Brazilian Workers Research Articles

Coxiellaburnetii (Q fever) exposure in wildlife professionals

IntroductionAlthough occupational exposure to Coxiella burnetii has been studied previously, the zoonotic risk in wildlife environments remains unclear and has yet to be fully established.MethodsAccordingly, the present study aimed to serologically assess professionals with daily contact with free-living and captive wildlife in Paraná State, Brazil, along with the potential associated risk factors for C. burnetii exposure.ResultsOverall, 25 out of 309 (8.1%) wildlife professionals were seropositive, including 6/54 (11.1%) national and 7/125 (5.6%) state park employees, 6/92 (6.5%) zookeepers, and 6/38 (15.8%) animal service workers, with titers ranging from 32 to 128. No statistical association was found between seropositivity and associated risk factors, including the working location.DiscussionOur results differ from those of previous studies in Brazil, which found 8/893 (0.9%) indigenous, 1/18 (5.5%) police officers, and 44/200 (22.0%) former Black slaves to be seropositive. This study is the first serological investigation of C. burnetii among park rangers, zookeepers, and animal service workers in Brazil, showing no statistically significant risk factors for seropositivity. As the seroprevalence in this study was higher than that in previous surveys of healthy (asymptomatic) human populations, C. burnetii exposure may also be an occupational risk for wildlife professionals owing to their contact with the natural environment in Brazil.

Resistance to Oppression in Informal Work

Abstract This article takes the study of informal work and resistance to oppression in a new direction. The literature assumes that subaltern resistance is either collective, open, and occasional; or individual, covert, and habitual. The author argues that the reality is a complex mix of these responses, shaped by social power structures and legal frameworks. Based on ethnographic fieldwork with paid domestic workers in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, the author demonstrates that worker resistance is principally individual and multifaceted, including overt and covert, as well as habitual and occasional strategies. In all cases, entrenched racist and patriarchal structures and behaviors as well as the making and implementing of labor law shape social understandings of the nature of remunerated domestic labor and choices of resistance strategies. In this context, collective rights claiming remains challenging.

ANÁLISE CRÍTICA DA UTILIZAÇÃO DA MODALIDADE MICROEMPREENDEDOR INDIVIDUAL (MEI) PARA CAMUFLAGEM DO VÍNCULO EMPREGATÍCIO

The Individual Microentrepreneur (MEI) regime was instituted to facilitate the formalization of small entrepreneurs and self-employed workers in Brazil through simplified registration and with tax and social security benefits. However, this regime has been misused by some companies to disguise employment relationships, a practice known as pejotization. This article aims to investigate the impacts of this practice on workers' rights, as well as to analyze the decisions of the Labor Courts and the criteria used to differentiate a legitimate MEI contract from a fraudulent one. Furthermore, it discusses how this practice affects market competition and contributes to the precarization of labor relations.

Process Management Framework for Health and Safety at Work (SST) Companies

Objective: This study aims to develop and implement a process management framework for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) companies, seeking to optimize the organization and execution of services, identifying improvement opportunities throughout the customer journey, from contract closure to renewal. The proposal is to offer an adaptable model that meets industry demands and enhances the operational efficiency of companies. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework addresses the evolution of Regulatory Standards (NRs) since the 1970s and the importance of complying with labor laws for the safety and health of workers in Brazil. The role of eSocial, created in 2014 to unify and ensure the collection of employer information, is highlighted, as well as its function in alerting them to legal risks. Method: The methodology used was action research, as defined by Oquist (1978). The research involved mapping the operational processes of OSH companies to identify areas for improvement. The first version of the framework was developed, tested, and based on the results, improved into a second version. The improvements were based on tests and validations conducted throughout the process. Results and Discussion: The first version of the framework showed positive results but also highlighted the need for improvements, which were incorporated into the second version. Changes included the restructuring of steps and the addition of a new phase focused on the commercial process. Satisfaction surveys with internal and external clients, as well as accounting firms, indicated positive acceptance but also a lack of systemic vision among professionals, affecting the quality of the work. Research Implications: The research implications are significant for the OSH sector. The developed framework improves the organization and efficiency of service-providing companies. The study also highlights the importance of performance indicators to monitor performance and mitigate risks, such as customer loss. It is recommended that future research explore the adaptation of the framework to new technologies and automation. Originality/Value: The originality of this study lies in the creation of a process management framework specifically for OSH companies, where organization and efficiency are essential for complying with labor regulations and ensuring worker safety. The value of the work resides in its practical contribution to the sector, offering an adaptable model that can be improved based on feedback and technological advancements.

Psychosocial work aspects, work ability, mental health and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates of on-site and remote Brazilian workers during the COVID-19 pandemic – a longitudinal study

BackgroundAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, some workers had the opportunity to work from home, while others remained in on-site work. The aim of the present study was to compare the psychosocial work aspects, work ability, mental health conditions and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates of Brazilian workers in remote and on-site work through a longitudinal study with quarterly follow-up assessments over a 12-month period.MethodA convenience sample of 1,211 workers from different economic sectors participated in the study, 897 of whom (74.1%) worked from home and 314 (25.9%) remained in on-site work. Psychosocial work aspects were assessed using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). Work ability was assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Work Ability Score (WAS). Mental health conditions and SARS-CoV-2 infection rate were recorded based on self-reported medical diagnoses. Online questionnaires were answered from June 2020 to September 2021, involving two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The groups were compared using chi-square tests, t-tests, and two-way ANOVA.ResultsIn the first wave of the pandemic, remote workers reported more quantitative demands and work-family conflicts, whereas on-site workers reported more emotional demands, low development of new skills, low commitment, low predictability, low recognition, and low satisfaction. They also reported greater occurrences of unwanted sexual attention, threats of violence, and physical violence. In the second wave, the remote group continued to report high work-family conflicts, whereas the on-site group reported – in addition to the results of the 1st wave – low influence at work, low quality of leadership, and burnout. No significant difference was found between groups with regards to the WAI in either wave. A significant difference was found for the WAS between the 3rd and 12th months (P < 0.01) in both groups. No significant differences were found between groups for the prevalence of anxiety, depression, burnout/stress, insomnia, panic syndrome, and eating disorders, except for the prevalence of insomnia at the 12-month follow-up, with higher rates in the remote group (P = 0.03). SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly lower in the remote group (11.3%) compared to the on- site (16.9%) group (P < 0.01).ConclusionsPsychosocial work aspects differed between remote and on-site workers. Work ability and mental health conditions were similar between groups. Remote work might have played a role in limiting the spread of the virus in Brazil had it been more widely available.

Technology and new work

The article aims to evaluate, through an evolutionary overview of social achievements related to labor law, the impact of reducing working hours on the productivity and health of Brazilian workers. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions: Will worker productivity increase with a temporary reduction in working hours? Are there positive health impacts for workers who experience a reduction in working hours? To address these questions, the hypothetical-deductive method was used. The methodological approach was based on historical-typological analysis, with the interpretation framed through a sociological lens. The research, qualitative in nature, employs bibliographic and documentary sources on the topic, with a primarily explanatory objective. The study highlights the need for closer monitoring of labor relations, focusing on the enhancement of human work, particularly in the context of current technological advancements. It argues that personal development can lead to increased productive capacity and a greater balance in the work-life relationship, thereby fostering continuous evolution. To achieve this, public policies aimed at enhancing the employability of Brazilian workers will be necessary, alongside the involvement of representative groups through collective labor law. These efforts should focus on developing effective contractual mechanisms to improve labor quality and drive economic development.

Critical Consciousness Scale and Career Contexts: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian Version

According to the Brazilian pedagogue Paulo Freire, Critical Consciousness aims to understand people’s ability to critically analyze social and structural inequities and their role in social power relations, while also promoting political and social engagement, both individually and collectively. In career studies, the Psychology of Working Theory views Critical Consciousness as an individual moderator of variables that predict perception and access to decent work. This article presents the cross-cultural adaptation procedures and psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Critical Consciousness Scale. The sample consisted of 554 Brazilian workers, with women making up the majority (62.5%), and an average age of 35.8 years (SD = 14.3). The analysis of the internal structure (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses) revealed a 24-item measure with three factors: critical reflection ( α = 0.93; ω = 0.93), critical responsibility ( α = 0.73; ω = 0.77), and critical action ( α = 0.84; ω = 0.85). The instrument showed partial invariance between groups based on gender, subjective social class, and education. Further investigations into the construct in the career field with different groups of workers are discussed, along with the need for caution when interpreting the Freirean conception of consciousness based on psychometric models.

Sociodemographic, Occupational, and Health Profile of Brazilian Housekeepers and House Cleaners-A Hypothesis-Generating Study.

For many women, house cleaning is an important way to participate in the labor market. In Brazil, there are 2 types of domestic workers: housekeepers have relatively secure employment and house cleaners are day laborers. The aim of this hypothesis-generating study was to describe the sociodemographic, occupational and health profile of a sample of domestic workers in Brazil. House cleaners received lower wages, had longer daily working hours and worked in a larger number of homes each week in comparison to housekeepers. About 51% of the domestic workers in this sample reported the use of pain medication and 34% reported spinal problems. Musculoskeletal symptoms were frequent in the lower back and upper limbs. Forty-seven percent reported high blood pressure. This study highlights the vulnerability of domestic workers, especially house cleaners, regarding workload, salary, and health conditions. Level of education is a contributing factor to this vulnerability.

Occupational risks associated with chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origin (CKDnt) in Brazil: it is time to dig deeper into a neglected problem.

In the past decades, an epidemic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with environmental and occupational factors (heat stress from high workloads in hot temperatures and exposure to chemicals, such as pesticides and metals), which has been termed CKD of non-traditional origin (CKDnt). This descriptive review aims to present recent evidence about heat stress, pesticides, and metals as possible causes of CKDnt and provide an overview of the related Brazilian regulation, enforcement, and health surveillance strategies. Brazilian workers are commonly exposed to extreme heat conditions and other CKDnt risk factors, including increasing exposure to pesticides and metals. Furthermore, there is a lack of adequate regulation (and enforcement), public policies, and strategies to protect the kidney health of workers, considering the main risk factors. CKDnt is likely to be a significant cause of CKD in Brazil, since CKD's etiology is unknown in many patients and several conditions for its development are present in the country. Further epidemiological studies may be conducted to explore causal associations and estimate the impact of heat, pesticides, and metals on CKDnt in Brazil. Moreover, public policies should prioritize reducing workers´ exposure and promoting their health and safety.

Self-perception of oral health, gender and employment among Brazilian population.

Self-perception of oral health is a recognized indicator, based on a single question. Association among oral health and socioeconomic status has been well established, however in Brazil, no results were found on the relation with type of insertion in labor market. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of negative self-perception of oral health and associated factors, according to gender among Brazilian workers population, in 2019. The National Health Survey, nationwide household-based survey, carried out in 2019, was used as source of data. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated to understand the distribution of variables of interest and characterize the sample (n = 54,343). Binary logistic regression was used in the analyses. Odds ratio (OR) was estimated using a 95% confidence interval in bivariate and multivariate analyses. The prevalence of negative self-perception of oral health was 29.3%; in that, 31.0% among men and 27.2% among women. Compared to formal employees, the chance of negative self-perception of oral health among the informal workers was almost 20% higher among men and 13% among women after adjusting for all confounding factors. Unemployed women were 33% more likely to have negative self-perception of oral health. Self-reported unemployment increased the chance of a negative self-perception of oral health among women; however, the same effect was not observed among men. Why is there a difference? The association between informal work and negative SEOH is relevant in the Brazilian context of work deregulation and growth in the number of people without access to formal employment. The results suggested addressing employment conditions in adult oral health promotion actions, with emphasis on gender differences.

The mediating effect of resilience between work fatigue and psychological distress among healthcare workers in Brazil, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Serbia, and Tunisia.

To test the hypothesis that resilience has a mediating effect on the association between work fatigue and psychological distress. A cross-sectional survey was conducted online in eight countries in 2021: Brazil, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Serbia, and Tunisia. A total of 1094 healthcare professionals specialized in medicine, pharmacy, and nurse practitioners that were exposed to/worked with COVID-19 patients were included (age: 33.89 ± 10.79 years; 59.6% females). After adjusting for potential confounders (i.e., country, gender, primary work in emergency department, primary work in infectious disease, primary work in intensive care unit, working in a COVID-19 ward, and working voluntary hours), the results of the mediation analysis showed that resilience fully mediated the association between physical work fatigue and psychological distress and partially mediated the associations between mental and emotional work fatigue and psychological distress. Higher work fatigue was significantly associated with less resilience; higher resilience was significantly associated with less psychological distress. Finally, higher mental and emotional, but not physical, work fatigue, were directly and significantly associated with more psychological distress. Identifying resilience as an important mediator in the path from fatigue to distress helps elucidate underlying mechanisms and pathways leading to the mental health-alteration process among healthcare workers during COVID-19. New strategies targeting resilience may be developed to further improve mental health outcomes among healthcare workers.

Retroalimentación recibida y desempeño de roles: El rol mediador del compromiso y el rol moderador de la experiencia auténtica

This research aims to identify the moderating role of authentic living in the relationship between feedback received and role performance, mediated by work engagement. The data were based on a convenience sample of Brazilian workers from public and private organizations (N = 1,244). The significant interaction between the feedback and authentic living allowed us to understand that the main effects of feedback on performance take place in individuals with high authentic living. When individuals are more authentic, the information they receive about their performance more strongly affects the motivational process at work itself. This study highlights the positive relationship between work and personal resources, as well as the work engagement and performance on the other, thus contributing to increase the feedback the organizations receive about performance, as well as to create environments that facilitate authenticity.

Beyond the Pandemic: Longitudinal Lessons on Social Support, Sleep Quality, and Burnout Among Healthcare Workers.

To assess occupational burnout (OB) changes among Brazilian healthcare workers (HCWs) from COVID-19 onset to six months later (T1) and identify risk and protective factors. Using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and hierarchical multivariate linear regression in a two-stage online survey (initial n = 1,054; T1 n = 316), this study examined the impact of various factors on OB. Significant increases in personal and work-related OB were observed by T1. Psychiatric diagnosis and workload emerged as risk factors (p < 0.01), while having a partner, good family relations, workplace well-being, and adequate sleep were protective (p < 0.001). OB levels among Brazilian HCWs increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions should target personal and organizational wellness to alleviate burnout, emphasizing the importance of strong relationships, workplace health, and good sleep practices.

Colonial way of life y regulación del sindicalismo rural en Brasil

This article aims to inquire into Oliveira Vianna's intellectual program regarding the unionist-corporatist normative agenda applied for rural workers in Brazil. To do so, we will consider: (a) the theoretical program for intervention in place until Oliveira Vianna's entry into the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor in 1932, which was supposedly expansive in terms of rural unionization; (b) the variations in the law formulation in which Vianna participated, as can be seen in the unionization laws of 1934 and 1939, the latter being representative of the legal dehydration of rural unionization; (c) the changes in the agenda, highlighted in the work História Social da Economia Capitalista no Brasil (Social History of Economy in Brazil), expressed by the opposition to rural unionization. The focus shift regarding rural unionization and corporatism is based on the advantages this author begins to consider in relation to clans’ domination, highlighted as a positive driver of the Brazilian "colonial way of life," which deserves to be maintained and does not normatively align with bilateral union aggregation in rural settings. For the analysis, the key of "instrumental authoritarianism" is challenged in its theoretical potential to encompass the entirety of Oliveira Vianna's work. The proposed guiding thread of interpretation for the revisited phases is the jurist's quest for the organic relationship between the State and society. The methodological proposal involves the use of theoretical research, mainly focused on qualitative analysis of sources from the 1930s and 1940s, and the application of procedures inherent to content analysis.

Alguém se meteu no meio: modelos de intermediação digital do trabalho doméstico no Brasil

Informality is a reality for three-quarters of domestic workers in Brazil who, without a formal employment relationship, are not protected by the legal guarantees established since 2013. This lack of legal protection is exacerbated by the emphasis on entrepreneurship promoted by a growing number of digital platforms offering domestic work intermediation. In this article, we examine the structural standards of digital intermediation companies for domestic work in Brazil. Four representative platforms (GetNinjas, Parafuzo, Helpty, and Crafty) were analyzed. Our research corpus consists of their websites and applications, their terms of use, as well as journalistic articles and complaints from workers and clients on the website Reclame Aqui. The results are presented in three parts: (i) the history and general characteristics of each platform; (ii) their content organized into four categories of analysis (marketing, hiring, remuneration, and reputation systems); and (iii) the accounts of clients and workers on the Reclame Aqui website. The study found that digital intermediaries for domestic work present complex challenges for workers, as they amplify existing risks in the dominant labor model, such as intense subordination, economic dependence, lack of transparency about the value of their work, and exclusion from legal labor protection, whose recent expansion has not resulted in effective change. The study also suggests that this intensification of risks increases directly with the degree of intervention by the digital intermediary in the client-worker relationship.

The use of the e-SUS Território mobile application in the work of community health workers in Brazil

The use of the <i>e-SUS Território</i> mobile application in the work of community health workers in Brazil

New Developmentalism Under Neoliberalism: The Case of Brazil

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of Brazil's socioeconomic policies and growth models under the Brazilian Workers Party from 2003 to 2016. It examines two key growth models implemented in this process: namely, primary-export led and domestic consumption-oriented growth models. By utilizing official statistics and secondary sources, it shows that primary exports were the driving force behind economic growth in Brazil until 2006. It also indicates that after 2006, despite not being the main facilitator of economic growth, the exporting sectors continued to support the current account balance in Brazil, thanks to increasing global demand and prices for Brazilian primary commodities. Nevertheless, the post-2006 period in Brazil witnessed an increasing weight of domestic consumption in growth dynamics. This mainly results from expanding social transfers and income distribution programs, growing employment, and increasing minimum wages. The study demonstrates that Brazil's inclusive growth model was not sustainable due to the strong dependence of domestic accumulation on foreign capital inflows and external demand.

Age and schooling are associated with job loss in the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Brazil was one of the countries most affected by the social and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to verify the association between job loss and region of the country, sex, age, educational status, marital status, and parenting in Brazilian workers during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional online study was performed with data from workers aged 18 years or older in any economic sector and different occupations. A sociodemographic and occupational questionnaire was applied. Data collection began on June 2020 and ended on September 2020. To estimate the degree of association between job loss and the region of the country and workers’ characteristics, binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to obtain the odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals. The sample was composed of 1319 participants and of these, 108 (8.2%) lost their jobs in the initial months of the pandemic; 51.6% were female; 53.5% were married; 42.5% reported having children; 80.7% had a complete college education. The age and educational status were associated with job loss, with younger and less educated workers being more affected by unemployment. For women, age and educational status were associated with job loss, for men only educational status showed a significant association. Young workers, mainly women, and with less educational status were the most affected by unemployment at the beginning of the pandemic in Brazil. Thus, this group of workers proved to be more vulnerable and should be prioritized by public policies.

Prevalence and factors associated with burnout among health professionals of a public hospital network during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burnout is most commonly defined as a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and ineffectiveness, which occurs in response to chronic stressors at work. It can adversely affect health workers' physical and mental health, and the quality of care provided. The COVID-19 pandemic increased stressors and could impact burnout prevalence in this group. There is a lack of information regarding the prevalence of burnout among hospital health workers in Brazil. A newer definition of burnout has been proposed that considers three different clinical profiles: the frenetic, underchallenged and worn-out subtypes. This differentiation could lead to interventions tailored for each subtype. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of burnout, its subtypes, and associated factors in workers of a public hospital network in Brazil, during the pandemic. A total of 143 randomly selected participants answered an online form that included sociodemographic and occupational items, and the Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire, a summarized version. This questionnaire evaluates three burnout dimensions (overload, lack of development, neglect) that can be used to discriminate the three burnout subtypes (frenetic, underchallenged, worn-out, respectively); higher scores indicate higher burnout levels. The prevalence of burnout was high (53.85%), similar to other studies during the pandemic. The most common subtypes were 'frenetic' (34.97%), characterized by increased efforts to meet work demands, to the point of neglecting personal needs, and 'lack of development' (23.78%), characterized by a sense that work is uninteresting and does not contribute to personal development, and a perfunctory behavior towards tasks. Age was associated with burnout: workers with less than 51 years presented higher levels of burnout. These findings indicate the need for effective interventions to prevent and/or treat burnout. The assessment of burnout subtypes can allow managers to better understand the processes affecting employees, and inform actions to improve workforce health.

Time Trend of Occupational Noise-induced Hearing Loss in a Metallurgical Plant With a Hearing Conservation Program

BackgroundThis study aimed to analyze the trend of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) in Brazilian workers at a metallurgical plant with a hearing conservation program (HCP), which has been addressed in a previous study. MethodsAll 152 workers in this time series (20032018) participated in the HCP and used personal protective equipment. All annual audiometry records in the company's software were collected from the electronic database. The trend of ONIHL was analyzed with the joinpoint regression model. The hearing thresholds of ONIHL cases at the end of the series were compared with those found in a national reference study. ResultsThe binaural mean hearing thresholds at 3, 4, and 6 kHz at the end of the series were higher for ages ≥50 years, exposures ≥85 dB (A), time since admission >20 years, and maintenance workers. Significance was found only in the group divided by age. There was an increasing time trend of ONIHL, though with a low percentage variation for the period (AAPC = 3.5%; p = 0.01). Hearing thresholds in this study differed from the reference one. ConclusionDespite the unmet expectation of a stationary trend in the study period, the time pace of ONIHL evolution did not follow what was expected for a population exposed to noise. These findings signal to the scientific community and public authorities that good ONIHL control is possible when HCP is well implemented.