 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Dov Charney, American Apparel, 747 Warehouse St, Los Angeles, CA 90046, 213-488-0226, dov@americanapparel.net
The garment industry in Los Angeles is considered one of the most difficult and exploitative work environments in the U.S where consideration of employee health is often lost in pursuit of production quotas. Too often immigrant workers living in fear of deportation are paid a less than subsistence wage with no health benefits.
At American Apparel (AA) a different approach is taken. The CEO and owner leads a personal crusade to assure employees a safe healthy work environment. AA has created many firsts in the LA garment industry including access to healthcare and health insurance for employees and their families, employee health fairs, health screenings, English language classes (ESL), dental insurance, and healthy meals for employees subsidized by the company and paid for from pre-tax payroll deduction. AA has discontinued outsourcing of these services and products to better monitor how employees are served. Working with other organizations and agencies in the community and throughout California, AA is taking a leadership role in rallying members of this industry to bring about workplace policy and environmental change. This session will highlight challenges and solutions to making AA a healthy workplace and spreading the influence of success to other workplaces in this and other industries.
Participants attending this panel session will be able to:
> Discuss three barriers to providing health security for low income minority employees and their families in a highly competitive industry. > Describe 3 strategies for creating a healthy environment for low income workers and their families. > List 3 key business outcomes of creating a healthy workplace.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Workplace Safety, Community Health
Related Web page: www.americanapparel.net
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.