Improving the Psychosocial Work Environment at Multi-Ethnic Workplaces: A Multi-Component Intervention Strategy in the Cleaning Industry

Louise Smith,Kirsten Hviid,Mari-Ann Flyvholm,Karen Frydendall

doi:10.3390/ijerph10104996

Abstract

Global labour migration has increased in recent years and immigrant workers are often recruited into low status and low paid jobs such as cleaning. Research in a Danish context shows that immigrants working in the cleaning industry often form social networks based on shared languages and backgrounds, and that conflict between different ethnic groups may occur. This paper evaluates the impact of a multi-component intervention on the psychosocial work environment at a multi-ethnic Danish workplace in the cleaning sector. The intervention included Danish lessons, vocational training courses, and activities to improve collaboration across different groups of cleaners. Interviews about the outcome of the intervention were conducted with the cleaners and their supervisor. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire was used as a supplement to the interviews. The results suggest that the psychosocial work environment had improved after the intervention. According to the interviews with the cleaners, the intervention had led to improved communication, trust, and collaboration. These findings are supported by the questionnaire where social support from supervisor and colleagues, social community, trust, and teamwork seem to have improved together with meaning of work, rewards, and emotional demands. The design of the intervention may provide inspiration for future psychosocial work environment interventions at multi-ethnic work places.

Highlights

Global labour migration has increased significantly over the past decade and demographics and economic interdependence suggest that migration will continue
This paper focuses on the impact of the intervention on the psychosocial work environment
Our aim is to investigate if it is possible to improve the psychosocial work environment at a multi-ethnic workplace through intervention activities which focuses on language proficiency among immigrants and interethnic interaction and collaboration, which were the main components of the intervention

Summary

Introduction

Global labour migration has increased significantly over the past decade and demographics and economic interdependence suggest that migration will continue. The relationship between ethnic status and work-related health is complex [1]. Existing data indicate that there are higher rates of occupational illnesses and injuries (including fatal injuries) among immigrants compared to native populations [2] and that immigrants are more often exposed to potentially health damaging work environments than native workers [3,4,5]. Immigrants are often recruited into low status and low paid jobs such as cleaning. In Denmark, as in other European countries, the proportion of immigrants in the cleaning industry has increased markedly in recent years [6]. In 2000, workers with immigrant background represented approximately

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