, fulfillment of work-related needs, physical abuse, and discrimination, and sociodemographic characteristics, including age and duration of migration, were associated with mental health. Social support in general did not confound these associations, but religious activities and daily contact with friends were also associated with mental health. Our findings have important implications in designing interventions and policies to improve the physical and mental well-being of this vulnerable migrant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal employment is an employment condition in which workers are not protected by labor regulations. It has been associated with poor health status in middle- and low-income countries, but it is still a neglected issue in high-income countries. Our aim was to estimate the association between health status and employment profiles in Spain, attending to the role of workplace risk factors. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 8,060 workers from the Seventh Spanish Working Conditions Survey (2011). We defined 4 employment profiles and estimated the associations between them and poor self-perceived health using Poisson regression models. All analyses were stratified by sex. The prevalence of the informal profile was 4% for women and 1.5% for men. Differences in self-perceived health status among employment profiles were negligible. Only women engaged in informal employment had poorer self-perceived health than those in the reference profile. This difference disappeared after adjusting models for psychosocial risk factors. In conclusion, we did not find differences in self-perceived health status between employment profiles, except for women in informal employment. Efforts should be made to improve the psychosocial risk factors in women in informal employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article shows how linguistic criteria have become central when defining job categories in the outsourced call centre sector in Spain. Language occupies a central role in the production processes of informational capitalism: in call centres, language functions as the raw material, scripts as tools and conversations as a product. Yet the ways in which linguistic production affects key elements of job categories have received little attention. Drawing on in‐depth interviews in the call centre sector, the analysis of scripts and collective agreements, this article shows how trade unions and workers are pushing to adapt Fordist arguments based on job autonomy to informational production, arguing that job categories may depend on linguistic autonomy from the scripts during the labour process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents some of the results obtained in a social investigation aimed at exploring the daily life of call center workers in Costa Rica. Its purpose is to analyze their working conditions and experience, through interviews and surveys from the perspective of their body and emotions: what I call the corporeity of work. The study dwells on^ intimate experience, and links elements which are usually left out when work transformation processes are studied. It observes the conditions in which people work and are employed and how they subjectively experience these conditions, from within their bodies and emotions. After briefly putting in context the subject matter and establishing the development of subcontracting companies in the area of telecommunication services, it analyzes the conditions of employment and work, and then delves into the value of work, temporality, labor flexibility and health effects, as well as call center culture. This text allows us to examine the life experience of a group of workers not often studied in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Toruńskie Studia Polsko-Włoskie / Studi Polacco-Italiani di Toruń is the property of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Faculty of Law & Administration and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• This paper assesses whether, and how, managing the work environment and promotion of sustainable work is represented in CSR/ESG/sustainability reports of large companies. • CSR/ESG/sustainability reports of 100 large companies were used to analyse practice across six areas: corporate governance; business and human rights; diversity, equity, and inclusion; industrial relations; occupational health, safety and wellbeing; and human resource practices. • Overall, reporting of themes was high, but not all subthemes were equally considered, suggesting that the relevance of specific themes was less readily accepted. • The findings highlight the need for mandatory reporting guidelines and the importance of taking a holistic/integrated view of managing the work environment and move towards a sustainable work approach. • Our findings show that, when underpinned by strong policy frameworks, a responsibility driven approach can be used to improve the management of the work environment and promote sustainable work. As understanding and recognition grows regarding the importance of improving employment and working conditions to advance individual, organizational, and national objectives, several policy approaches have been developed in an attempt to drive further engagement by organizations in this area. One such approach has been a responsibility driven agenda spearheaded by business sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) or environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, including a multitude of standards and instruments that have been developed in recent years. However, there is still limited understanding of the level of engagement by organizations in managing the work environment and promotion of sustainable work through CSR/ESG/sustainability initiatives. This study looked to address this gap by analysing 100 Forbes Global 2000 CSR/ESG/sustainability reports across world regions and occupational sectors. The goal was to assess whether, and how, enterprises operationalized the link between managing the work environment and responsible business practices, and how this understanding varied across different dimensions. Findings suggest a broad understanding in this area with many organizations reporting on initiatives linked to overarching themes. However, differences exist in the level of engagement regarding different aspects of the work environment, as well as across world regions and sectors. These findings support the continuing development of the responsibility driven approach to managing the work environment and promotion of sustainable work alongside other existing policy initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the employment conditions of social care personal assistants (PAs) in England. In England, disabled adults have been able to directly employ people to meet their care or support needs for a number of years, little is known about the employment conditions of people who are directly employed. Design/methodology/approach: PAs were recruited mainly through third sector and user led organisations. A total of 105 social care PAs took part in a semi-structured telephone interview, which on average was an hour long. Interviews were fully transcribed. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS (v.24) and qualitative data by NVIVO software. Findings: The paper focuses on employment conditions: contracts, pay, pensions, national insurance, overtime, holiday and sick pay, etc. Access to training and support are also described. Though PAs enjoyed considerable job satisfaction, many did not enjoy good employment conditions. Though employer abuse was uncommon, many PAs could arguably be described as exploited. Occupational isolation and lack of support to resolve disputes was striking. Research limitations/implications: Though this may be currently the largest qualitative study of PAs in the UK, it is nonetheless relatively small and no claims for generalisability are made, though the geographical spread of the sample was wide and recruited from multiple sites. Practical implications: PAs are an effective way of establishing relationship-based care, and confer direct control to disabled employers. Many PAs experienced high job satisfaction. However, lack of regulation and oversight creates considerable potential for exploitation or abuse. This may make the role less attractive to potential PAs in the medium term. Social implications: Social care PAs may be a very effective means of achieving genuinely person-centred care or support for many people. However, PAs do not always appear to enjoy satisfactory conditions of employment and their role is largely unregulated. Growth and long-term sustainability of this emergent role may be jeopardised by these employment conditions. Originality/value: Little is known about PA working conditions. This study suggests that much more needs to be done to improve these. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the labor market integration of skilled immigrants in Israel. It delineated the main dimensions of labor market integration in terms of income from work, employment conditions, and work autonomy. A new measure of labor market performance was developed, and the reliability of this measure was supported for different population groups. The study developed a path model of immigrants' integration explaining how social adaptation affects labor market integration of skilled immigrants of different origin. Based on data from the 2016 Social Survey administered by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, labor market integration of immigrants from Europe and America, and the Former Soviet Union (FSU) was examined. A structural equation model was estimated. The study found that all dimensions of labor market performance were positively related to one another. Social adaptation contributed to labor market integration of immigrants, but its effects differed across the groups. Immigrants fully integrated after 25 years of living in Israel regardless of their origin; immigrants from Europe and America integrated quicker in terms of both pecuniary and non-pecuniary dimensions of labor market performance than FSU immigrants did. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]