Workers In Switzerland Research Articles

An Investigation of Work Precarity Among Paid Domestic Cleaning Workers in Switzerland

An Investigation of Work Precarity Among Paid Domestic Cleaning Workers in Switzerland

On the Interplay Between Duration of Employment, Relational Quality and Wages—Results About Non-Family Farm Workers in Switzerland

Our knowledge on non-family farm workers has been hampered by a lack of reliable and relevant data. This study tackled this problem by asking Swiss managers of fruit, wine and vegetable farms about their employees. Using a dataset of 921 employees, we explain the duration of the labour contract, the level of wages and the relational quality between employers and workers. The level of wages and other resources like shelter are linked to employment duration but also to social factors like joint social events or the perception of relational quality by employers. Workers with the liberty to allocate their labour time have better relationships with their employers. The best wages are paid to full-time male employees with agricultural education residing in Switzerland. The fact that Swiss citizens receive a significant reduction in their payment compared to foreigners may point to a grey zone between unpaid family labour and market-based employment relations.

A contribution to the French validation of the clinical anxiety scale amongst health care workers in Switzerland

BackgroundAnxiety disorders are frequent but remain often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Hence, valid screening instruments are needed to enhance the diagnostic process. The Clinical Anxiety Scale (CAS) is a 25-item anxiety screening tool derived from the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). However, this scale is not available in French. The General anxiety disorder − 7 (GAD-7) scale, which has been validated in French, is a 7-item instrument with good psychometric properties. This study contributes to the validation of an adapted French version of the CAS, using the GAD-7 as the reference.MethodsA forward-backward English-French-English translation of the CAS was performed according to standard practice. The French versions of the CAS and GAD-7 were completed by 127 French speaking healthcare professionals. CAS internal consistency was assessed using Crohnbach’s alpha, and test-retest reliability was tested after 15 days in a subsample of 30 subjects. Convergent validity with GAD-7 was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Test-retest reliability was explored using one-way random effects model to calculate the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsFrench CAS showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.97), high convergent validity with GAD-7 (Pearson’s R 0.81, p < 0.001), and very good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.97, 95% CI 0.93–0.98).ConclusionThe proposed French version of the CAS showed high reliability and validity that need to be further investigated in different populations.

Quitting one’s job or leaving one’s profession: unexplored consequences of workplace violence and discrimination against health professionals

BackgroundAlthough workplace violence and discrimination against healthcare workers are global and universal phenomena, and violence at work is recognized as a serious and growing problem, in Switzerland, hardly anything is known about the related consequences on job changes and career endings, which are two major staffing challenges present in the notoriously understaffed healthcare sector.MethodData collected from a written survey conducted among 1,840 hospital employees, of which 1,441 were health professionals, were used to evaluate and estimate the prevalence and impact of specific and cumulated forms of workplace violence and discrimination on the work climate and particularly on subsequent turnover intentions and career endings. Established multi- and single-item measures were used as predicting, intervening and outcome variables. Relative frequencies stratified for nurses, physicians and therapists were calculated to estimate and differentiate the size of the phenomena under study. Furthermore, crosstabulations, as well as multivariate regression analyses, were performed to explore the associations of interest.ResultsEvery fifth to sixth nurse and every seventh to eighth physician reported having had intentions to change jobs or leave the profession within the past year. These intentions become much more prevalent across all health professions when one or even two or more different forms of violence and/or discrimination at work are experienced and reported. Accordingly, the relative risks for intending to quit one’s job or leave one’s profession increase significantly and steadily with a growing number (1, 2 +) of different experienced forms of violence and/or discrimination at work compared to the reference group of those who are nonaffected (aOR from 2.5 up to 5.4). This fairly strong association was only slightly reduced (aOR from 2.1 to 4.0) when work climate was additionally taken into account as a potential intervening variable. Although work climate only partly accounted for the association under study, a poor work climate was an additional strong predictor and independent risk factor for intentions to turnover (aOR = 6.4) or leave the profession (aOR = 4.2).ConclusionsExperiences of workplace violence and discrimination and the resulting poor work climate both together and independent of each other seem to be important causes of job changes and career endings among healthcare workers in Switzerland.

Melinda Nadj Abonji’s Prose from a Transcultural Perspective

Abstract This paper explores the ways in which transculturality manifests in the prose of Melinda Nadj Abonji. Besides Tauben fliegen auf [Fly Away, Pigeon] (2010), her well known and highly acclaimed novel translated into several languages, it also looks at her latest novel, Schildkrötensoldat [Tortoise Soldier] (2017). It is concerned with articulations of the experience of transculturality, closely related to the experience of territorial displacement. Tauben fliegen auf describes the life of a family of migrant workers in Switzerland whose background sets them apart from the milieu in which they live. Variations on national identity take on a key role. In the novel Schildkrötensoldat, a young man of modest intellectual abilities struggles to find his identity in the face of the threat of the Yugoslav Wars. In the language of her novels, Melinda Nadj Abonji recreates the transcultural interrelationships. Besides the sensitivity to metalinguistic issues, her novels make existence in a multicultural milieu tangible by incorporating multilingual text units. Multilingualism, however, not only characterizes the speech of the characters but also defines the discursive position of the narrator, which is the most distinctive and salient poetic feature of her prose. The possibilities of translating multilingual texts are also discussed in this paper.1

Labor Recruitment and Coloniality in the Agricultural Sector: On Plantation Archives, Underclassing, and Postcolonial Masculinities in Switzerland

This study provides insights into mechanisms of underclassing in modern society based on interviews with recruiters of agricultural workers in Switzerland. I show that narratives that racialize and ethnicize workers are nurtured by colonial legacies. This reveals that plantation practices and discourses have shaped Switzerland and remain as powerful means of enforcing agricultural racial capitalism. Furthermore, I argue that postcolonial masculinities drive these intersubjective relations. Tracing and situating these postcolonial subject formations on farms allows one to see how caring narratives entangle with a dehumanizing grammar and how this colonial logic is incorporated into social consensus on extractive labor practices. Finally, this reveals how coloniality operates in a postcolonial country that claims political neutrality.

Work-related demands and resources as predictors of well-being at work among health care workers in Switzerland.

The aim was to examine the effects of work-related demands and resources on well-being at work among employees in Swiss hospitals. Self-reported survey data from 1'840 employees of six hospitals/clinics were analyzed using multivariate linear regression analyses (all professions included). Of all demands, work-life imbalance had the strongest negative effect on well-being at work. The most relevant resource varied depending on the dimension of well-being: for job satisfaction it was good leadership, for work engagement job decision latitude and for satisfaction with relationships at work social support at work. The resources were more relevant for well-being at work than the demands. They also buffered against the negative effects of the demands. In order to enhance well-being at work in hospitals, it is necessary to enable a good work-life balance and to strengthen work-related resources.

Influenza Vaccination Behaviour of Healthcare Workers in Switzerland: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: As no data are available regarding the influenza vaccination status of Swiss healthcare workers (HCW) in the ambulatory setting, this study aims to investigate their influenza vaccination behaviours. Methods: We conducted an online survey using a four-item, semi-structured questionnaire to assess HCWs influenza vaccination coverage and behaviour. Associations between influenza vaccination status, age and language as well as recommendation behaviour and reasons for vaccination were assessed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 1057 completed questionnaires, 425 (40.2%) HCW were vaccinated and 632 (59.8%) not. 78.1% of the physicians and 47.3% pharmacists were vaccinated, compared to only 29.1% of the nurses, 24.3% pharmacy technicians and 13.0% medical practice assistants (MPA). There was a significant association between influenza vaccination status and HCW profession, age, language and how often an influenza vaccination recommendation was made. Conclusion: Demographic factors seem to influence HCWs' attitudes towards influenza vaccination, which in turn affects the prospect of them recommending the influenza vaccination. Diverse strategies might be necessary to encourage HCW to get vaccinated and hence, promote influenza vaccination.

Does ICT affect the demand for vocationally educated workers?

AbstractThis paper examines the effect of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the demand for workers in Switzerland. We compare the hypotheses that an increase in ICT leads to upskilling or job polarization and investigate their implications for countries where vocational education and training (VET) is the most widespread education program at the upper secondary level. Using data from a large employer–employee survey, we create a novel measure of ICT based on the percentage of ICT workers within firms. This measure allows us to assess the impact of ICT on the educational composition of the workforce by exploiting variation over time. We find that ICT has an upskilling effect from 1996 to 2018: ICT decreases the demand for low-skilled workers while increasing the demand for high-skilled workers, especially those with a tertiary vocational education. These results strongly suggest that VET is a valid alternative to a strictly academic education, because workers with a tertiary VET degree are as good, or better, at adjusting to technological change as workers with a tertiary academic education.

Point prevalence of burnout in Switzerland: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To estimate the prevalence of occupational burnout among the Swiss working population. We interrogated three international databases (Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, and PsycINFO) and the databases of 15 Swiss universities to identify studies reporting the prevalence of occupational burnout in Swiss workers over the last 10 years, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were summarised descriptively and quantitatively using random-effects meta-analysis. We investigated between-study heterogeneity by stratifying results according to the type of burnout measurement tool, by occupation and by cut-off values. Three outcomes were considered: clinical/severe burnout, overall burnout and emotional exhaustion. We identified 23 studies about workers in Switzerland and estimated the prevalence of clinical or severe burnout at 4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2-6%). The average prevalence estimates for overall burnout and emotional exhaustion were similar at 18% (95% CI 12-25%) and 18% (95% CI 15-22%), respectively. When stratified by occupation, the clinical or severe burnout rates were higher among the healthcare workers than the general working population. These estimates of prepandemic (baseline) prevalence of occupational burnout are comparable with those available in the other countries where it is recognised and treated as a disease. They may prove useful in planning and assessing the effectiveness of interventions for prevention of occupational burnout and in minimising its negative consequences on individuals and on societies during and after the pandemic.

Risk Perception Related to COVID-19 and Future Affective Responses Among Healthcare Workers in Switzerland: A Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Study.

Objectives: Whereas early findings suggest that risk perceptions related to COVID-19 affect psychological well-being in healthcare workers (HCWs), the temporal associations between these variables need to be clarified and HCWs lived experience further explored. This study proposes a mixed evaluation of COVID-19-related risk perception and affective responses among HCWs. Methods: A longitudinal mixed-method study was conducted. HCWs (N = 138) completed measures of COVID-19 risk perceptions, depression, anxiety, burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) at baseline and 6 months later. A subsample (n = 20) participated in semi-structured interviews exploring both risk perceptions and affective responses. Results: Main quantitative findings showed positive associations between worry to contaminate others and depression (IRR = 1.04, p < 0.05), anxiety (IRR = 1.03, p < 0.01), STS (b = 0.3, p < 0.05), and perceptions of lacking protection (IRR = 1.04, p < 0.05) with anxiety scores. Four themes emerged from the thematic content analysis: 1) life was turned upside down; 2) skills were put in quarantine; 3) dealing with patient discomfort; 4) balance to be found between protection and restrictions. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance to develop tailored interventions, such as group discussion sessions, to optimize risk perception and help manage uncertainty.

Health and labor force participation among older workers in Switzerland: a growth curve analysis

This study investigated how individual trajectories of self-rated health (SRH) and working hours among older workers in Switzerland are interrelated and how this relationship varies based on occupation. We used data from the Swiss Household Panel to analyze the long-term trajectories of older workers measured in terms of working hours and SRH. The sample included more than 4000 workers aged 50 to 65(men)/64(women). We ran a bivariate response multilevel model for growth that allowed the examination of between- and within-individual changes over time. On a between-individual level, we found that the upper non-manual workers were the most heterogeneous occupational group in terms of working hours and the lower non-manual workers were the most heterogeneous occupational group in terms of health. Within all occupational groups, we found a significant relationship between the level of working hours and level of SRH. The individual-level statistics showed consistently strongest effects for manual workers. This result confirms our hypothesis that labor force participation in individuals of the manual occupational group is more sensitive to their health status. Our findings contribute to the debate regarding the importance of older workers’ health in the context of the extension of working life.

Analysing digital multilocality between urban centres and rural peripheries: Combining and integrating digital and analogue research methods

The application of mixed methods in researching digitalisation and rural development has numerous benefits in terms of the integration of various data sources. In this paper, we present a novel, mixed methods approach that combines digital and analogue methods. We investigate multilocal work arrangements of knowledge workers in Switzerland who mainly work in a central urban area but occasionally withdraw to peripheral mountain regions in order to conduct their work in a concentrated and undisturbed environment. To analyse such multilocal work arrangements, we use a mixed methods approach that incorporates six integrated methods: geotracking, laptop and smartphone tracking, self-administered digital diaries, ethnographic walk-along observations and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Our study illustrates that mixed methods in digitalisation research provide in-depth insights, but that they also have limitations. Furthermore, we show how ethical standards can and should be used to create a basis of trust with the study participants and how this affects the recruitment of the sample.

Protection of pregnant and breastfeeding workers in Switzerland: a practical guide

Specific working conditions may endanger pregnant women's and their children's health. Switzerland has specific legislation for the protection of pregnant and breastfeeding employees. However, the implementation of these provisions presents important shortcomings. Attending physicians or gynaecologists-obstetricians who care for pregnant women have a central role in controlling the efficacy of protective measures put in place for their patients at work. What are the occupational exposures at risk and their health impact ? What are the collaboration with the different actors involved in the protection of maternity at work ? What steps should be taken if occupational dangers are identified? What tools can be used ? This article answers and explore these questions.

Health status and labour force participation among older workers: a growth curve analysis

Abstract Objectives We investigate how individual trajectories of health status and labor force participation among older workers in Switzerland are interrelated and how this relationship varies by occupation. Methods We use data from the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) to analyze the long-term trajectories of older workers, measured in terms of working hours and general health status. The sample includes more than 7,000 workers aged 50 to 65(men)/64(women). We run a bivariate response multilevel model for growth that allows examining between- and within-individual changes over time. Results All occupational groups become more heterogeneous in terms of health status with increasing age. At the same time, working hours decrease in all occupational groups with increasing age. A look at the individual level indicates that the working hours of manual workers seem to be more dependent on their health status compared to those of non-manual workers and that this dependence increases over time. This result confirms our hypothesis that the labor market participation of manual workers is more sensitive to their health status. Conclusions Our findings contribute to the debate about the importance of older workers' health in the context of working life extension. Key messages All occupational groups become more heterogenous in terms of health status with increasing age, however working hours of manual workers seem to be more dependent on their health status. Manual workers experience a stronger effect of health on working hours and that this effect increases over time, therefore prevention of ill health may be particularly beneficial in manual workers.

Stress-Buffering and Health-Protective Effect of Job Autonomy, Good Working Climate, and Social Support at Work Among Health Care Workers in Switzerland.

Objective:The relationship between work stress, job resources, and health has not yet been investigated among health professionals in Switzerland.Methods:Cross-sectional survey data, collected among hospital employees in German-speaking Switzerland, have been used for this study. Established measures were used to assess work stress as the main predictor and self-rated health and work-related burnout as the outcome variables. Validated measures for job autonomy, work climate, and social support at work were used as intervening variables.Results:The studied job resources were all found to be quite strongly and negatively associated with the two health outcomes but only partly explained and reduced the extraordinary strong positive association and clear dose–response relationship between work stress and poor self-rated health or burnout.Conclusion:Job resources like these cannot completely prevent health professionals from negative health-related consequences of work stress.

Social workers in politics–a qualitative analysis of factors influencing social workers’ decision to run for political office

ABSTRACT The aim of this qualitative study is to explore factors that influence social workers’ decision to participate in parliamentary politics, and to identify important policy-making skills and competencies of social workers holding elected office. Seven semi-structured biographical interviews with social workers in Switzerland who are serving as elected politicians at local, state, or national levels were conducted and analysed according to the principles of qualitative content analysis. Based on the Civic Voluntarism Model as well as previous studies in the field of socialisation research, this study identifies families of origin and mobilisation networks as main influencing factors, alongside with professional experience in social work that also plays a significant role. It can be further concluded that important skills to be successful in policy-making processes are acquired through social work education and professional practice. The results support existing findings and emphasise that to further promote political engagement, political action should be more strongly integrated into social work education and encouraged by professional associations.

Who shapes migration in open labour markets? Analysing migration infrastructures and brokers of circularly migrating home care workers in Switzerland

ABSTRACT Fostered by the free movement of workers agreement in the Schengen area, a new market for live-in care work has emerged. Private for-profit care agencies recruit circular migrant women from Eastern Europe and place them in private households for senior care in Western Europe. This paper looks at the recruitment and placement practices of these agencies. Drawing on concepts on migration infrastructures and a politics of mobility, we argue that these agencies are key drivers in the production of new migration infrastructures tailored to live-in carers’ circular mobility patterns. This infrastructure intersects with existing work, gender and care regimes, and works in ways that enclose care workers in the households, ensuring their return home after an assignment. It shapes their migration as a form of movement characterized by repeated short-term and ‘just-in-time’ jobs. This requires care workers to be mobile, flexible and disposable. Hence, care agencies play an important role in perpetuating an unequal distribution of care along lines of gender and socio-economic inequalities. The findings point to fundamental changes in migration control in the Schengen area with private actors such as care agencies gaining new powers in determining who and under which conditions workers migrate.

Social security coverage for platform workers in Switzerland: A middle way?

AbstractThis article compares social security coverage for the self‐employed and for employees on digital platforms in Switzerland. It sheds light on the particularities that have acted to slow down the evolution of Swiss social legislation to the new emerging forms of work, and summarizes the solutions provided by case law. These solutions are still being fine‐tuned, but lean towards the reclassification of contracts as salaried work. Finally, despite the hesitance of the Swiss authorities to take political steps to encourage these new forms of work, which offer significant economic potential, and while also seeking to prevent the risk of precarity in work, we discuss the options available.

Understanding brain waste: Unequal opportunities for skills development between highly skilled women and men, migrants and nonmigrants

AbstractBrain waste studies seldom analyse the skills development of tertiary‐educated workers according to gender and country of origin. Combining statistical analyses, participatory workshops and 77 qualitative interviews on employment trajectories with highly skilled workers in Switzerland, I offer three contributions. An intersectional perspective reveals unequal opportunities of skills development: Swiss‐born men have the highest rates of employment, income and jobs commensurate with their education, followed by foreign‐born men, then Swiss‐born women and lastly foreign‐born women. Second, a multiscalar perspective shows how actions by individuals, families, employers and the state favour or constrain skills advancement among women and men. Individual perceptions of gender roles and unequal childcare responsibilities within couples constrain women's skills development. Further constraints are set by the state and employers' policies and practices regarding migration, childcare, taxation and hiring. Third, a spatial–temporal perspective unveils that gender inequalities arise at particular moments (migration and childbirth) and places (lacking childcare services and limited employment).