Worker’s well-being. Evidence from the apparel industry in Mexico

Abstract

ABSTRACTA growing body of research links working environment with employee health and well-being. We argue that greater employee well-being is associated with positive work outcomes, benefits likely vital to business performance. We have expanded the literature on this topic by evaluating these questions within a population of factory workers. To date, studies have examined well-being in the workplace in middle- and low-income countries mostly through the lens of disease and disability or have been restricted to human rights, rather than human well-being in general. This paper connects (1) job resources/work conditions and (2) worker well-being with (3) work outcomes in Mexican apparel factories belonging to the apparel supply chain. Our analysis builds on the first wave of the SHINE Worker Well-Being Survey. We examined links between working conditions, job resources, individual well-being and work outcomes using path analysis within a cross-sectional study comprising approximately 2200 Mexican factory workers. We report that job satisfaction and self-assessed work performance are positively and directly associated with worker well-being. We found that job control, trust, respect and recognition were significant correlates of all examined work outcomes (job satisfaction, work engagement and self-assessed work performance), with significant indirect effects on well-being.