Precarious Employment Research Articles

Co-construction: A key to preventing mental health injuries in occupational settings

Co-construction: A key to preventing mental health injuries in occupational settings Dr Mélanie Dufour-Poirier from the Université de Montréal and Dr Jean-Paul Dautel from the Université du Québec en Outaouais outline a new approach to preventing workplace mental health injuries and improving wellbeing. In Canada, it is estimated that mental health-related costs total approximately $50bn annually. In the province of Quebec, close to one out of two workers has experienced psychological distress since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst its pathogens are the porosity of working time, isolation, competition among colleagues, and the demand for short-term profitability. New - more stressful - forms of work organization, including telework, have emerged, bringing with them excessive workloads, increases in the pace of work, growing job flexibility, precarious contract employment, and job insecurity. These issues have put workplace mental health back at the centre of the debate in Quebec. More generally, the crisis has called for a rethinking of management methods for better upstream protection of mental health, ideally through a collective and participatory approach that involves all the actors in a working community rather than one that aims at protecting against and treating such mental health injuries on the level of the individual, as is the current tendency. It is an issue of the utmost importance for unions, a subject we discussed in a recent article (Open Access Government, April 2024).

The Individual and Work-Related Factors Associated with the Occupational Future Time Perspective: A Cross-Sectional Study of Older Workers in Japan.

Occupational future time perspective (OFTP) is important concept for the successful career in older workers. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between individual and work-related factors and OFTP. We conducted a cross-sectional study via an online questionnaire survey. Respondents were stratified sampled according to the distribution of workers across Japan. To assess OFTP, we used the Japanese version of the OFTP scale. We included the factors such as sex, age, education, marital status, subjective health status, personal income, length of employment, industry, size of company, employment status, working days per week, and night shift. Multiple regression analysis was employed to calculate the regression coefficients for each factor, with OFTP serving as the dependent variable. We totally included 1,484 respondents. Our findings indicated that higher OFTP was associated with higher education, better subjective health status, higher personal income, and smaller size of company. Compared to the manufacturing, certain industries such as agriculture and forestry, transportation and postal services, and healthcare showed lower OFTP. In contrast to permanent workers, contract and part-time workers demonstrated lower OFTP, whereas owners of non-family businesses exhibited higher OFTP. Furthermore, individuals working 1-4 days per week showed lower OFTP compared to those working 5 days per week. Older workers facing limitations in resources, such as educational background, personal income, precarious employment, and health status, tend to have lower OFTP. Such individuals should be given priority for support and assistance.

Present and Future of the World Trade Organization

The WTO has played a key role in globalization and the development of free trade; its results are interesting for those countries and transnational companies that lead the value chains; free trade agreements and the broad participation of countries; but above all, having regulated international trade is among the most important. However, there is growing discontent, even in its main promoter (the United States), not to mention in countries for whom the poor results obtained are questioned by the majority of their inhabitants, due to the precariousness of employment, the reduction of purchasing power and the unemployment generated. The differences and controversies between the United States and China create uncertainty about the role of the WTO, slow down investments and hasten a comprehensive restructuring of the system. In key aspects such as dispute settlement and free trade agreements, their processes and procedures.

Subjective household poverty as a moderator for the association between employment precariousness and mental health across five european welfare state types

ObjectivesTo create better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the association between employment precariousness (EP) and mental health by considering household poverty as a moderator while stratifying for gender across welfare state types (WSTs): Scandinavian, South European, Central- and East European, Bismarckian and Anglo-Saxon. MethodsData from the sixth wave of the European Working Conditions Survey (N = 18,725) was used. The Employment Precariousness Scale was used to assess EP on a continuous scale. Mental health was measured using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. A binary variable for subjective household poverty was created. We estimated gender-stratified, multi-level models with a random intercept at country-level for the association between EP and mental health, with an interaction term between EP and subjective household poverty, for each WST separately. Models were adjusted for age, education, having a partner and having children under age 18 in the household. ResultsIn all WSTs, among men as well as women, we found a negative relation between EP and mental health. Among women, this relation was not moderated by household poverty. Among men in the Anglo-Saxon WST, the negative relation between EP and mental health was stronger among employees that reported household poverty compared to those who did not report household poverty. ConclusionsEvidence of a moderating effect of household poverty on the association between EP and mental health was only found amongst men in the Anglo-Saxon WSTs and the combined full sample. Other factors that might affect the association between EP and mental health should be investigated.

Work, private, self – towards an integrative framework of accountability: the case of low-status expatriates in precarious employment

Felt accountability, the perceived expectation that one’s decisions and actions will be evaluated and rewarded or sanctioned, is a key driver of human behaviour and impacts work-related outcomes such as unethical behaviour and job satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of low-status expatriates (LSEs), a vulnerable and neglected group, which is often employed under challenging working conditions in low-status occupations. In this paper, we explore how LSEs experience and manage accountabilities in their often-precarious working lives. We draw on 36 qualitative interviews with LSEs employed in Germany. The data were analysed using a directed content analysis method. Our findings highlight that while LSEs feel less accountable towards stakeholders within their organisation, they experience accountabilities from multiple stakeholders outside their organisation. We demonstrate that while LSEs consider work-related accountabilities, their key accountabilities are rooted in individuals’ private lives and can lead to higher degrees of accountability intensity. This study provides unique insights into the importance of private life accountabilities and how these intersect with accountabilities at work. We offer a revised framework of accountability that includes private life as an important dimension to enhance its applicability to LSEs.

The relationships between precarious employment, having a calling, and occupational well-being among young nurses: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWorking in the healthcare sector seems less interesting than other sectors: the salary is low relative to the demands of the labour involved, and working conditions as well as management are perceived as poor. These factors may have an impact on the well-being of nurses in the healthcare sector. This study aims to explore the relationship between precarious employment and occupational well-being, in addition to the moderating effect of having a calling in this relationship among younger and older nurses.MethodsCross-sectional survey data were collected among Finnish nurses (n = 5867) between October and November 2020. Data were collected on demographics, occupational well-being, precarious employment, and having a calling in the field. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the associations.ResultsYounger nurses perceived lower levels of occupational well-being and calling, and higher levels of precarious employment compared to older nurses. Precarious employment had a negative relationship with occupational well-being, and having a calling showed a positive relationship with regard to occupational well-being. No interaction effect of precarious employment and having a calling with occupational well-being was found.ConclusionsYoung nurses’ occupational well-being, precarious employment, and calling should be studied further because they are in a weaker position in working life. Using a qualitative approach should be considered in order to obtain more in-depth information.

Söndrade kroppar, invasiv bemanning och prekära anställningar. Intersektionella perspektiv på försörjning, lönearbete och social reproduktion

While wage labor has been celebrated as a means of women’s emancipation within Swedish gender equality policy, unequal workplaces, the prevalence of sexual harassment, precarious working conditions, and work-related health issues indicate that wage labor also entails serious problems for many women. This article examines how unstable working conditions and work organizations built on precarious labor and flexible staffing strategies impact women’s well-being. Through feminist intersectional perspectives on social reproduction, the analysis sheds light on the risks posed by current work models to workers’ health, work capacity and liveability. The article is based on survey responses among retail workers. Their responses show that working life in retail is characterized not only by precarious employment conditions but also by invasive staffing strategies. The consequences are precarious livelihoods, stress, and limited possibilities to leisure time and social relationships. The lack of opportunities to recover highlights how workers’ bodies bear the brunt of companies’ pursuit of precarization. Building on theories of social reproduction and an analysis of working conditions in retail, we call for a deeper examination of the role of wage labor in feminist strategies.

Isolated, individualised, and immobilised: information behaviour in the context of academic casualisation

Introduction. Universities rely increasingly on contract academic staff for teaching and research activities; yet, working in precarious conditions, these staff face significant challenges in finding relevant workplace information, in engaging with colleagues, and in building their careers. This study examines contract academic staff perceptions of precarity and workplace marginalisation, focusing on the implications of situational and environmental influences on their information practices. Method. In-depth, semi-structured interviews with 34 contract academic staff, working in various disciplines across Canadian universities, were conducted to examine their information practices. Analysis. Interview data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, drawing on everyday life information seeking and information marginalisation theories. Results. Results of the study show that 1) contract academic staff conduct their work within isolated information environments; 2) this isolation leads these staff to develop highly individualised information practices; and 3) the information activities of contract academic staff are often immobilised, due to the precarious contexts that shape their work and personal lives. Conclusion. Precarious employment and information marginalisation are deeply entwined for contract academic staff. This results in frustration, disappointment, and uncertainty with their work and personal circumstances. Institutional challenges can seem intractable, particularly where task-related information provision (when available) cannot address systemic concerns.

Factors That Contribute to the Mental Health of Black Youth during COVID-19 Pandemic.

The mental health of Black youth during the COVID-19 pandemic is potentially influenced by various systemic factors, including racism, socioeconomic disparities, and access to culturally sensitive mental health support. Understanding these influences is essential for developing effective interventions to mitigate mental health disparities. Our project used a community-based participatory (CBP) research design with an intersectional theoretical perspective. An advisory committee consisting of fourteen Black youth supported all aspects of our project. The research team consisted of experienced Black researchers who also trained six Black youths as research assistants and co-researchers. The co-researchers conducted individual interviews, contributed to data analysis, and mobilized knowledge. Participants were recruited through the advisory committee members and networks of Black youth co-researchers and sent an email invitation to Black community organizations. Forty-eight Black identified were interviewed between the ages of 16 and 30 in Canada. The data was analyzed thematically. We kept a reflexive note throughout all aspects of the project. Participants reported significant challenges with online schooling, including a lack of support and access to resources. Lockdowns exacerbated stress, particularly for those living in toxic living/home environments. Financial burdens, such as food insecurity and precarious employment, were prevalent and exacerbated mental health challenges. Additionally, experiences of anti-Black racism and police brutality during the pandemic heightened stress and anxiety among participants. The findings underscore the complex interplay of systemic factors in shaping the mental health of Black youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing these disparities requires targeted interventions that address structural inequities and provide culturally competent support to mitigate the impact on mental well-being.

Interaction between old age and precarious employment on poor mental well-being in workers: Evidence from a nationally representative sample in Korea.

This study examined the relationship between precarious employment (PE) and mental well-being, focusing on age-specific interactions. Nationally representative Korean workers (N=29,961) were surveyed between 2020 and 2021 to collect data on multidimensional PE (categorized as low, moderate, or high) and the WHO-5 well-being index. Workers' ages were classified as young (<35years), middle-aged (35-54years), and older (≥55years). Logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The interaction between PE and age on well-being was examined by including interaction terms in the regression models. The prevalence of poor well-being was 25%, 29%, and 39% for low, moderate, and high precariousness, respectively, whereas it was 26%, 30%, and 39% for young, middle-aged, and older workers, respectively. In the overall sample, the OR (95% CI) of the association between PE and poor well-being was 1.24 (1.17-1.32) for moderate and 1.54 (1.43-1.65) for high precariousness, compared with low precariousness. There was a significant interaction between old age and PE on the odds of poor well-being. Compared with young workers with low PE, middle-aged workers with high PE (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.62-2.10) and older workers with high PE (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.83-2.40) exhibited increased odds of having poor mental well-being. PE serves as a social determinant of older workers' psychological well-being. Policy interventions are required to protect older workers' psychological well-being.

Looking at the Spread of Precarious Employment Researches: A Literature Review

The globalization of economies has given rise to dynamic shifts like employment, with precarious work becoming a predominant feature across various industries. This research article investigates the landscape of precarious employment studies, employing the innovative VOS Viewer for a comprehensive literature review. The study aims to map the intricate network of research articles, identifying key themes, prolific authors, and emerging trends in the discourse surrounding precarious employment. By harnessing the power of data visualization, this research sheds light on the interconnectedness of scholarly works, offering valuable insights into the evolution and diffusion of knowledge in the field. Review of literature utilizing software tools like VOS Viewer can aid researchers in delineating current global research trends and pinpointing existing gaps in studies. Moreover, concerning precarious employment research, the keyword “precarious employment” is intricately connected to terms like Covid-19, climate change, gender, poverty, and mental health. The prominence of these keywords in visualizations suggests a significant volume of research exploring their correlations with precarious employment. Consequently, there is room for in-depth exploration in areas beyond these subjects. Shifting the focus to the Indonesian scenario, precarious employment research is linked to keywords such as commodification, COVID-19, and community resilience. This implies the existence of multiple research gaps in the Indonesian context, offering opportunities for further investigation by researchers interested in delving into precarious employment in Indonesia.

Impact of Economic Factors on the Process of Population Transition from Labour Activity to Pension in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract The purpose of research is to analyse the impact of population ageing process on labour force market, as well as economic factors on the transition from labour activity to pension in the Republic of Moldova. The change in the structure of labour force to wards elder ages, as well as interruption of active economic activity and retirement is one of the factors in economic growth slowdown, which is conditioned by a reduction of labour force reproduction and its growth. In this situation, in order to mitigate the negative consequences of labour force deficit, it is necessary to take effective measures to increase labour productivity not only to ensure economic growth, but also to ensure the welfare of the country’s population and meet the necessities of an increased share of the population-dependents (both the elderly population and children under 15). Taking into account the relevance of the above-mentioned problem, the analysis of the relationship between economic factors and the transition from labour activity to pension in the conditions of demographic ageing was carried out, including the evaluation of the role of economic factors in making a decision to exit from the labour market to pension. In this context, the comparative quantitative and qualitative analysis of tendencies in the economically active and employed population was carried out, including pre- and pension ages and the phenomenon of precarious employment, the demographic coefficient of dependence on old age, the dependence of pension from the income level, and the financial stability of the Social Insurance Budget. The proposals to improve the effectiveness of government policies in regulation and harmonization the transition from the labour market to pension, including the continuation of active economic activity was elaborated in order to reduce the negative consequences connected with the process of population ageing and to ensure the stability of labour market development. The article is developed in the framework of the research Subprogramme “The demographic transition in the Republic of Moldova: particularities, socioeconomic implications and demographic resilience straightening” (2024-2027).

Working Conditions, Worker Rights, and Managerial Domination During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Assessing Their Toll on Precariously Employed Workers and Family Well-Being.

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.

International migration, food insecurity, and mental health: A scoping review protocol.

Food insecurity is a global priority that has been found to negatively impact mental health, increasing the risk of mental disorders and severe mental illness. International migrants may face food insecurity throughout their migratory cycle due to a range of risk factors, such as poor transit conditions, precarious employment, financial pressure, discrimination, and lack of availability and access to culturally relevant food, among others. Although there are multiple reviews on migration, food insecurity, and health in general, no scoping review has been conducted on food insecurity among international migrants focusing on mental health. To investigate the available evidence on food insecurity and mental health among international migrants. A search of scientific literature in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese published since 2013 will be performed in the Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, APA PsycArticles, Cinahl, and ASSIA databases, including grey literature available in Google Scholar. Two authors will independently review titles, abstracts, and full texts before extracting data from publications complying with the eligibility criteria. Extracted data will be descriptively mapped according to emerging thematic categories. The review will contribute to identifying what is known about international migration, food insecurity, and mental health, gaps in the literature, opportunities for specific research subtopics, and how food insecurity and mental health can be linked in the existing literature.

Charting Work Arrangements and Family Configuration over Our Working Lives

Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979, we used sequence analysis to chart couples' work schedules and family configuration clusters between ages 22 and 53 ( n = 5263) to examine the association between family demands from marriage and childrearing and work arrangements between partners via a life course perspective by focusing on nonstandard work schedules, a vital indicator of precarious employment. We also explored whether such an association differs by race–ethnicity. Our sequence analyses uncovered six joint work schedule arrangements and six family configurations between ages 22 and 53, demonstrating the heterogeneity of family and work trajectories over working lives. We found married couples with two children later in life had relatively stable work patterns, whereas married couples with three or more children had the most diversified work patterns between ages 22 and 53. Furthermore, non-Hispanic Blacks were more likely to have relatively vulnerable work patterns than their non-Hispanic White counterparts.

Beyond minimum wage: Broader employment policies can significantly affect food insecurity.

Although many have investigated the impacts of minimum wage on a broad array of health outcomes, innovative policies surrounding broader employment policies have largely not been studied. To that end, this paper contributes in three ways. First, it discusses the rise in precarious employment. Then, it turns to the current federal framework of employment policies, namely minimum wage. Finally, it explores what a broader definition of employment policies could include and how future studies could use state, county, and municipal policymaking in this space to investigate ways in which they might contribute to reducing food insecurity and in turn, improve health outcomes.

Interrogating the agency of non-profit labour market intermediaries: Casting light on ‘shadow spaces’ through an institutional-relational view

In a context of government cutbacks, non-profit labour-market intermediaries are assuming a more significant role in efforts to combat precarious employment. Yet such organizations are still subject to state funding regimes, regulations, oversight and neoliberal logics. As such, some scholars argue that they constitute “shadow state” spaces. In this paper, we move beyond the ‘shadow’ concept, casting light on the ways that different state-non-profit relations shape non-profits’ agency to define and realize their respective mandates. Building on a relational perspective, we hold that links between non-profits and the state are not linear. We complement this perspective with an institutional-relational approach to consider how a non-profit’s distinct institutional configuration (i.e., regulations, funders, and partners) enables or forecloses agency vis-à-vis the state apparatus. Through an examination of two non-profit labour market intermediaries that serve immigrant workers in Montreal/Tio’tia:ke, our analysis lends insight into institutional elements that can enlarge a non-profit organization’s space to maneuver.

Precarious employment practices in South African universities

Orientation: The study explored the employment experiences of contract academic staff working in universities.Research purpose: This study aimed to explore higher education employment practices experienced by contract academic staff. Recommendations for fair and inclusive human resource practices to address negative employee experiences was offered.Motivation for the study: Research on employment practices and non-standard employment arrangements in the South African context are scant and outdated. Consequently, it is important to shed light on the experience of contract academic staff in universities given the widespread practice of employing contract academic staff in the sector.Research approach/design and method: A qualitative research approach was employed. A total of 26 temporary employed contract academic staff members from 15 different departments across three institutions of higher education in South Africa participated in semi-structured interviews.Main findings: The findings of this study highlight how contract academic staff experience being employed in universities. The themes identified were, a lack of job orientation and onboarding, last-minute contract offers, vague contract terms, lack of employment benefits, lack of rights and legal standing, limited career development and funding opportunities, unfair work demands, lack of performance feedback, and lack of human resources and organisational support.Practical/managerial implications: Understanding the influence of university employment practices on contract academic staff will aid Human Resources Departments in re-evaluating policy and practice to combat the negative effects thereof. Particularly, how the employment contract process is managed, the lack of support available to staff, and the general disregard for the value that this category of staff adds to the academic offering.Contribution/value-add: This study provides valuable insight for improving policies and practices that enhance the employment experience of contract academic staff in universities.

Parental Exposure to Work Schedule Instability and Child Sleep Quality

Recent scholarship has documented the effects of unstable scheduling practices on worker health and well-being, but there has been less research examining the intergenerational consequences of work schedule instability. This study investigates the relationship between parental exposure to unstable and unpredictable work schedules and child sleep quality. We find evidence of significant and large associations between parental exposure to each of five different types of unstable and unpredictable work scheduling practices and child sleep quality, including sleep duration, variability and daytime sleepiness. We are also able to mediate 35–50% of this relationship with measures of work–life conflict, parental stress and well-being, material hardship, and child behaviour. These findings suggest that the effects of the temporal dimensions of job quality extend beyond workers to their children, with implications for the mechanisms by which social inequality is reproduced and for social policies intended to regulate precarious and unequal employment conditions.

The workplace culture, mental health and wellbeing of early- and mid-career health academics: a cross-sectional analysis

There are reports of poor working conditions for early and mid-career academics (EMCAs) in universities, however, empirical data using validated tools are scarce. We conducted an online, cross-sectional survey using validated tools to assess workplace satisfaction, exposure to workplace abuse, and mental health. Participants included employees of medical and health faculties of two of the largest Australian universities, surveyed between October 2020 and January 2021.Overall, 284 participants responded. Many reported job insecurity: half (50.7%) working on contracts with less than one remaining year. Workloads were considerable, with 89.5% of participants working overtime and 54.8% reporting burnout. Workplace abuse in the forms of bullying (46.6%), sexual harassment (25.3%), sexism (49.8%) and racism (22.5%) were commonly reported. Clinically significant symptoms of depression (28.0%), anxiety (21.7%) and suicidal ideation or self-harm (13.6%) were reported; with a higher prevalence among those working more overtime, and those exposed to workplace abuse. Priorities include providing a stable and safe workplace, increasing accountability and transparency in addressing workplace abuse, and supporting professional development.In summary, EMCAs in our study were commonly exposed to precarious employment conditions and workplace abuse. Our findings provide empirical evidence on where universities and funding bodies should direct resources and change organisational risk factors, to improve workplace culture.