scholarly journals Working Conditions and Health Among Italian Ageing Workers

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelo d’Errico ◽  
Chiara Ardito ◽  
Roberto Leombruni ◽  
Fulvio Ricceri ◽  
Giuseppe Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Pension Reform ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
National Health Survey ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Physical Disorder ◽  
Ageing Workers

AbstractIn many European countries requirements for retirement have been tightened, causing an increase in work participation of older workers, in spite their potentially poorer health may limit their work ability. This study aimed at assessing the diffusion of health problems and exposure to unfavorable working conditions among ageing workers in two Italian surveys, as well as comparing them with those observed in the same surveys conducted before the 2011 Italian pension reform tightening the normal retirement age. The 2013 National Health Survey (NHS) and Labour Force Survey (LFS) were employed to assess the prevalence of poor perceived health, health conditions and functional limitations, and of exposure to physical, psychosocial and organization factors at work, among 60–64 years workers. Poisson regression models were used to estimate Prevalence Ratios of health outcomes and unfavorable working conditions in the two surveys, compared to data from the 2005 (NHS) and 2007 (LFS) corresponding surveys, respectively. Among both men and women, approximately one quarter had at least one physical disorder or functional limitations and 15% poor mental health. Exposure to different ergonomic factors (15–30%) and working during unsocial hours (19%) were particularly diffused. A significant increase in the prevalence of functional limitations and of working at night or during unsocial hours was found in 2013, compared to corresponding data from 2005 and 2007, respectively. Our results indicate that exposure to ergonomic and organizational hazards should be reduced among ageing workers, to avoid decreased work ability, health damage or early exit from the labour market.

scholarly journals Work and Functional Limitations for Older Workers: Does Measurement Make a Difference?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 461-461
Author(s):  
Theresa Andrasfay ◽  
Anne Pebley ◽  
Noreen Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Occupational Characteristics ◽  
General Physical

Abstract Social scientists have become increasingly interested in strenuous jobs as contributors to health inequality over the life course. Physically demanding work at later ages is of particular interest because it can have implications for retirement decisions, physical functioning, and disability, and strenuous jobs are prevalent among lower-income and minority older workers. Many studies have relied on occupational characteristics from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), but few have assessed how these measures compare to self-reported occupational characteristics in terms of identifying social gradients in exposure and predicting future health outcomes. Using data from 16,683 respondents of the Health and Retirement Study, we obtained self-reported and O*NET measurements of general physical activity, frequency of lifting objects, and frequency of stooping/crouching required in the jobs they held at first interview. Pearson correlation coefficients revealed moderate correlations between the self-reported items and corresponding O*NET items. Though they are measured on different scales, both the self-reported and O*NET measures of physical demands revealed similar racial/ethnic and gender gradients in exposure to physically strenuous work. Lastly, we fit a series of random effects Poisson models to assess how these measures predict accumulation of functional limitations, a health outcome thought to result in part from strenuous working conditions. We found that while models using self-reported working conditions have the best fit with the data, models using the corresponding items in O*NET have comparable goodness-of-fit. These results suggest that, in the absence of self-reported physical occupational characteristics, O*NET characteristics provide a reasonable alternative.

scholarly journals P.2.29 Does a change in working conditions influence labour force participation among workers with a chronic disease?

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A94.3-A95
Author(s):  
Jolinda Schram ◽  
Suzan Robroek ◽  
Patricia Ots ◽  
Sander van Zon ◽  
Sandra Brouwer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Discrete Time ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Physical Workload ◽  
Survival Models ◽  
Paid Employment

ObjectiveThis study investigated the association between changing working conditions and exit from paid employment during the following year among older workers with a chronic disease in the Netherlands.MethodFour annual waves from the Study on Transitions in Employment, Ability and Motivation (STREAM; 2010–2013) provided information on working conditions and demographics for 2838 older workers with a chronic disease, aged 45–64 years. The analytical sample consisted of 5491 responses from 2838 workers. Five types of working conditions were investigated; physical workload, psychological job demands, job autonomy, emotional job demands and social support. Discrete-time survival models were used to estimate the associations of change in working conditions in a particular year on the probability of exiting paid work for persons with a chronic disease in the following year.ResultsOf the 2838 workers, a small majority was male (52%), most workers had an intermediate level of education (39.7%), and the mean age was 53.7 years (SD 5.50). Results showed that working conditions substantially changed (i.e. difference of one standard deviation) between two waves. Social support and emotional job demands had the highest amounts of substantial changes (17% and 19%), while physical demands remained relatively stable (6% substantial change). After the first two waves, about 12% of workers with a chronic illness left paid employment. Results of discrete-time survival models are expected to be available in 2019 (by the time of the EPICOH conference).ConclusionEnsuring that working conditions can be adapted to the needs of older workers who have a chronic disease may help to extend working life.

Vitaliteitsmanagement: je hoeft niet ziek te zijn om beter te worden!

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinka van Vuuren
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Strategic Human Resource Management ◽  
Working Population ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Inaugural Lecture ◽  
Sustainable Employment

Vitality Management: You do not need to be ill, to get better! Enhancing the sustainable employment of workers can be realized by increasing their vitality, workability and employability Vitality Management: You do not need to be ill, to get better! Enhancing the sustainable employment of workers can be realized by increasing their vitality, workability and employability The working population is ageing in the Netherlands. To overcome the negative effects of an aging labour force, there is a need to adapt Strategic Human Resource Management in organizations by including Vitality Management. In this shortened version of my inaugural lecture I discuss from the viewpoint of a Work and Organizational Psychologist the content of Vitality Management. Vitality is in my view an aspect of sustainable employment, next to work ability and employability. Moreover in this contribution attention will be paid to the importance of vitality and sustainable employment and what causes, according to the research literature, vitality and sustainable employment. I will end this contribution by discussing how vitality and sustainable employment can be enhanced. For the latter it is important to focus not only on older workers, but on all workers from young to old.

scholarly journals Work ability of Thai older Workers in Southern Thailand: a comparison of formal and informal sectors

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasithorn Thanapop ◽  
Chamnong Thanapop
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Informal Workers ◽  
Southern Thailand ◽  
Excellent Work ◽  
Working Practices ◽  
Formal And Informal Sectors ◽  
Safe Working

Abstract Background Thai society is becoming an ageing society. Independent older persons need to be able to continue to work after retirement. The Work Ability Index (WAI) is an assessment tool for improving the health and work environment of the older workers. The objective of this study is to explore work ability and its related factors among older workers in formal and informal sectors in southern Thailand. Methods This cross-sectional study with multistage sampling focused on 324 Thai older workers, aged between 45 and 70 years, working in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Data on sociodemographic status, health history, and work-related factor questionnaires were collected, including anthropometric measures and the WAI instrument between March and September 2019. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations. Results The participants were predominantly general labourers (23.8%) and female (70.7%). Nearly half of them had noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs) (48.2%) and were obese (more than 60%). Approximately 60% (59.9%) engaged in safe working practices. The participants sometimes received occupational health services (51.9%) and frequently accessed health promotion services (78.1%). There was a significant difference in the total average WAI score of the formal and informal workers: 40.6 (S.D. = 4.6) and 37.5 (S.D. = 5.0), respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that workers aged 55 years and older (adj. OR = 1.45; 95% CI [1.21, 1.74]), those with NCDs (adj. OR = 2.85; 95% CI [1.69, 4.80]), and those who were exposed to unsafe working practices (adj. OR = 2.11; 95% CI [1.26, 3.55]) had a higher risk of a poor to moderate WAI. Conclusions Most of the older workers had good to excellent work ability. Older age and the presence of NCDs were negatively associated with good to excellent work ability. Safe working practices improved older workers’ work ability. Integrated occupational health protections and health promotion programmes for older informal workers should be provided by community health services to improve work ability.

scholarly journals The work ability index and functional capacity among older workers

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosimeire S. Padula ◽  
Maria L. C. Comper ◽  
Suzana A. Moraes ◽  
Catherine Sabbagh ◽  
Wagner Pagliato Junior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Work Ability Index ◽  
Ability Index

scholarly journals The effectiveness of neurotics as workers compared to non-neurotics

1978 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Brothy ◽  
I. Van W Raubenheimer
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
Work Situation ◽  
Equal Footing

A survey of the literature implies that neurotics are unable to compete on an equal footing with non-neurotics under normal working conditions. 12 Hypotheses relating to the relative effectiveness of neurotics versus non-neurotics in the work situation are formulated. Results indicate that neurotics are not significantly poorer workers than non-neurotics, except in respect of 3 of the 12 criteria used, i.e. reporting for duty late, sickness records, amenability to discipline. Conclusions are drawn that a fresh orientation to the problem of neurosis is necessary and that neurotic workers should be judged objectively on work ability and not on their personality shortcomings. Opsomming'n Oorsig van die literatuur dui daarop dat dit nie verwag kan word dat neurote op gelyke voet met ander werkers onder normale werksomstandighede kan meeding nie, en dus minder effektiewe werkers behoort te wees. 12 Hipoteses oor die relatiewe effektiwiteit van neurote en nie-neurote in die werksituasie is geformuleer en getoets. Daar word gevind dat neurote nie beduidend swakker werkers as nie-neurote is nie, behalwe ten opsigte van 3 van die 12 kriteria wat gebruik is, nl. ten opsigte van stiptelikheid, siekte rekord en dissiplinering. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat 'n nuwe oriëntasie tot die probleem van neurose en die neuroot noodsaaklik is en dat neurotiese werkers objektief met betrekking tot werksvermoë beoordeel behoort te word en nie met betrekking tot persoonlikheidstekortkominge waar laasgenoemde nie ter sake is nie.

scholarly journals Working Conditions and Health of Leaders in Three Service Sectors

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-118
Author(s):  
Franziska Pundt ◽  
Marcel Lück
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Job Resources ◽  
Health Complaints ◽  
Musculoskeletal Health ◽  
Stress Theory ◽  
Service Sectors ◽  
Practical Implications

This study investigates the job demands, job resources, and health of leaders in three service sectors. The analyses are based on data of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey, a representative sample of the German labour force. The three service sectors trading, finance, and public services varied significantly in how leaders perceive job demands, job resources, psychosomatic health complaints, and musculoskeletal health complaints. Hardly any variation was found, however, in how demands and resources are associated with psychosomatic and musculoskeletal health complaints. These findings imply that service leaders’ perceptions provide sector-specific patterns of demands and resources, which are well reflected in stress theory. The findings further imply that there is no need for sector-specific theories predicting health complaints. The article concludes with a discussion of practical implications for health promotion in the three service sectors and the promotion of leaders’ health.

scholarly journals Perceived mental health, wellbeing and associated factors among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers: A qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽  
Bishnu Bhandari ◽  
Pratik Adhikary
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

AbstractBackgroundPoor mental health and illness among the working population have serious socio-economic and public health consequences for both the individual and society/country. With a dramatic increase in work migration over the past decades, there is recent concern about the health and wellbeing of migrant workers and their accessibility to healthcare services in destination countries. This study aimed to explore the mental health and wellbeing experiences of Nepali returnee-migrants and non-migrant workers, and identify their perception on the risk factors for poor health and health service accessibility for them.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers in February 2020. Four focus group discussions (n=25) and 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with male non-migrant and returnee migrant workers from Gulf countries and Malaysia. The discussions and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and analysed thematically.ResultMigrant workers reported a higher risk of developing adverse mental health conditions than non-migrant workers. In addition, fever, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, ulcer, and occupational injuries were common health problems among both migrant and non-migrant workers. Other major illnesses reported by the migrant workers were heat burns and rashes, snake-bites, dengue, malaria, gallstone, kidney failure, and sexually transmitted diseases, while non-migrants reported hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. Adverse living and working conditions including exploitation and abuse by employers, lack of privacy and congested accommodation, language barriers, long hours’ hard physical work without breaks, and unhealthy lifestyles were the contributing factors to migrant workers’ poor mental and physical health. Both migrant and non-migrants reported poor compliance of job conditions and labor protection by their employers such as application of safety measures at work, provision of insurance and healthcare facilities that affected for their wellbeing negatively. Family problems compounded by constant financial burdens and unmet expectations were the most important factors linked with migrant workers’ poor mental health condition.ConclusionBoth migrant and non-migrant workers experienced poor mental and physical health condition largely affected by their adverse living and working conditions, unmet familial and financial needs and adherence to unhealthy life styles. It is needed to ensure the compliance of work agreement by employers and promotion of labor rights in relation to worker’s health and safety. In addition, policy interventions on raising awareness on occupational health risk and effective safety training to all migrant and non-migrant workers are recommended.

“Fuller” or “extended” working lives: a critical commentary

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Phillipson
Keyword(s):  
Older Workers ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Older Worker ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Working Lives ◽  
Critical Commentary ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to, first, provide some background to the treatment of older workers; second, highlight the distinction between a “fuller” and an “extended” working life; third, note the importance of separating out different groups within the category “older worker”; finally, identify areas for action to suppose those now facing working into their 60s and beyond. Design/methodology/approach – Commentary paper analysing development of policies towards older workers. Findings – This paper identifies problems implementing policy of extending working and provides various areas of action to support older workers. Research limitations/implications – This paper suggests extending work unlikely to be achieved without ensuring greater security for older workers. Practical implications – Importance of developing more support for older workers. Social implications – Challenge of resolving insecurity in the labour force as an impediment to extended working. Originality/value – This paper outlines a critical assessment of current government policy towards older workers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document