Blue Collar Research Articles

Unveiling the health implications of working hours in the Indonesian workforce

This research aims to evaluate and compare the impact of working hours on the physical and psychological well-being of workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, where people were forced to work from home. While existing studies primarily concentrate on the physical and mental health of office workers, there is a notable gap in understanding how changes in work hours affect individuals in various professional sectors. This study seeks to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive investigation across a diverse range of employment, encompassing white collar, gray collar, and blue collar occupations. Using datasets from Indonesia's National Labor Survey (Sakernas) in 2019 and 2020, the study focuses on the working-age population engaged in various occupations, including employees, casual agricultural workers, and casual non-agricultural workers. Further categorization involves classifying individuals into white collar, gray collar, and blue collar segments. The total number of individuals analyzed was 215,607 in 2019 and 201,077 in 2020. Employing an ordered logistic regression method due to the categorical nature of the dependent variable, the study reveals consistent findings regarding the impact of working hours on health across the years 2019 and 2020. Extended work hours correlate with improved health outcomes, indicating better health for those working longer, while individuals with fewer hours exhibit lower chances of achieving good health. In 2019, occupational status significantly influences worker health, with gray and blue collar workers having lower probabilities of better health compared to white collar workers. However, this occupational effect on health is absent in 2020.

Workplace accidents, economic determinants and underreporting: an empirical analysis in Italy

PurposeThis paper proposes an analysis of occupational accidents in Italy at the regional level. For this purpose, our panel is composed of 20 regions over the 2010–2019 time span.Design/methodology/approachWe apply different econometric estimation techniques (pooled OLS model, panel fixed and random effects models and semiparametric fixed model) using INAIL and ISTAT data. Our models investigate workplace accidents at the regional level by accounting for socioeconomic, labour market and productive system variables and controlling for possible underreporting bias.FindingsOverall results reveal the existence of a relevant under-notification phenomenon of accidents at work with respect to moderate accidents, that is higher especially for the southern regions of Italy. However, when considering as outcome variable an alternative set of more severe workplace accidents our model specification remains highly jointly statistically significant. Among our main findings, the analysis shows that worker skills (blue collar) strongly affect the regional pattern of workplace accidents, i.e. an increase of 1% of low paid employees generates about an increase of 1.8 severe workplace accidents per thousand workers. Moreover, we provide evidence that the size of the firm is inversely related to the occupational accident rates. Finally, our results highlight a nonlinear relationship between GDP and occupational accidents for the Italian regional context, confirmed by the high statistical significance of the quadratic term in all the estimated linear models and by the semi-parametric analysis.Originality/valueA first element of originality of our study consists of investigating the macro determinants of occupation accidents at a regional Italian level. Second, the empirical literature (Boone and Van Ours, 2006) highlights the possible bias of underreporting behaviours on nonfatal accidents in contrast to fatal accidents that are always reported. From this perspective, we have identified a few analyses (namely, Boone et al., 2011) considering different accident sets characterised by different severity degrees. Thus, this paper contributes to the literature considering five alternative subsets of accidents stratified by degree of severity (i.e. moderate, severe, moderate plus severe, severe plus fatal and total accident rates) to test for possible underreporting bias affecting our econometric model.

Return to Work after Cancer - a Systematic Review of Predictors in Germany

More than one third of cancer survivors are of working age. Return to work (RTW) with and after cancer treatment is therefore an important issue for this group - but this is often accompanied with many challenges. The aim of this systematic review was to identify predictors of RTW after cancer from the literature specifically for Germany and to place these factors chronologically in the oncological course of treatment. A systematic search was performed using PubMed in June 2022. Included were all papers original published in German or English between 2000 and 2022 and referring to a German sample, regardless of study design. From a total of 8,381 hits in the meta-database, 30 publications were finally considered in the synthesis of results. Higher age, lower education, lower socioeconomic status, higher disease stage, more progressive disease course, more severe side effects of treatment, (more severe) fatigue, higher psychological distress, worse health status, occupational status as a blue collar worker and manual labor, unemployment prior to diagnosis, more negative perceptions of the work(place) environment, and lower intention to work and lower work ability/ subjective prognosis of employability were associated with lower likelihood of RTW after cancer in the literature. Treatment type and use of rehabilitation were also found to be associated with RTW. Sociodemographic, disease-related, psychosocial, and work-related predictors of RTW after cancer in Germany were identified. The results may help to develop targeted support measures that can be applied in specific phases of treatment. The comparability of the literature on predictors for RTW is limited due to a high heterogeneity in the operationalization of RTW and methodological approaches. There is need for further standardization in this area.

Occupation and demand for health services in Italy: Ways and means to reduce the opportunity costs imposed on patients

This paper explores whether and to which extent employment condition and working hours influence individuals’ decision process in consuming primary care. The hypothesis is that the higher the workers’ opportunity cost in terms of earning forgone, the less the demand for General Practitioner (GP) visits. Using survey data provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), we estimate a negative binomial regression model of GP visits as a function of employment related variables, controlling for a rich set of individual demographic characteristics, socio-economic variables, health status, supply and geographical factors. We show that self-employed workers, managers and cadres use significantly less primary care services notwithstanding the access is free. We conclude that they have higher opportunity costs than white and blue collars since they suffer more from the loss of earnings related to the absence from work. Self-employed individuals often face barriers to accessing healthcare services, such as lack of employer-sponsored health insurance and concerns about lost income during time off for medical appointments. As a result, they may delay seeking healthcare until their condition becomes more severe, leading to poorer health outcomes. Managers and cadres, on the other hand, may have greater access to healthcare services due to higher income levels and better job benefits. However, they may still face challenges such as long working hours and job-related stress, which can impact their ability to prioritize their health and seek timely medical care.From a policy perspective, our results suggest potential policy interventions aimed at addressing barriers to healthcare access for self-employed workers and promoting equitable healthcare utilization across different employment groups. Policy recommendations may include measures to enhance financial support (tax deductions for medical expenses, subsidies for health insurance premiums, or grants to cover the costs of healthcare-related absences from work), increase healthcare accessibility (enhancing the availability of mobile clinics, and extending operating hours for primary care facilities to accommodate the needs of working individuals) and raise awareness about preventive care among self-employed workers (workplace wellness programs, and incentives for regular health check-ups, screenings and healthy lifestyle choices, can encourage managers and self-employed workers to prioritize preventive measures). These policy implications are essential for ensuring equitable and universal access to healthcare services for all workers, regardless of their employment status.

Exploring workability in an older working population: associations with cognitive functioning, sleep quality, and technostress.

This observational study investigates workability and its associations with cognitive functioning, sleep quality and technostress among an older working population, also shedding light on potential differences between two occupational categories with different work schedules. Workers aged over 50, employed in different working sectors (banking/finance, chemical and metal-mechanic industry) were administered a self- report questionnaire including Work Ability Index (WAI), cognitive tests (Stroop Color Task, Corsi Blocks, Digit Span), sleep quality questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI; Insomnia Severity Index-ISI; Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test-FIRST) and technostress scale. Linear regression models evaluated associations among variables, interaction effects investigated potential moderators. A total of 468 aged workers categorized as white (WCWs; N = 289, 62%) or blue collars (BCWs; N = 179, 38%) were enrolled; most BCWs (N = 104; 58%) were night shift workers. WCWs reported higher workability, cognitive functioning, sleep quality and lower technostress (except for invasion and privacy subscales) than BCWs. Associations between cognitive functioning and workability were statistically significant only for BCWs [slopes equal to 0.2 (0.33), 0.8 (0.34), -0.02 (0.001) for Memory Span Corsi, Block Span Digit and Interference Speed respectively]; additionally, sleep quality significantly moderated this association (p = 0.007). Higher levels of technostress were associated with lower workability, and this relationship was stronger for BCWs. The aging of the workforce has important implications for occupational health and safety. Our findings suggest potential interventions and protective measures to promote older workers' wellbeing; blue-collar workers particularly should benefit from tailored intervention to sustain workability and prevent technostress, considering the role of healthy sleep habits promotion.

Trends in severe functional limitations among working and non-working adults in Germany: Towards an (un)-healthy working life?

We examined trends in severe functional limitations among working and non-working adults in Germany (ages 40–65). Four population-based samples of 11,615 participants were used, spanning the time periods 2002–2021. The overall prevalence of severe limitations was found to be 12.8% in the sample, but also varied from 10 to 20% according to occupational group. Over time, severe limitations were found to have increased, from 10.6% in 2002 to 13.2% in 2021. Logistic regression analysis showed that severe limitations increased significantly in certain subgroups, including working women with a low skilled white collar occupational group, working men with a low skilled blue collar occupational group and, particularly, among the whole non-working population, whereas limitations remained largely the same in the other groups, including most of the working population. In terms of expectancies, overall working life expectancy increased. Along with this increase, healthy (non-severely limited) working life expectancy increased, but this trend was accompanied by a clear increase in unhealthy working life expectancy (severely limited). Thus, although severe limitations have increased in some groups in the working-age adults, people today can expect to work more years free from severe limitations than before. In the future, potentials to increase working life expectancy may come to an end, as severe limitations increased strongly in the non-working population, which could limit the prospects for a further increase in the proportion of the population in employment. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential impact of the increasing prevalence of severe limitations on the population’s ability to work.

Understanding and including 'pink-collar' workers in employment-based travel demand models.

The segmentation of commuters into either blue or white-collar workers remains is still common in urban transport models. Internationally, models have started to use more elaborate segmentations, more reflective of changes in labour markets, such as increased female participation. Finding appropriate labour market segmentations for commute trip modelling remains a challenge. This paper harnesses a data-driven approach using unsupervised clustering-applied to 2017-20 South East Queensland Travel Survey (SEQTS) data. Commuter types are grouped by occupational, industry, and socio-demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, household size, household vehicle ownership and worker skill score). The results show that at a large number of clusters (i.e., k = 8) a highly distinct set of commuter types can be observed. But model run times tend to require a much smaller number of market segments. When only three clusters are formed (k = 3) a market segmentation emerges with one female-dominated type ('pink collar'), one male-dominated type ('blue collar') and one with both genders almost equally involved ('white collar'). There are nuances as to which workers are included in each segment, and differences in travel behaviours across the three types. 'Pink collar' workers are mostly comprised of female clerical and administrative workers, community and personal service workers and sales workers. They have the shortest median commutes for both private motorised and active transport modes. The approach and methods should assist transport planners to derive more accurate and robust market segmentations for use in large urban transport models, and, better predict the value of alternative transport projects and policies for all types of commuters.

Return to work within a year after first stroke: blue and white collar workers comparison, predictors and causal mediation assessed during inpatient rehabilitation

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Most research focuses around impairments in body function and structure, with relatively only a small number exploring their social impact. OBJECTIVES 1) compare characteristics for individuals who before stroke were blue collar vs. white collar workers 2) identify clinical, functional, and job-related factors associated with return to work within 1 year after discharge 3) identify specific ADL individual items (assessed at rehabilitation discharge) as return to work predictors and 4) identify return to work causal mediators. METHODS Retrospective observational cohort study, analyzing adult patients with stroke admitted to rehabilitation between 2007 and 2021, including baseline Barthel Index (BI) and return to work assessments between 2008 and 2022. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards were applied. Causal mediation analyses using 1000-bootstrapped simulations were performed. RESULTS A total of 802 individuals were included (14.6% returned to work), 53.6% blue-collar and 46.4% white-collar. Blue-collar workers showed significantly higher proportion of ischemic stroke, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Individuals not returning to work presented a higher proportion of blue collar, dominant side affected, aphasia, lower BI scores, and larger length of stay (LOS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards identified age at injury, aphasia, hypertension, and total discharge BI score (C-Index = 0.74). Univariable Cox models identified three independent BI items at all levels of independence: bathing (C-Index = 0.58), grooming (C-Index = 0.56) and feeding (C-Index = 0.59). BI efficiency (gain/LOS) was a causal mediator. CONCLUSION Blue collar workers showed higher proportion of risk factors and comorbidities. Novel factors, predictors, and a return to work mediator were identified.

P1136 Relationship between occupation and Inflammatory Bowel Disease’s activity in newly diagnosed patients

Abstract Background It is well known that occupational activity can affect health. The association between type of work and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) has been studied previously, but the studies on the topic are scarce and they do not have studied the relationship with clinical activity of the disease. The aim of this study is to elucidate if the type of work is a risk factor for the disease activity and severity in recently diagnosed IBD patients. Methods An observational prospective study including incident cases of patients with IBD diagnosed between June 2020 and September 2022 in the area of Santiago de Compostela was developed. Type of work, divided into white collar and blue-collar, sedentariness at work divided into high activity, moderate activity and sedentary activity according to the classification of occupational activity categories using accelerometry, and place of work divided into indoor and outdoor, time at work and contact with animals at work was recorded. All cases were followed-up through one year to assess the evolution of the disease. Endoscopic index at one year from the diagnosis, analytic parameters, hospitalizations related with the disease during the period, treatments administered, and number and severity of flares (measured by Partial Mayo Score and Harvey- Bradshaw) were collected. To analyze the results, a logistic regression was used. Results 136 patients were included and followed their activity for a year. 68 (50%) were females. 78 (57.4%) had ulcerative colitis, 52 (38.2%) Crohn’s disease and 6 (4.4%) unclassified colitis. 30 patients (22.1%) had at least one flare during this time (23 had 1 flare, 5 two and 2 three), and 4 patients were primary non responders. 7 patients (5.2%) were hospitalized. Neither the type of job (white or blue collar), time at work (working hours per week), physical activity at work (sedentary work, moderate activity or high activity), working outdoor vs. indoor nor contact with animals at work were associated with hospitalization (all p>0.05). When contact with chemicals, solvents and dusts were analyzed, no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.05). Regarding the appearance of flares, high activity at work and working outside were protective factors of the appearance of a flare, with OR 0.1 (0.0 – 0.7) and 0.2 (0.1 – 0.8) respectively (Table 1).After stratifying results according to type of IBD, there were no statistically significant differences. Conclusion High activity jobs and working outside are protective factors for a flare appearance in patients with recent diagnosis of IBD. Type of job it is not related with risk of hospitalization.

The effect of shift work on body mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Shift work involves working outside the standard working hours of 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and may include working evening, night, weekend, or rotating shift patterns. Since shift workers sleep less and their circadian rhythms are disrupted, they are reported to have higher body weight than day workers. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether shift workers (SW) are more prone to higher body mass index (BMI) than their day workers (DW) counterparts. It also addresses the question of whether the duration of shift work exposure, sex, or occupational type affect BMI value. Four databases that is PubMed, EBSCO Host, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for reports published up to October 2023. Sixty-three studies involving a total of 693 449 participants met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses showed a significant effect of shift work on BMI value (standard mean difference; SMD: 0.10 kg/m2 [95% confidence interval; 95% CI: 0.07; 0.13; p < .001]) as compared with non-shift counterparts. Subgroup analysis revealed that shift work significantly increased BMI for studies where male working on this job schedule (SMD: 0.10 kg/m2 [95% CI: 0.04; 0.17; p = .0018]) for studies where shift workers worked ≥13 years (calculated as the median of shift work experience; SMD: 0.14 kg/m2 [95% CI: 0.10; 0.18; p < .001]) as well as for studies where industrial (SMD: 0.12 kg/m2 [95% CI: 0.05; 0.19; p = .0012]) and other type of occupations were dominated (0.12 kg/m2 [95% CI: 0.07; 0.16; p < .001]). We found that in general working on a shift schedule increases BMI as compared with day workers, especially in case of male employed in this job schedule, for shift workers working for long periods of time (≥13 years), and for shift workers employed in industry and other type of occupations(e.g., airline workers, firefighters, police officers, blue collar, security personnel, bus drivers, garbage collectors, railway workers, postal, oil and gas workers).

A Knowledge Graph-based Learning Assistance Systems for Industrial Maintenance

Manufacturing industry is constantly evolving technologically. To ensure that the workforce comply with pace of changing requirements, Learning Assistance Systems (LAS) can provide competency-based support for daily tasks. LAS provide personalized support to blue and white collars through modular and contextualized workflows, information and learning materials. This paper presents a LAS designed and implemented for maintenance personnel in semiconductor manufacturing. The implemented LAS employs a novel statistical learning algorithm to determine the required competencies per task, interlinking them with information from knowledge bases and Manufacturing Execution Systems. This leads to a reduced mean time to repair of 18% in the illustrated use case.

White Coats with Blue Collars: Doctors’ Labor Protests and the Struggle for Democracy in Brazil, 1978–1982 – CORRIGENDUM

AbstractThis article explores the labor struggles of doctors in late 1970s and early 1980s Brazil, the final years of the nation's dictatorship. Health workers’ protests for better salaries and working conditions were extensive and reflected a dramatic change in the way medical practitioners in Brazil perceived their professional and political identities. Fusing together histories of medicine and labor, the article shows how physicians not only led strikes and unionized by their tens of thousands but also collaborated with blue-collar sectors in a larger struggle for working rights, access to healthcare, and structural reforms. Dictatorship officials, the article reveals, were significantly concerned by hospital strikes and particularly by the emerging cross-sector alliance. In this sense, the doctors’ movement played a significant role in challenging Brazil's military rule and advancing the nation's transition to democracy.

Importance of an Integrated Assessment of Functional Disability and Work Ability in Workers Affected by Low Back Pain

BackgroundThis study examines the relationship between functional disability and work ability in workers affected by low back pain (LBP) through an analysis of correlations between the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Work Ability Index (WAI). The role of personal and work factors on functional disability/work ability levels has also been studied. LBP is the most common musculoskeletal problem and a major disabling health problem worldwide. Its etiology is multifactorial. Multidisciplinary approaches may help reduce the burden of pain and disability and improve job continuity and reintegration at work. MethodsA cohort of 264 patients affected by LBP from an Italian outpatient clinic were included in a clinical diagnostic/therapeutic trial aiming at rehabilitation and return to work through an integrated investigation protocol. Data were collected during the first medical examination using anamnestic and clinical tools. The final sample is composed of 252 patients, 57.1% man, 44.0 % blue collars, 46.4% with the high school degree, 45.6% married. ResultsWAI and ODI reported a negative and fair correlation (r = –0.454; p = .000). Workers with acute LBP symptoms have a higher probability of severe disability than those with chronic LBP symptoms. White collars without depressive symptoms reported higher work ability – even in chronic disability conditions-than those with depressive symptoms. ConclusionThe study found that ODI and WAI have a convergent validity and this suggests that the two tools measure capture distinctive aspects of disability related to personal, environmental, and occupational characteristics. The most important and modifiable prognostic factors found for ODI and WAI were depressive symptoms, workday absence, and intensity of back pain. The study also found a mild association between age and ODI. The study's findings highlight the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach to manage and prevent disability due to LBP.

White Coats with Blue Collars: Doctors’ Labor Protests and the Struggle for Democracy in Brazil, 1978–1982

AbstractThis article explores the labor struggles of doctors in late 1970s and early 1980s Brazil, the final years of the nation's dictatorship. Health workers' protests for better salaries and working conditions were extensive and reflected a dramatic change in the way medical practitioners in Brazil perceived their professional and political identities. Fusing together histories of medicine and labor, the article shows how physicians not only led strikes and unionized by their tens of thousands but also collaborated with blue-collar sectors in a larger struggle for working rights, access to healthcare, and structural reforms. Dictatorship officials, the article reveals, were significantly concerned by hospital strikes and particularly by the emerging cross-sector alliance. In this sense, the doctors' movement played a significant role in challenging Brazil's military rule and advancing the nation's transition to democracy.

„Pamiętnik Harbiński” (1923-1924) – periodyk kolonii polskiej w Harbinie (Chiny)

The article is a presentation of the periodical “Pamiętnik Harbiński” [“The Harbin Diary”], which was published in the town of Harbin in China, in the years 1923–1924. There was quite a big Polish colony, connected with eastern Chinese railway built by Russia. Its administrative center was located in the place that soon developed into an economically thriving town called Harbin, established in 1898. Fair working conditions attracted many engineers, white collar and blue collar workers, including great numbers of Poles. Their growing educational and cultural needs brought fruit in the formation of Polish organizations and associations, as well as in the development of publishing market. One of the 25 identified Polish periodical titles that were published in Harbin from the beginnings of press publishing movement in 1917 to the eradication of Polish Diaspora in 1949 was “Pamiętnik Harbiński” which, due to its characteristic profile, deserves to be analyzed in a much greater detail.

Managerś attitudes towards common mental health problems differ across sectors: a Swedish study

Abstract Background The stigma around common mental health problems (CMHP) is a problem both in the society and in working life. Workplaces are characterized by prevailing norms and values, with impact on their employees’ attitudes. Population-based studies show highly educated and females to stigmatize CMPH less than others. Still, we lack knowledge if attitudes towards CMHP differ across work sectors. Our aim was to investigate if attitudes to CMHP of managers differ between blue, white and pink collar work sectors. Methods A version of the MSED scale, measuring managers’ stigma to employees with CMHP, was answered by Swedish managers (n = 2710) in the private sector in a web-survey in 2021. The participants were grouped into blue collar sector (working with things), white collar sector (working with symbols), pink collar sector (working with people) and others, based on industry affiliation. Multivariable logistic regression was used for calculating probabilities (ORs with 95% CI) for negative attitudes towards CMHP among white, pink and others using blue sector as reference category, adjusted for several organizational and individual factors. Results Compared to managers in the blue sector, managers in other sectors were less likely to have negative attitudes towards CMHP. For managers in the white sector the OR was 0.71 (CI 0.56-0.91), in the pink sector the OR was 0.76 (CI 0.58-0.99) and for managers in the other sector the OR was 0.64 (CI 0.47-0.86). Discussions The result confirmed that managers in the blue sector, which is characterized by more male employees and a lower educational level, were more likely to report stigmatizing attitudes to CMHP. Interventions to decrease stigma in workplaces need to be tailored differently depending on work sector. Key messages • Managers working in the private blue-collar sector in Sweden report a more negative attitude towards mental health problems than managers in other private sectors. • The private blue-collar sector needs more awareness regarding reducing stigma around mental health problems than other private sectors.

TBTs, firm organization and labor structure

AbstractThis article investigates the effect of shocks to the occupational structure of exporting firms induced by the introduction of technical barriers to trade (TBTs) in importing countries. We rely on specific trade concerns data to identify trade‐restrictive TBT measures, combined with matched employer‐employee data for French exporters over the period 1995–2010, and information on the product‐destinations served by each exporter. Controlling for time‐invariant firm/occupation fixed effects and for time‐varying sector/occupation shocks, the 2SLS estimates show that exporting firms adapt to the imposition of TBTs at destination by increasing the share of managers at the expense of blue collars, white collars and other professionals.

Labour market impact of theCOVID‐19 pandemic in the West Bank and Gaza

AbstractThis article studies the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on men's labour supply in the West Bank and Gaza, both on the extensive (participation) and intensive (hours of work) margins. We find that the pandemic was associated with a decline in employment and labour supply in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, with large adjustments at the intensive margin. Afterwards, labour market indicators quickly bounced back to their pre‐pandemic levels, but less so for the most vulnerable segments of the workforce, such as informal workers, workers in blue collar occupations, the least educated, and residents in refugee camps.

Initial patient demographics affecting return to original work after traumatic hand injury in a rural area in Japan: A retrospective single-center study

BackgroundTime off work after traumatic hand injury not only affects individuals but also has socioeconomic repercussions, becoming a serious problem from the viewpoint of labor shortages. In depopulated rural areas, the impact of labor shortages due to time off work is more serious than in urban areas; however, few studies have examined return to original work in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the patient demographics at the time of hand injury that affect return to original work in a rural area of Japan. MethodsWe retrospectively examined 246 patients with traumatic hand and/or forearm injuries who were working at the time of injury, and who underwent surgical operations and postoperative rehabilitation in a level II hospital in a rural agricultural area. We examined patients' initial demographic data, including gender, age, occupation (white or blue collar), employment status (self-employed, full-time, or part-time workers), complications other than hand injury, workers’ compensation, dominant hand injury, and injury severity as determined using the modified Hand Injury Severity Score. Multivariate logistic regression analysis examined the association between initial patient demographics and return to original work within 150 days after injury. ResultsIn total, 186 patients (76 %) were able to return to original work within 150 days. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that three explanatory variables (i.e., severity of injury, complications other than hand injury, and female gender) significantly compromised return to original work. ConclusionsIn the treatment of traumatic hand injury, intensive support should be provided for return to original work for patients who are expected to have difficulty returning to work quickly. In addition, labor shortages can be mitigated by sharing information with the workplace about patients’ prospects of return to original work.

White Collars and Blue Collars in Tourism Industry: Could Tourism Establish Equal Opportunities?

The study presents a theoretical reflection of work divisions and the possibilities for equal labor and social environment inclusion in tourism. Through empirical methods the relevant discrepancies are outlined and discussed in relation to the contemporary tourism challenges. The study indicated that there were clear correlations between collar color and visions of the present and the future. The tourism sector will maintain the need for the presence of both working classes. At the same time, it will be the factor that can reduce the differences between them and provide conditions for decent performance according to the capabilities of each of the collars studied.