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Sales RK, Navarro MA. Early career researchers in health policy and systems research: insights from freelancers in a non-profit organization in the Philippines. Health Res Policy Syst 2024; 22:54. [PMID: 38685052 PMCID: PMC11059717 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-024-01142-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The freelance economy has seen rapid growth worldwide in recent years and the Philippines is not an exception. Freelance workers are becoming increasingly common in healthcare and research. Early career researchers carry out most of scientific research and can play a critical role in advancing public health by bringing new perspectives and diversity to the field. Existing literature has mostly focused on the experiences of early career researchers in an institutional academic setting. This study aimed to understand the experiences of freelance early career researchers in the health policy and systems space in the Philippines. METHODS This qualitative study collected data from 18 to 22 March 2022 through virtual interview and focus group discussions. Themes and codes were created based on the topic guide developed. New themes and codes were generated as they emerged. Two researchers coded the data using both a priori and emergent codes. Any coding conflicts were resolved through discussions until intercoder agreement was reached. Interpretation and conclusions from the data were developed by 2 researchers with consideration for its context and relationship between themes. RESULTS Fifteen current and former freelance researchers participated in the study. Most are female, under 35 years old, and with an undergraduate degree as the highest educational attainment. The findings highlight insights and challenges faced by early career researchers in aspects of: (1) work arrangement, (2) tasks, (3) expectations from senior researchers, (4) development in the health policy and systems field, (5) relationship with peers, and (6) motivations for continuing to work as a freelance health policy and systems researcher. CONCLUSION This study reveals the challenges freelance early career researchers face, highlighting the need for enhanced support and recognition amidst rapidly evolving workforce demands and complex health dilemmas. Recommendations include structured mentorship, professional development, innovative funding models, and the establishment of a supportive network. Advocacy for policies ensuring freelancer inclusion in the economy and policy-making is crucial. Future research should investigate their experiences further, including their roles, transitions, and the impacts of funding trends, to foster their development and integration into public health research and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reneepearl Kim Sales
- Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes, Veria 1 Building, 62 West Avenue, West Triangle, 1104, Quezon City, Philippines.
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Yoo H, Yang M, Song JH, Yoon JH, Lee W, Jang J, Yoon M, Kang MY. Investigation of Working Conditions and Health Status in Platform Workers in the Republic of Korea. Saf Health Work 2024; 15:17-23. [PMID: 38496284 PMCID: PMC10944155 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The present study aimed to analyze several aspects of the working conditions and health status of platform workers in the Republic of Korea, such as ergonomic and emotional hazards. We also compared the health status of the platform workers with that of the general population. Methods A total of 1,000 platform workers participated in this survey from August 7 to August 17, 2022. The participants included 400 designated drivers, 400 food-delivery drivers, and 200 housekeeping managers. A face-to-face survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted by researchers who had received specific instructions. The focus of the survey extended to the work environment, encompassing factors such as workplace violence, as well as physical, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Health-related data for the previous year were also collected, covering a range of issues such as hearing problems, skin problems, musculoskeletal symptoms, headaches, injuries, mental health issues, and digestive problems. Subsequently, we compared the health symptom data of the responders with those of the general population in the Republic of Korea. Results Platform workers, including designated drivers, food-delivery drivers, and housekeeping managers, existed in the blind spot of social insurance, facing frequent exposure to physical and chemical hazards, ergonomic risk factors, and direct or indirect violence. The prevalence of health problems, including musculoskeletal symptoms, general fatigue, and depressive symptoms, in each occupational group was statistically higher than that in the general population after standardization for age and gender. Conclusion The results revealed unfavorable working environment and inferior occupational health of platform workers compared with those of the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyoungseob Yoo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Munyoung Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hun Song
- Gong-gam Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hyangnam Gong-gam Clinic, Hwasung, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ha Yoon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanhyung Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhee Jang
- Department of Research Center, Federation of Korean Trade Unions, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjoo Yoon
- Central Area Epidemiologic Investigation Team, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Mo-Yeol Kang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Stagg AL, Madan I, Fear N, Stevens MJ, Wainwright E, Hoving JL, Macfarlane GJ, Hollick R, Morton L. Do current methods of measuring the impact of chronic pain on work reflect the experience of working-age adults? An integrated mixed-methods systematic narrative review. Pain 2024:00006396-990000000-00529. [PMID: 38381946 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Chronic pain affects individuals' work participation. The impact of chronic pain on work has historically been measured through sickness absence, though it is now appreciated that the impacts on work are far wider. This mixed-methods review aimed to identify the full range of impacts of pain on work in addition to impacts that are currently measured quantitatively to inform the development of a new questionnaire assessing the wider impacts of chronic pain on work. MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, and CINAHL were searched for studies that included quantitative measures of the impact of chronic pain on work and for qualitative studies where individuals described impacts of their chronic pain on work. Quantitative measures, and text from qualitative studies, were analysed thematically. A thematic framework was developed for establishing the types of impacts measured or described in the literature. Forty-four quantitative and 16 qualitative papers were identified. The literature described impacts within 5 areas: changes at work and to working status; aspects of the workplace and work relationships; pain and related symptoms at work; psychological factors; and factors and impacts outside the work environment related to work. Quantitative measures mainly assessed impacts related to the quantity and quality of work (29 of 42 measures). Seventeen aspects were only discussed within the qualitative literature. This study identifies a discrepancy between the impacts that have been the focus of quantitative measures and the range that individuals working with chronic pain experience and highlights the need for a new measure assessing a wider range of issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne L Stagg
- Versus Arthritis/Medical Research Council Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London), London, United Kingdom
| | - Ira Madan
- Versus Arthritis/Medical Research Council Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London), London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Fear
- Versus Arthritis/Medical Research Council Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (King's Centre for Military Health Research, King's College London), London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J Stevens
- Versus Arthritis/Medical Research Council Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (University of Aberdeen), Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Wainwright
- Versus Arthritis/Medical Research Council Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (University of Aberdeen), Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Jan L Hoving
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Cochrane Work, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gary J Macfarlane
- Versus Arthritis/Medical Research Council Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (University of Aberdeen), Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary Hollick
- Versus Arthritis/Medical Research Council Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (University of Aberdeen), Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - LaKrista Morton
- Versus Arthritis/Medical Research Council Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work (University of Aberdeen), Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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Zhang Y, Chen A, Li L, Zhang H. The development of new occupation practitioners in China's first-tier cities: A comparative analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0284148. [PMID: 38271333 PMCID: PMC10810496 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Owing to the increasingly complex economic environment and difficult employment situation, a large number of new occupations have emerged in China, leading to job diversification. Currently, the overall development status of new occupations in China and the structural characteristics of new occupation practitioners in different cities are still unclear. This study first constructed a development index system for new occupation practitioners from five dimensions (group size, cultural appreciation, salary level, occupation perception, and environmental perception). Relevant data to compare and analyze the development status of new occupation practitioners were derived from the big data mining of China's mainstream recruitment platforms and the questionnaire survey of new professional practitioners which from four first-tier cities and 15 new first-tier cities in China. The results show that the development level of new occupation practitioners in the four first-tier cities is the highest, and the two new first-tier cities, Chengdu and Hangzhou, have outstanding performance. The cities with the best development level of new occupation practitioners in Eastern, Central, and Western China are Shanghai, Wuhan, and Chengdu, respectively. Most new occupation practitioners in China are confident about the future of their careers. However, more than half of the 19 cities are uncoordinated in the five dimensions of the development of new occupation practitioners, especially those cities with middle development levels. A good policy environment and social environment have not yet been formulated to ensure the sustainable development of new occupation practitioners. Finally, we proposed the following countermeasures and suggestions: (1) Establish a classified database of new occupation talents. (2) Implement a talent industry agglomeration strategy. (3) Pay attention to the coordinated development of new occupation practitioners in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Zhang
- College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Anhang Chen
- College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Linzhen Li
- College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
| | - Huiqin Zhang
- College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China
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Lu Z, Wang S, Ling W, Guo Y. Gig work and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic: A gendered examination of comparisons with regular employment and unemployment. Soc Sci Med 2023; 337:116281. [PMID: 37857244 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The rise of the platform economy during the Covid-19 pandemic has stimulated extensive discussions about whether gig workers can obtain equivalent mental health benefits of regular paid employment. Drawing on nationally representative data in the UK, this study aims to examine (1) whether transitioning from no paid work to gig work during Covid-19 is associated with better or worse mental health compared with those who remained not employed and those who became employed in regular jobs; (2) what mechanisms can explain the mental health differences; (3) how the patterns may differ by gender. The results show that transition into gig work is associated with better mental health compared with those who remained not employed, but this pattern is only for male (rather than female) gig workers and can be largely explained by their better financial situation and lower level of loneliness. For both men and women, the transition into gig work is associated with worse mental health compared with the transition into regular employment, but the mechanisms vary across genders. For male gig workers, both higher levels of financial precarity and loneliness in gig work can explain their mental health disadvantages compared with regular workers, but for female gig workers, none of them is at work. These findings facilitate a better understanding of the health consequences of the gig economy, revealing important gender-differentiated socio-psychological mechanisms through which gig work shapes mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuofei Lu
- Department of Social Statistics, University of Manchester, HBS Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Senhu Wang
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, National University of Singapore, 11 Arts Link, #03-06 AS1, 117573, Singapore.
| | - Wanying Ling
- Department of Sociology, The University of Hong Kong, The Jockey Club Tower, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, No. 59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100872, PR China.
| | - Ya Guo
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, National University of Singapore, 11 Arts Link, #03-06 AS1, 117573, Singapore.
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Kim MS, Oh J, Sim J, Yun BY, Yoon JH. Association between exposure to violence, job stress and depressive symptoms among gig economy workers in Korea. Ann Occup Environ Med 2023; 35:e43. [PMID: 38029274 PMCID: PMC10654543 DOI: 10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Gig workers, also known as platform workers, are independent workers who are not employed by any particular company. The number of gig economy workers has rapidly increased worldwide in the past decade. There is a dearth of occupational health studies among gig economy workers. We aimed to investigate the association between exposure to violence and job stress in gig economy workers and depressive symptoms. Methods A total of 955 individuals (521 gig workers and 434 general workers) participated in this study and variables were measured through self-report questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 when the score was greater than or equal to 10 points. The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, working hours, education level, exposure to violence and job stress. Results 19% of gig economy workers reported depressive symptoms, while only 11% of general workers reported the depressive symptoms. In association to depressive symptoms among gig economy workers, the mainly result of odds ratios for depressive symptoms were as follows: 1.81 for workers type, 3.53 for humiliating treatment, 2.65 for sexual harassment, 3.55 for less than three meals per day, 3.69 for feeling too tired to do housework after leaving work. Conclusions Gig economic workers are exposed to violence and job stress in the workplace more than general workers, and the proportion of workers reporting depressive symptoms is also high. These factors are associated to depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the gig workers associated between depressive symptoms and exposure to violence, job stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Seok Kim
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juyeon Oh
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juho Sim
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byung-Yoon Yun
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin-Ha Yoon
- Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Bell CN, Owens-Young JL, Thorpe RJ. Self-Employment, Working Hours, and Hypertension by Race/Ethnicity in the USA. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2023; 10:2207-2217. [PMID: 36068481 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01400-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
There is a large literature on work-related characteristics and hypertension, but studies on self-employment, longer working hours, and hypertension are mixed. Assessments of self-employment should be extended to account for people with part-time self-employment (i.e., employees also earning income from self-employment). The aim of this study was to determine the association of different types of self-employment with hypertension among adults by race/ethnicity and to assess whether longer working hours moderated these associations. Using data from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, measured hypertension (blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg) was assessed and employment categories included employees, part-time self-employment (i.e., employee with self-employment income), or full-time self-employment. Modified Poisson regressions and multiplicative interaction terms were used. Having full-time self-employment was associated with lower relative risk (RR) of hypertension compared to employees among Black (RR = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.61-0.96) and White men (RR = 0.77, 0.65-0.93) compared to employees. Full-time self-employment was associated with higher risk of hypertension (RR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.01-1.82) compared to employees among Hispanic women, while part-time self-employment was associated with lower risk (RR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.48-0.98). Among White women, part-time self-employment was associated with higher relative risk of hypertension (RR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.05-1.53) compared to employees. There were significant interactions between employment categories and longer working hours among Hispanic women as well as Black women and men. The results suggest that self-employment categories and longer working hours impact hypertension by race/ethnicity and sex. Because the number of full-time and part-time self-employed adults has increased, the health of this particular subgroup of workers should be further addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caryn N Bell
- Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | | | - Roland J Thorpe
- Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Vučeković M, Avlijaš G, Marković MR, Radulović D, Dragojević A, Marković D. The relationship between working in the "gig" economy and perceived subjective well-being in Western Balkan countries. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1180532. [PMID: 37377706 PMCID: PMC10291236 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1180532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of accelerated digitalization and the recent COVID-19 crisis has increased the number of remote workers worldwide to unimaginable proportions. Among the large number of remote workers that execute their projects from home, there is a significant number of permanently self-employed remote workers, usually referred to as freelancers. Despite the importance of this kind of business activity for modern project management society, perceived drivers of freelancing are still unknown. The goal of this paper was to shed some light on the general subjective well-being of freelancing activity and investigate differences concerning gender, age, and education. The study was performed in late 2020 and included 471 freelancers from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro that participated in an online questionnaire evaluating their subjective well-being while participating in the "gig" economy. Factor analysis was used as a primary statistical method and two major groups were identified: (1) Impact of working from home on a freelancer's personal life and health and (2) Fulfillment of expectations in the economic and professional sense. Gender was found not to be significant for overall work satisfaction. However, older freelancers proved to be more satisfied with the fulfillment of economic and professional expectations, which correlate with years of professional experience. Another conclusion is that more educated freelancers are generally less satisfied with both groups of drivers - fulfillment of personal life and professional expectations. Understanding how the combination of occupations, technological infrastructure, and demographic characteristics in the region has affected the well-being of freelancers may help policymakers and organization owners, as well as future entrepreneurs, better prepare for this model of work in the future. It also increases the possibility of exploring individual dimensions of wellbeing useful for targeting interventions at the level of each country separately. In line with this, the present study contributes to the existing body of knowledge and the impact of hybrid models of work on the subjective well-being of workers in the "gig" economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miloš Vučeković
- Faculty of Business, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Goran Avlijaš
- Faculty of Business, Singidunum University, Belgrade, Serbia
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Hafeez S, Gupta C, Sprajcer M. Stress and the gig economy: it's not all shifts and giggles. INDUSTRIAL HEALTH 2023; 61:140-150. [PMID: 35249894 PMCID: PMC10079501 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2021-0217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Gig work is a type of contingent work which has increased markedly in recent times, and is characterised by uncertainty, unpredictability, and instability of both schedules and income earned. Gig workers are also likely to work for multiple platforms and/or employers. These work characteristics mean that performing gig work is associated with higher rates of stress than the general population (Madden et al. Pers Rev 2017). However, it is not currently known which strategies gig workers use to cope with this stress - including which strategies are likely to be effective. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between coping strategies, number of employers and stress in gig workers. An online survey was completed by 49 gig workers. Validated questionnaires were administered to measure coping strategies (Brief COPE) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale-14). Approach coping strategies (active, planning, and social support) were associated with reduced stress (p<0.05), whereas the avoidant coping strategy of self-blame was associated with increased stress (p<0.05). No differences in stress were seen between gig workers with one employer and those with multiple employers. Findings suggest that some coping strategies may lower stress in gig workers, though long-term outcomes should be considered in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Hafeez
- Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Australia
| | - Charlotte Gupta
- Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Australia
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Reynolds J, Kincaid R. Gig Work and the Pandemic: Looking for Good Pay from Bad Jobs During the COVID-19 Crisis. WORK AND OCCUPATIONS 2023; 50:60-96. [PMID: 38603298 PMCID: PMC9520279 DOI: 10.1177/07308884221128511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 led to work hour reductions and layoffs for many Americans with wage/salary jobs. Some gig work, however, which is usually considered precarious, remained available. We examine whether people doing gig microtasks right before the pandemic increased their microtask hours during COVID-19 and whether those changes helped them financially. Using data from workers on Amazon's Mechanical Turk platform from February, March, and April of 2020, we find that roughly one third of existing workers increased their microtask hours. Increases were larger for people who lost household income or wage/salary hours. Spending more time on microtasks, however, did little to help workers financially. Furthermore, the people most reliant on microtasks before the pandemic had worse financial outcomes than others. In short, even though microtask work might seem like a good way for people to recoup lost income during the pandemic, it was of limited utility even for the experienced workers in our sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Reynolds
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Reilly Kincaid
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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Vignola EF, Baron S, Abreu Plasencia E, Hussein M, Cohen N. Workers' Health under Algorithmic Management: Emerging Findings and Urgent Research Questions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1239. [PMID: 36673989 PMCID: PMC9859016 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Algorithms are increasingly used instead of humans to perform core management functions, yet public health research on the implications of this phenomenon for worker health and well-being has not kept pace with these changing work arrangements. Algorithmic management has the potential to influence several dimensions of job quality with known links to worker health, including workload, income security, task significance, schedule stability, socioemotional rewards, interpersonal relations, decision authority, and organizational trust. To describe the ways algorithmic management may influence workers' health, this review summarizes available literature from public health, sociology, management science, and human-computer interaction studies, highlighting the dimensions of job quality associated with work stress and occupational safety. We focus on the example of work for platform-based food and grocery delivery companies; these businesses are growing rapidly worldwide and their effects on workers and policies to address those effects have received significant attention. We conclude with a discussion of research challenges and needs, with the goal of understanding and addressing the effects of this increasingly used technology on worker health and health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia F. Vignola
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Sherry Baron
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, 311 Remsen Hall, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Queens, NY 11367, USA
| | - Elizabeth Abreu Plasencia
- Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, Queens College, City University of New York, 311 Remsen Hall, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Queens, NY 11367, USA
| | - Mustafa Hussein
- Department of Health Policy and Management, City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Nevin Cohen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, 55 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
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Xu Q, Wang L, Zhang Y, Jiang X. On-call work and depressive mood: A cross-sectional survey among rural migrant workers in China. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1068663. [PMID: 36698555 PMCID: PMC9868730 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1068663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction With the rapid development of China's "gig economy," the on-call work model has grown increasingly prevalent in China and has attracted a large number of rural migrant workers with its low employment threshold. However, this irregular employment mode may negatively impact the mental health of workers. Methods This paper uses an ordinal logistic regression model to study the relationship between Chinese rural migrant workers' on-call work and their depression. Results The results showed that after controlling for relevant variables, the odds ratio of depressive mood among rural migrant workers engaged in on-call work was 1.22 (95% CI 1.04-1.43) compared with rural migrant workers who did not need to be on call. In further heterogeneity research, we found that on-call work is more likely to aggravate the depression risk of rural migrant workers who are highly dependent on the internet and have low-wage incomes. Discussion This research suggests that appropriate measures should be taken to mitigate the negative impact of on-call work on the mental health of rural migrant workers, and more attention needs to be paid to the mental health of lower salaried and gig workers. This paper provides a valuable sample of Chinese rural migrant workers for theoretical research on the relationship between on-call work and mental health and confirms the relationship between the two. These results contribute new ideas to the theory and practice of psychological crisis intervention aimed at Chinese rural migrant workers.
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Cruz SA, Gameiro A. Digital work platform: Understanding platforms, workers, clients in a service relation. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2023; 7:1075808. [PMID: 36687015 PMCID: PMC9845709 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2022.1075808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The rapid growth of digital economic activity had led to considerable scholarly interest in the phenomenon of platforms. Evidence shows how digital work platforms constitute one of the most relevant changes that have occurred in recent years and assume the condition of actors with an important presence in national and global work markets. However, these changes cannot be understood by focusing only on the work sphere, as the sphere of consumption is also central to this debate. In fact, the new ways of organizing, dividing and coordinating work on digital platforms are interconnected with specific modalities of consumption of the services made available by them. This article argues that a service relation approach allows an understanding of what is happening on digital work platforms, both in terms of the structural and conjunctural configurations of the interrelationships between platforms, workers and clients, as well as their social and economic consequences. This approach allows the analysis of the web of interdependencies between distinctive types of platforms, workers and clients, and to discuss how changes longitudinally within it are conditioned by the very transformations inherent to the platforms market. Thus, future research needs to explore the network of the voices of platforms, workers and clients in order to produce a robust analysis of these triangular relations as well as of the challenges regarding the differences and interconnections between algorithmic and human management.
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Lee J, Park H, Oh J, Sim J, Lee C, Kim Y, Yun B, Yoon JH. The Association between Replacement Drivers and Depressive Symptoms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:575. [PMID: 36612903 PMCID: PMC9819967 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A replacement driver is a type of gig worker who provides driving services to the target point with the drunk driver's own car. This study aimed to examine the association of replacement drivers (ref: paid workers) with depressive symptoms. Information on replacement drivers was collected through online/offline surveys. Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were applied to construct the control group. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9; ≥5 points was defined as depressive symptoms. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by performing multivariable logistic regression analysis. The mean age of replacement drivers was 56.11. The prevalence of depressive symptoms in replacement drivers and controls were 49.63% and 12.64%, respectively. Replacement drivers showed a higher association with depressive symptoms than paid workers (aOR 7.89, 95% CI [5.53-11.26]). This relationship was prominent in the older, low-education, and low-income groups. Linear discriminant analysis was the most effective in predicting depressive symptoms among the machine learning models. Using the replacement driver feature increased the AUC values of the models. Given the strong association between depressive symptoms and replacement drivers, in-depth studies to establish guidelines to prevent mental diseases among replacement drivers are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongmin Lee
- Department of Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Heejoo Park
- Department of Business Administration and Data Science, CHA University, 120 Haeryong-ro, Donggyo-dong, Pocheon-si 11160, Republic of Korea
| | - Juyeon Oh
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Juho Sim
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Chorom Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yangwook Kim
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Byungyoon Yun
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ha Yoon
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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Abkhezr P, McMahon M. The intersections of migration, app-based gig work, and career development: implications for career practice and research. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE 2022:1-19. [PMID: 35755081 PMCID: PMC9211783 DOI: 10.1007/s10775-022-09556-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of app-based gig work is expanding rapidly in developed global north countries. Many app-based gig workers are migrants from developing global south countries searching for a better life in their resettlement countries. App-based gig work, however, is insecure, irregular and potentially precarious. Access to decent work is vital for migrants' integration after resettlement and also their career development. In the context of the decent work agenda, this article explores the intersections of migration, app-based gig work, and southern migrants' career development in the global north and considers the implications for career practice and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyman Abkhezr
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD 4215 Australia
| | - Mary McMahon
- School of Education, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Lee J, Di Ruggiero E. How does informal employment affect health and health equity? Emerging gaps in research from a scoping review and modified e-Delphi survey. Int J Equity Health 2022; 21:87. [PMID: 35725451 PMCID: PMC9208971 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-022-01684-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction This article reports on the results from a scoping review and a modified e-Delphi survey with experts which aimed to synthesize existing knowledge and identify research gaps on the health and health equity implications of informal employment in both low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs). Methods The scoping review included peer-reviewed articles published online between January 2015 and December 2019 in English. Additionally, a modified e-Delphi survey with experts was conducted to validate our findings from the scoping review and receive feedback on additional research and policy gaps. We drew on micro- and macro-level frameworks on employment relations and health inequities developed by the Employment Conditions Knowledge Network to synthesize and analyze existing literature. Results A total of 540 articles were screened, and 57 met the eligibility criteria for this scoping review study, including 36 on micro-level research, 19 on macro-level research, and 13 on policy intervention research. Most of the included studies were conducted in LMICs while the research interest in informal work and health has increased globally. Findings from existing literature on the health and health equity implications of informal employment are mixed: informal employment does not necessarily lead to poorer health outcomes than formal employment. Although all informal workers share some fundamental vulnerabilities, including harmful working conditions and limited access to health and social protections, the related health implications vary according to the sub-groups of workers (e.g., gender) and the country context (e.g., types of welfare state or labour market). In the modified e-Delphi survey, participants showed a high level of agreement on a lack of consensus on the definition of informal employment, the usefulness of the concept of informal employment, the need for more comparative policy research, qualitative health research, and research on the intersection between gender and informal employment. Conclusions Our results clearly identify the need for more research to further understand the various mechanisms through which informal employment affects health in different countries and for different groups of informal workers. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12939-022-01684-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyeon Lee
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Room 408, M5T 3M7, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Erica Di Ruggiero
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Room 408, M5T 3M7, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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What Social Supports Are Available to Self-Employed People When Ill or Injured? A Comparative Policy Analysis of Canada and Australia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095310. [PMID: 35564702 PMCID: PMC9099523 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Self-employment (SE) is a growing precarious work arrangement internationally. In the current digital age, SE appears in configurations and contours that differ from the labor market of 50 years ago and is part of a ‘paradigm shift’ from manufacturing/managerial capitalism to entrepreneurial capitalism. Our purpose in this paper is to reflect on how a growing working population of self-employed people accesses social support systems when they are not working due to injury and sickness in the two comparable countries of Canada and Australia. We adopted ‘interpretive policy analysis’ as a methodological framework and searched a wide range of documents related to work disability policy and practice, including official data, legal and policy texts from both countries, and five prominent academic databases. Three major themes emerged from the policy review and analysis: (i) defining self-employment: contested views; (ii) the relationship between misclassification of SE and social security systems; (iii) existing social security systems for workers and self-employed workers: Ontario and NSW. Our comparative discussion leads us toward conclusions about what might need to be done to better protect self-employed workers in terms of reforming the existing social security systems for the countries. Because of similarities and differences in support available for SE’d workers in the two countries, our study provides insights into what might be required to move the different countries toward sustainable labour markets for their respective self-employed populations.
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Louzado-Feliciano P, Santiago KM, Ogunsina K, Kling HE, Murphy LA, Schaefer Solle N, Caban-Martinez AJ. Characterizing the Health and Safety Concerns of U.S. Rideshare Drivers: A Qualitative Pilot Study. Workplace Health Saf 2022; 70:310-318. [PMID: 35382630 DOI: 10.1177/21650799221076873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the growth and popularity of gig work, limited information exists about the occupational health and safety concerns faced by individuals who are employed through ridesharing online applications. In this qualitative study, we characterized the perceived health and safety concerns of drivers employed by rideshare companies. METHODS During September-October 2019, we requested car rides, using digital rideshare platforms. During the ride, drivers responded verbally to a brief closed-end sociodemographic and work characteristics survey. A semi-structured interview script was used to collect rideshare driver perceptions on health and safety risks. FINDINGS A total of 35 rideshare drivers of group mean age of 43.1 ± 11.2 years were interviewed, of whom 77.1% were male and 82.9% identified as Latino. Sixty percent of participants reported rideshare as their primary job, working an average of 47.9 ± 19.6 hours weekly (minimum = 6 hours, maximum = 84 hours). Drivers enjoyed job autonomy yet faced stressors such as passenger risky behavior, car accidents, and lack of policies that protect the driver. Rideshare drivers also raised concerns about their current health status, economic pressures, and worker safety. CONCLUSION/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE Drivers are forced to extend work hours to support themselves financially, exacerbating their current health concerns and safety risks as it means more time spent working in their sedentary job, compromising their mental and physical health as well as their safety. Occupational health and safety programs geared toward workers in the gig economy are needed.
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Khan TH, MacEachen E, Hopwood P, Goyal J. Self-employment, work and health: A critical narrative review. Work 2021; 70:945-957. [PMID: 34744041 DOI: 10.3233/wor-213614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-employment (SE) is a growing precarious and non-standard work arrangement internationally. Economically advanced countries that favor digital labor markets may be promoting the growth of a demographic of self-employed (SE'd) workers who are exposed to particular occupational diseases, sickness, and injury. However, little is known about how SE'd workers are supported when they are unable to work due to illness, injury, and disability. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to critically review peer-reviewed literature focusing on advanced economies to understand how SE'd workers navigate, experience, or manage their injuries and illness when unable to work. METHODS Using a critical interpretive lens, a systematic search was conducted of five databases. The search yielded 18 relevant articles, which were critically examined and synthesized. RESULTS Five major themes emerged from the review: (i) conceptualizing SE; (ii) double-edged sword; (iii) dynamics of illness, injury, and disability; (iv) formal and informal health management support systems; and (v) occupational health services and rehabilitation. CONCLUSION We find a lack of research distinguishing the work and health needs of different kinds of SE'd workers, taking into consideration class, gender, sector, and gig workers. Many articles noted poor social security system supports. Drawing on a social justice lens, we argue that SE'd workers make significant contributions to economies and are deserving of support from social security systems when ill or injured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tauhid Hossain Khan
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ellen MacEachen
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pamela Hopwood
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julia Goyal
- School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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Behl A, Rajagopal K, Sheorey P. Implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems in the Gig Economy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SYSTEM MODELING AND DESIGN 2021. [DOI: 10.4018/ijismd.288554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Gig economy has played a significant role in the country's economic development and has led to the growth in the employment of the people worldwide by supplementing the primary income of the people. With the security and autonomy that the gig sector promises, people choose to work as gig workers rather than traditional workers. Almost every company uses an enterprise resource planning system (ERPs) to some extent or the other to improve its performance and competitiveness. This paper devises a conceptual model describing how ERP systems help improve the human resource management of the gig workers, maintain customer relations, and bring digital transformation to its business. The research model would provide an understanding of diagnosing how the ERP system can help improve the conditions of the gig workers and the potential problems faced by them in the areas where the ERP system is not working efficiently. The framework would provide insights in simplifying the implementation of ERP in the gig sector that would be useful in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K. Rajagopal
- Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Symbiosis International University, India
| | - Pratima Sheorey
- Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Symbiosis International University, India
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21
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Alanzi TM. Gig Health vs eHealth: Future Prospects in Saudi Arabian Health-Care System. J Multidiscip Healthc 2021; 14:1945-1953. [PMID: 34326645 PMCID: PMC8315780 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s304690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The number of gig workers has been rising across the world, reflecting the growing trend toward the gig economy, which is already functioning in various sectors, such as transport(eg, Uber), technology (eg, Appen), and others (eg, Upwork). However, application of gig economy in health care is underresearched, especially in areas of eHealth that can facilitate various online activities and be outsourced. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the gig economy and eHealth in terms of prospects for future health care in Saudi Arabia. Methods Analysis of data collected using online semistructured interviews with 19 experts, including executives from ministries of health and information and communications, physicians, and health-care administrative managers was conducted and new empirical insights are offered. Results A lack of legal and regulatory frameworks and integrating gig culture into the eHealth system were identified to be the major challenges. Improved operational efficiency of health care, reduced costs, and positive societal impact were identified to be the opportunities and benefits of using the gig economy and eHealth in Saudi Arabia. A strategic framework and an effective regulatory framework are essential for integrating the gig economy into the eHealth system in Saudi Arabia and improving future health care by adopting innovative artificial intelligence and machine-learning technologies. Conclusion eHealth has major scope for future health-care operations in Saudi Arabia and use of the gig economy in eHealth may lead to effective management of eHealth operations. More studies are required to evaluate the idea of integrating the gig economy and eHealth and analyze its impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turki M Alanzi
- Health Information Management and Technology Department, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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22
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The Gig Economy: Current Issues, the Debate, and the New Avenues of Research. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13095023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In the context of the debate on platform economy, on the one hand, and the gig economy, on the other, this paper delineates the conceptual boundaries of both concepts to query the gig economy research included in the Web of Science database. The initial search, cutoff date February 2020, targeting “gig economy” returned a sample of 378 papers dealing with the topic. The subsequent analysis, employing the science mapping method and relating software (SciMAT), allowed to query the body of research dealing with gig economy in detail. The value added by this paper is fourfold. First, the broad literature on gig economy is mapped and the nascent synergies relating both to research opportunities and economic implications are identified and highlighted. Second, the findings reveal that while research on gig economy proliferates, the distinction between “platform” and “gig” economy frequently remains blurred in the analysis. This paper elaborates on this issue. Third, it is highlighted that the discussion on gig economy is largely dispersed and a clearer research agenda is needed to streamline the discussion to improve its exploratory and explanatory potential. This paper suggests ways of navigating this issue. Fourth, by mapping the existing research on gig economy and highlighting its caveats, the way toward a comprehensive research agenda in the field is highlighted.
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23
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Occupational Risks of Recurrent Coronary Heart Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2021; 77:1626-1628. [PMID: 33795036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Freni-Sterrantino A, Salerno V. A Plea for the Need to Investigate the Health Effects of Gig-Economy. Front Public Health 2021; 9:638767. [PMID: 33634072 PMCID: PMC7900166 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.638767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Freni-Sterrantino
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vincenzo Salerno
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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25
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Abstract
This paper revisits Jessop's governance of welfare framework, suggesting that in the post-financial crisis era of austerity we need to look again at its analytical dimensions. The paper reformulates Jessop's Schumpeterian Welfare Postnational Regime ideal-type framework through critique, and then applies its reformulated Galbrathian, Affluent Postnational Oligarchy ideal-type to the case of the English NHS to present a new political economy of health.
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Koseoglu Ornek O, Weinmann T, Waibel J, Radon K. Precarious employment and migrant workers' mental health: a protocol for a systematic review of observational studies. Syst Rev 2020; 9:50. [PMID: 32145747 PMCID: PMC7060985 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-020-01313-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Precarious employment has become an urgent public health issue at a global scale with potential consequences for quality of life and health of employees, especially in vulnerable groups such as migrants. The primary aim of this systematic review is thus to analyze and summarize existing research on the association between precarious employment and migrant workers' mental health. METHODS We will search PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science (from January 1970 onwards) for original articles on observational studies (e.g., cohort, case-control and cross-sectional, and qualitative) published in English, German, Turkish, and Spanish. The primary outcome will be depression and anxiety disorders. Secondary outcomes will be burnout, sleeping problems, and occupational stress. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion. The methodological quality (or risk of bias) of individual studies will be appraised using an appropriate tool. A narrative synthesis will summarize and explain the characteristics and findings of the studies. If feasible, we will conduct random effects meta-analyses where appropriate. DISCUSSION This systematic review will analyze the ways in which precarious employment affects migrant workers' mental health and the process that underlies this relationship. The results from the systematic review outlined in this protocol will be of interest to labor and health professionals, policy makers, labor unions, and non-governmental organizations. Our findings may encourage and impel related policy makers to establish human-focused, safe and healthy work environments, and workplace conditions. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO, CRD42019132560.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozlem Koseoglu Ornek
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Bilgi University, Dolapdere Kampus, Hacıahmet Mahallesi, Pir Hüsamettin Sokak No: 20, 34440 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tobias Weinmann
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Waibel
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Katja Radon
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & NetTeaching Unit, Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, 80336 Munich, Germany
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Volatile Fragility: New Employment Forms and Disrupted Employment Protection in The New Economy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17051531. [PMID: 32120918 PMCID: PMC7084850 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This research is based on empirical surveys conducted in two Chinese cities, Beijing and Chengdu, which examine employment relationships, labor protection and social protection in the new digital economy. Through these theoretically informed surveys on various forms of employment via online platforms, we have found that the organizational principles and functional patterns of employment have profoundly transformed in the epoch of digitalization. The traditional employment relationship characterized by written contracts with clearly defined entitlements and obligations for employers and employees have been increasingly substituted by new volatile, fluid and fragile employment forms, softening the labor rights and social rights of "digital employees" and strengthening social control over them through online evaluation systems supported by smart phones and apps. The employees engaged in the online sharing economy have become more individualized and atomized than ever before, resulting in the emergence of an unorganized and disenfranchised "digital working class."
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Bajwa U, Gastaldo D, Di Ruggiero E, Knorr L. The health of workers in the global gig economy. Global Health 2018; 14:124. [PMID: 30563539 PMCID: PMC6299501 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-018-0444-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The “gig” economy connects consumers with contractors (or workers) through online platform businesses to perform tasks (or “gigs”). This innovation in technology provides businesses and consumers access to low-cost, on-demand labour, but gig workers’ experiences are more complex. They have access to very flexible, potentially autonomous work, but also deal with challenges caused by the nature of the work, its precariousness, and their relationships with the platform businesses. Workers in the Global North and South may also experience these challenges very differently. Based on our report “Towards an Understanding of Canadian Workers in the Global Gig Economy”, we present a commentary on the implications of a globalized online platform labour market on the health of gig workers in Canada and globally. Main body Based on our scoping review of peer and grey literature, we categorized gig worker vulnerabilities in three ways: 1) occupational vulnerabilities, 2) precarity, and 3) platform-based vulnerabilities. Occupational vulnerabilities are connected to the work being performed (e.g. driving a car or computer work) and are not specific to platform labour. Precarity refers to the short-term, contingent nature of the work, characteristics that may be shared with other forms of work. Some examples of precariousness are lack of health insurance, collective bargaining, or career training and promotion. Finally, platform-based vulnerabilities are particular to the way platform labour is structured. These vulnerabilities include worker misclassification, information asymmetries, and the culture of surveillance. We suggest that, together, these vulnerabilities challenge gig workers’ right to health. Conclusions We propose that the experience of gig workers around the world must be understood in the context of neoliberalism, which has increased both the globalization and precaritization of work. While gig workers share some vulnerabilities, which have important negative consequences on their health, with other workers, the platform-specific vulnerabilities of workers require further inquiry. In particular, the specific health and overall experience of gig workers in different regions of the world – with different labour policies and sociopolitical contexts for work – must be disentangled as workers in the Global North and South experience this work very differently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uttam Bajwa
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Office 409, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada.
| | - Denise Gastaldo
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Office 409, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada.,Lawrence S Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Erica Di Ruggiero
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Office 409, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada
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