Workplace injustice: Bullying, harassment and discrimination in the workplace

Unfair practices at work create and reinforce occupational health disparities and can also inhibit the implementation of solutions to health disparities. Workplace injustices contribute to health disparities by directly causing negative health outcomes or by placing workers in environments/situations that increase their chances of having negative health or safety outcomes. Workplace injustices often involve imbalance of power. The targets of workplace injustice are often workers who are different from the more powerful majority and/or workers who are outsiders for one reason or another. Consequently, social and economically disadvantaged workers, such as racial/ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, immigrants, women and disabled workers, have increased likelihood of being targets of workplace injustice. This presentation will review what we currently know about the link between workplace injustices and health disparities. Based on a report by the NIOSH Workplace Injustice White Paper authors, the presenter will review the state of the science showing links between workplace injustice and adverse health or safety outcomes along with current practices employers are engaging in to address workplace injustices. Lastly, gaps in research and practice will be discussed.