Work and Health

Exploring the Impact of Employment on Health Disparities (read the full article here)
Sheila Block,
2010
Wellesley Institute (see them at http://wellesleyinstitute.com/)

As someone who is only partially employed as well as seeking employment, I found that this article struck a chord for me. It presented information concisely, without bombarding the article with statistics and figures. Also, I'm a fan of diagrams.

Recent research on the Ontario labour market shows a shift to an hourglass shape with jobs concentrated at the high and low ends, and a disappearing middle. Increasing numbers of workers and an increasing share of the total labour force are at the bottom of that hourglass and endure low incomes and increased insecurity.

It's not just about making less money, it's also about what the jobs are like. Recently, someone was talking about their experiences in working with women living in poverty in New York when she firmly stated that though Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (seen to the left) is important, you cannot deny the integrity of the person.

That is, it's not a fulfilling nor meaningful life experience to just have your basic needs met (food, water, home, air, sleep) if you are, for example, living in extremely oppressive conditions. Feminism 101.

"[...] the negative impact on health is not limited to unemployment. Precarious employment encompasses forms of work that have limited social benefits and statutory entitlements, job insecurity, low wages, and high risks of ill health. Increasing numbers of Canadians are precariously employed." 

"In 2009, for the first time, the number of temporary workers entering Canada exceeded the number of new permanent residents."

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs from Wiki