Between two stools: occupational injuries and risk factors for temporary agency workers

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Håkansson ◽  
Tommy Isidorsson
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Occupational Injuries ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Temporary Agency Work ◽  
Work Tasks ◽  
Employment Characteristics ◽  
Dual Employment ◽  
Temporary Agency Workers

Purpose Research shows that the risk of work-related disorders is higher among temporary agency workers than among other employees. The purpose of this paper is to describe the working conditions of temporary agency workers and explains which factors contribute towards work-related disorders for this group. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a survey responded to by 482 agency workers in Sweden. The dependent variable is the prevalence of work-related disorders. Independent variables include personal characteristics, job characteristics, employment characteristics and temporary agency work characteristics. Findings The study indicates several risk factors: holding a position as a blue-collar worker; being assigned to more physically demanding work tasks and having fewer opportunities to learn new things than client organization employees; lacking training for work tasks; and lacking clarity regarding which work tasks to do during an assignment. Originality/value The theoretical implications of this study are related to the dual employment-management relationship in temporary agency work where the temporary work agency and client organization follow different logics. The logic in the employment relationship is to contract temporary agency workers out to client organizations, thus there is no time for formal training. The logic in the management relationship lies in making temporary agency workers profitable as soon as possible, encouraging shortcuts in training and instruction; thus, temporary agency workers risk being left with a lack of clarity regarding what to do and how to do it.

Clarity needed in training the ‘temps’

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-21
Keyword(s):  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Temporary Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Temporary Agency Work ◽  
Work Tasks ◽  
Employment Characteristics ◽  
Dual Employment ◽  
Physically Demanding Work ◽  
Temporary Agency Workers

Purpose Research shows that the risk of work-related disorders is higher among temporary agency workers than among other employees. The purpose of this paper is to describe the working conditions of temporary agency workers and explains which factors contribute towards work-related disorders for this group. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a survey responded to by 482 agency workers in Sweden. The dependent variable is the prevalence of work-related disorders. Independent variables include personal characteristics, job characteristics, employment characteristics and temporary agency work characteristics. Findings The study indicates several risk factors: holding a position as a blue-collar worker; being assigned to more physically demanding work tasks and having fewer opportunities to learn new things than client organization employees; lacking training for work tasks; and lacking clarity regarding which work tasks to do during an assignment. Originality/value The theoretical implications of this study are related to the dual employment–management relationship in temporary agency work where the temporary work agency and client organization follow different logics. The logic in the employment relationship is to contract temporary agency workers out to client organizations; thus, there is no time for formal training. The logic in the management relationship lies in making temporary agency workers profitable as soon as possible, encouraging shortcuts in training and instruction; thus, temporary agency workers risk being left with a lack of clarity regarding what to do and how to do it.

Flexible resources and adaptable human beings – the identity of temporary agency workers

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-157
Author(s):  
Ingo Winkler ◽  
Mustafa Khalil Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Temporary Agency Work ◽  
Flexible Resources ◽  
Related Identity ◽  
Temporary Agency Workers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the work-related identity of temporary agency workers (TAWs), a topic that has received a limited amount of attention in previous research. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a qualitative method and draws upon interviews with 30 TAWs from four agencies in the south of Denmark in order to link the experiences, as narrated by Danish TAWs, to their identity. Findings The study unpacks the components of the TAWs’ work-related identity and provides an understanding of the self-notions that the TAWs mobilize to respond to the conditions of temporary agency work. It identifies six components of work-related identity: Being new and unfamiliar, demonstrating the ability to adapt, dealing with uncertainty, feeling inferior and marginalized, pursuing opportunities, and the necessity to impress others. Both the agency and the user-firm try to regulate the TAWs’ identity as they expect agency workers to be flexible and adaptable persons, who possess a high degree of self-control. In so doing they provide a template for identification that the workers have to respond to. The study shows that TAWs develop this identity along two dimensions: their liminal position between the agency and the user-firm; and prescribed identity templates as TAWs strive for autonomy and craft their own work-related identity. Practical implications There are managerial challenges with regard to motivation, tensions between temps and permanent staff, low levels of organizational commitment, well-being, and the performance of TAWs. These challenges can be better understood (and probably solved) when agencies and user-firms would take into account the agency workers’ struggle for identification. The paper demonstrates that the work-related identity of TAWs not only has consequences for their performance but also for their whole life. Furthermore, the constitution of agency workers as flexible resource has consequences for HRM in the user-firm. Originality/value The paper contributes to the limited amount of knowledge about the meanings that TAWs reflexively attach to themselves as they seek to make sense of the conditions of temporary agency work. Investigating their work-related identity helps to better understand the implications of temporary agency work based on the investigation of the agency workers’ experiences.

scholarly journals The Italian National Surveillance System for Occupational Injuries: Conceptual Framework and Fatal Outcomes, 2002–2016

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Campo ◽  
L Cegolon ◽  
D De Merich ◽  
U Fedeli ◽  
M Pellicci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Occupational Injuries ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
National Database ◽  
Occupational Risk Factors ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Injured Person ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fatal Injuries

ABSTRACTBackgroundA national database of work related injuries was established in Italy since 2002, collecting information on the injured person, his/her work tasks, the workplace as well as risk factors contributing to accident dynamics, according to a model called Infor.Mo.MethodsThe present is a qualitative description of occupational fatal injuries, excluding work-related fatal traffic injuries, that occurred in Italy from 2002 to 2016 (15 years).Results4,874 victims were registered, all were males, mainly of >51 years of age (50.5%), predominantly self-employed (27.8%) or workers with non-standard contracts (25%). About 18.4% and 17.3% of fatal accidents occurred in micro-enterprises belonging to, respectively, Construction and Agriculture. A wide range of nationalities (59 countries in addition to Italy) was identified. 18.9% work related fatal injuries were due to some form of dangerous energy □ mechanical, thermal, electrical, chemical □ freely present in the workplace. Fall of workers from height (33.5%), heavy bodies falling on workers from height (16.7%) and vehicles exiting their route and overturning (15.9%) were the accidents causing the greatest proportion of occupational fatal injuries. The activity of the injured person made up 43.3% of 9,386 risk factors identified in 4,874 fatalities. Less common risk factors were related to: work equipment (20.2%); work environment (14.9%); the activity of third parties (9.8%); personal protective equipment/clothing (8.0%) and materials (3.7%). The activity of the injured person remained the most relevant contributing factor even when the accident was caused by two or more risk factors.DiscussionOccupational fatal injuries occurred mainly in small size firms. Small companies generally have less resources to catch up with the continuously evolving health and safety at work regulations; moreover, they tend to be less compliant with occupational health and safety regulations since are less likely to be inspected by occupational vigilance services. As a result, the enforcement of regulations to control the occupational risk factors of occupational injuries is seemingly costly and scarcely effective. An alternative approach that is being introduced in Italy relies on the use of economic incentives to promote safe and healthy workplaces.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Technicians of Surgery

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-208
Author(s):  
Seyyedeh Haniyeh Mousavibaghi ◽  
◽  
Kamran Ezzati ◽  
Mahmood Abedinzade ◽  
Sadegh MoshtaghiKoojel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Occupational Injuries ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Check Method ◽  
One Year

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the prevalent occupational injuries and disabilities in developing countries. Objectives: The current study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among surgery technicians. Materials & Methods: samples (n=179) of this analytical and cross-sectional study were selected using a census method among the surgical technicians who had at least one year of work experience. The disorders of different parts of their bodies were evaluated by Nordic questionnaire, and the risk of catching the musculoskeletal disorders was assessed using quick exposure check method. Statistical analyses were done in SPSS V. 16. Results: According to the Nordic questionnaire, the most prevalent work-related disorders in the past year were found in the back (71.5%), neck (57%), wrist (50.8%), and shoulder (49.7%) of the study subjects. The quick exposure check results showed that the level of exposure to musculoskeletal risks was in action level one for 32.4% of the surgery technicians, and action level three for 33% of them. This study showed associations between the prevalence of work-related symptoms in different body regions and some individual and occupational characteristics (P<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) is high among surgical technicians and lumbar disorders are the most common types. Risk factors for MSDs include undesirable physical posture, weight, time spent for shifting loads, excessive force applied by one or both hands at work, working speed, and staff stress levels. among near half of the studied surgical technicians, there were high and very high risks for injury, indicating the vulnerable condition and environment of this job.

Digital natives vs digital immigrants

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1051-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hossein Jarrahi ◽  
Ali Eshraghi
Keyword(s):  
Technology Use ◽  
Generational Differences ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Digital Natives ◽  
Digital Immigrants ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Knowledge Practices ◽  
Social Technologies

Purpose Generational membership is argued to have an impact on how social technologies are used for knowledge sharing and communication in organizational contexts. Previous research has especially underscored the difference between digital natives and digital immigrants in how they make sense of and interact with social technologies for work. The purpose of this paper is to provide a multidimensional perspective and to explore generational differences as well as other factors deriving from both work-related and personal characteristics. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a summary of the findings from interviews with 58 consultants from 17 managing consulting firms. Participants were selected based on their knowledge-intensive roles and their willingness to share information about their knowledge practices. Findings Findings highlight the significance of the organizational rank, knowledge needs, individuals’ enthusiasm for technology use and personality disposition in shaping workers’ attitudes toward social technologies for knowledge practices. This work builds from a social construction of technology perspective to provide a comprehensive insight into the roles played by work and personality-related factors beyond age and generational differences in the use of social technologies in and for work. Originality/value This research contributes to the discourse on generational differences and the use of social technologies. It puts this question into a broader context, and highlights other factors that shape this relationship.

Health of caregiver-employees in Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 382-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Wang ◽  
Allison Williams ◽  
Peter Kitchen
Keyword(s):  
General Social Survey ◽  
Family Care ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Physical Health Outcomes ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Employment Characteristics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of various employment characteristics on the health of Canadian caregiver-employees (CEs), who are working full-time in the labor market while also providing informal/family care to adults. Design/methodology/approach Framed with Pearlin et al.’s (1990) stress model and using data from Statistic Canada’s General Social Survey Cycle 26 (2012), several work-related variables for caregivers were considered, including the availability of various forms of caregiver-friendly workplace policies (CFWPs), and a series of work interferences (WIs) experienced as a result of the caregiving role. Findings This study provides evidence for the value of CFWPs in all workplaces. Counter-intuitively, family and other forms of support were found to negatively relate to both physical and mental health. Originality/value This suggests that CFWPs will not only have an impact on CEs’ physical health outcomes, but will likely decrease the effect of the WIs experienced.

“As soon as people hear that word…”: associative stigma among clinicians working with people with serious mental illness

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Vayshenker ◽  
Joseph DeLuca ◽  
Timothy Bustle ◽  
Philip Yanos
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Stigma By Association ◽  
Related Stigma ◽  
Associative Stigma

Purpose Stigma by association occurs when members affiliated with a marginalized group become discredited themselves. The purpose of this paper is to explore associative stigma among mental health (MH) clinicians working with individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI). Design/methodology/approach In total, 47 eligible service providers completed an online qualitative study, with open-ended questions about areas touching on associative stigma such as assumptions about the MH profession, personal experiences of work-related stigma, and ways of coping. Findings The data revealed that MH clinicians commonly endorse experiences of associative stigma. The following themes were derived: experiences of stigma in describing the profession to others, media portrayal of MH professionals, assumptions about the field, ascriptions of personal characteristics, job devaluation, means of coping with associative stigma, and impact of associative stigma on work on clients. Originality/value This is the first qualitative study to examine the phenomenon of associative stigma with MH clinicians. This study suggests that MH providers working with people with SMI do encounter associative stigma when discussing their profession with community members. Professionals discussed encountering the stereotype that the work that they do is dangerous, that it is something “unwanted” and that it does not require much skill but could be done by anyone. Associative stigma could be an important component in the understanding of factors related to professional burnout.

Workplace and employment characteristics of Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) clients

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Abbott
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Industrial Relations ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Employment Characteristics

PurposeThere is a paucity of information on the characteristics and reasons for workers contacting the CAB with employment problems. This paper seeks to fill this gap in people's knowledge by providing a detailed profile of the employment and personal characteristics of Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) clients.Design/methodology/approachA total of eight bureaux, from contrasting localities in Greater London, participated in the research. The data for this paper are derived predominantly from interviews with CAB clients and reinforced by quantitative data, which were also garnered.FindingsIt is argued that the use of the CAB, for employment advice, is rooted in a structural rather than an attitudinal explanation.Originality/valueThere is a growing recognition within the industrial relations literature of the increasing plurality of sources of representation available to workers. However, very little is known about those employees seeking advice and representation and the types of issues with which they approach bureaux.

Occupational injuries and patient lift usage among physical rehabilitation therapists

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Bernadette McCrory ◽  
Jiahui Ma ◽  
Sonya L. Irons ◽  
Judith M. Burnfield
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Physical Therapist ◽  
Occupational Injuries ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Physical Rehabilitation ◽  
Worker Safety ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Research Survey

BACKGROUND: Physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence and exposure risk factors for work-related injuries (WRIs) among rehabilitation PTs and PTAs. METHODS: A cross-sectional research survey was conducted among 170 PTs and 67 PTAs at 51 free-standing rehabilitation hospitals and rehabilitation units embedded in general hospitals in the Midwestern states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The prevalence of WRIs and significant risk factors for developing WRIs were determined for PTs and PTAs. RESULTS: The 1-year prevalence of WRIs among PTs and PTAs working in physical rehabilitation was 29.5%. Multifaceted causes were identified including frequently bending/twisting, over-exerting force during patient handling activities, inadequate lifting devices, and lack of ongoing training for mechanical lifting device usage. CONCLUSIONS: Equipment usage barriers point to a critical need for technology creation, research, and education to advance worker safety while simultaneously enhancing patient outcomes.

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