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Doing more with less: Austerity driven policies and occupational health disparities among New York City human service workers
Methods: An anonymous electronic survey was distributed in New York City in collaboration with 6 community/labor partners. Data were collected 1/2014- 2/2015, and bivariate/multivariate analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.
Results (preliminary): Of 2468 survey respondents, 83% are women, 47% persons-of-color, 30% unionized, 48% front line workers, and 26% public sector. Compared to non-profit/for-profit private sectors, public sector HSWs were more likely to be non-white, older and unionized.
Overall, >80% of HSWs in our survey reported increased workload and complexity of client needs, but public sector HSWs were significantly more likely to report that their work had become routinized, their professional autonomy reduced, and their job satisfaction decreased (p<.001). Public sector HSWs were also more likely to be exposed to physical assault (OR=3.95;95%CI=2.81-5.53), poor indoor-air quality (OR=2.76;95%CI=2.25-3.38), and an unclean workplace (OR=2.21;95%CI=1.81-2.69) and to report neck/back pain (OR=1.51;95%CI=1.23-1.86), stomach/digestive disorders (OR=1.31;95%CI=1.07-1.60), and high-blood pressure (OR=2.20;95%CI=1.76-2.75) which they identified as work related.
We expect logistic regression analysis will show that working conditions and decreasing job satisfaction are significant predictors of perceived work-related health issues.
Discussion: While all NYC HSWs in our study reported doing “more with less”, our data suggest occupational health disparities for public sector HSWs. Public policy-determined working conditions are a potential vehicle to improve worker health among urban, minority HSWs.
Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safetyOther professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Describe the possible health effects of austerity driven public policies that cut funds for human service delivery
Discuss alternative policy approaches that take worker health into account
Differentiate between impacts in the public, non-profit (contracted), and private for profit sectors.
Compare working conditions and work-related health issue data for public and private (non-profit and for-profit) human service workers from the Human Service Workforce Study.
Keyword(s): Occupational Health and Safety, Social Services
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I hold an academic appointment as social policy chair at a graduate school of social work, and a doctorate in work-environment policy. I have conducted research and published on workplace health and safety issues for human service workers, and worked as a research assistant on an occupational health disparities project. I am currently co-PI of the Human Service Workforce Study, which examines the connection between policy, health and well-being, and quality service delivery.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.