Attitudes toward working conditions: are European Union workers satisfied with their working hours and work-life balance?

Objective: To describe the satisfaction with working hours and satisfaction with work-life balance and their association in the European Union (EU-28). Method: This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the Flash Eurobarometer 398 among workers of the EU-28 from 2014 (n = 13,683). We calculated percentages and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). We also applied a multi-level generalised linear model using the Poisson family, to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of satisfaction with work-life balance based on working hours. All analyses were stratified by individual, employment and welfare regime country classification. Results: The satisfaction with working hours and work-life balance was 80.62% and 74.48%, respectively, and was significantly higher among women. The highest percentages of satisfaction were found in the Nordic welfare regime countries (90.2% and 85.3%, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between satisfaction with working hours and work-life balance (aPR: 2.63; 95%CI: 2.28-3.04), and the magnitude of the association differed in individual, employment and welfare regime country classifications. The main reasons declared for dissatisfaction were "excessive working hours" (48.7%), "shift work" (27.9%), and "inability to influence the work schedule" (28.3%). Differences were observed according to sex and type of welfare regime. Conclusion: The differences found in the association between satisfaction with work-life balance and working hours according to sociodemographic characteristics and welfare regime show that there are inequalities in the working conditions in the EU countries. (C) 2017 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U

Attitudes toward working conditions: are European Union workers satisfied with their working hours and work-life balance?

Objective: To describe the satisfaction with working hours and satisfaction with work-life balance and their association in the European Union (EU-28). Method: This is a cross-sectional study based on data from the Flash Eurobarometer 398 among workers of the EU-28 from 2014 (n = 13,683). We calculated percentages and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). We also applied a multi-level generalised linear model using the Poisson family, to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of satisfaction with work-life balance based on working hours. All analyses were stratified by individual, employment and welfare regime country classification. Results: The satisfaction with working hours and work-life balance was 80.62% and 74.48%, respectively, and was significantly higher among women. The highest percentages of satisfaction were found in the Nordic welfare regime countries (90.2% and 85.3%, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between satisfaction with working hours and work-life balance (aPR: 2.63; 95%CI: 2.28-3.04), and the magnitude of the association differed in individual, employment and welfare regime country classifications. The main reasons declared for dissatisfaction were "excessive working hours" (48.7%), "shift work" (27.9%), and "inability to influence the work schedule" (28.3%). Differences were observed according to sex and type of welfare regime. Conclusion: The differences found in the association between satisfaction with work-life balance and working hours according to sociodemographic characteristics and welfare regime show that there are inequalities in the working conditions in the EU countries

Low Resilience Was a Risk Factor of Mental Health Problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic but Not in Individuals Exposed to COVID-19: A Cohort Study in Spanish Adult General Population

Background: The aim is to analyze whether people with low resilience are at higher risk of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spanish adults. Methods: a longitudinal cohort study was carried out. Resilience was measured with the CD-RISC. Mental health problems that were assessed included: Major Depressive Episode (MDE), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors (STB), and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results: we found statistically significant differences between groups and resilience scores in MDE [F (3; 48.40) = 19.55], GAD [F (3; 19.63) = 6.45] and STB [F (3; 111.74) = 31.94]. Multivariable analyses showed individuals with very low resilience were at a 5-fold risk of Incidence of MDE and a 4-fold risk of STB. Persistent group presented a 21-fold risk of MDE and 54-fold risk of STB. No evidence of higher risk was found for GAD. Individuals with low resilience and exposed to COVID-19 were not at higher risk. Individuals with low resilience were at higher risk of PTSD in general population [β(95% CI) = −3.25 (−3.969 to −2.54)], but not for individuals with COVID-19. Conclusions: in the general population, having low or very low resilience increases the risk of suffering MDE, STB, and PTSD, but not GAD during the COVID-19 pandemic, and not in the population with COVID-19

Motivation and main flavour of use, use with nicotine and dual use of electronic cigarettes in Barcelona, Spain: a cross-sectional study

Objective This study seeks to describe current e-cigarette users' patterns of use including primary motivation for use, dual use, use with nicotine and principal flavour used, according to individuals' sociodemographic characteristics and conventional tobacco consumption in Barcelona, Spain. Design, setting and participants This is a cross sectional study of adult (≥18) current e-cigarette users of Barcelona (n=600), recruited in 2015. Researchers calculated percentages and ORs with their 95% CIs of users' e-cigarette use with nicotine, primary motivation for use and preferred flavour. The analyses were stratified by sociodemographic variables including sex, age and level of education and by patterns of e-cigarette use and past and current conventional tobacco use. Results The most prevalent motivation for using e-cigarettes was to reduce tobacco smoking (48%, n=288), followed by quitting smoking (39.2%, n=235), and to use e-cigarettes in places where tobacco smoking was prohibited (10.2%, n=61). The most prevalent primary flavour used was tobacco (49%, n=294), followed by fruit (19.5%, n=117). People younger than 25 years old (OR=4.36, 95%CI 1.99 to 9.57) were more likely than older people to use them where smoking cigarettes was prohibited. A greater proportion of those in the youngest age group preferred fruit flavour compared with older individuals (29.3%, n=41). Conclusions Younger users of e-cigarettes and non smokers are more likely to use flavours other than tobacco and to use e-cigarettes mainly for recreational purposes

Uso de paneles de consumidores en estudios observacionales de salud pública

Los paneles de consumidores son una técnica de investigación de mercados de gran utilidad para obtener información sobre clientes poco frecuentes o de difícil acceso. El objetivo de esta nota de campo es exponer nuestra experiencia usando esta técnica para un estudio transversal de salud pública sobre el uso de cigarrillos electrónicos. Después de valorar diferentes técnicas de muestreo no probabilístico para obtener una muestra elevada de usuarios de cigarrillos electrónicos (n = 600), se ha optado por el uso del panel de consumidores debido al tiempo relativamente corto para obtener el gran tama no muestral requerido para el estudio y una buena representatividad de la muestra

Causal effect of shifting from precarious to standard employment on all-cause mortality in Sweden : an emulation of a target trial

Background: We aimed at estimating the causal effect of switching from precarious to standard employment on the 6-year and 12-year risk of all-cause mortality among workers aged 20-55 years in Sweden. Methods: We emulated a series of 12 target trials starting every year between 2005 and 2016 using Swedish register data (n=251 273). We classified precariously employed individuals using a multidimensional approach at baseline as (1) remaining in precarious employment (PE) (73.8%) and (2) shifting to standard employment (26.2%). All-cause mortality was measured from 2006 to 2017. We pooled data for all 12 emulated trials and used covariate-adjusted pooled logistic regression to estimate intention-to-treat and per-protocol effects via risk ratios (RRs) and standardised risk curves (the parametric g-formula). Results: Shifting from precarious to standard employment decreases the 12-year risk of death by 20% on the relative scale (RR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73; 0.93), regardless of what happens after the initial shift. However, we estimated a 12-year risk reduction of 30% on the relative scale for workers shifting from precarious to standard employment and staying within this employment category for the full 12 years (RR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54; 0.95). Conclusions: This study finds that shifting from low to higher-quality employment conditions (ie, stable employment, sufficient income levels and high coverage by collective agreements) decreases the risk of death. Remaining in PE increases the risk of premature mortality. Our results emphasise the necessity of ensuring decent work for the entire working population to accomplish the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Initiatives addressing precarious employment and its effects on workers’ health and well-being: a protocol for a systematic review

Precarious employment is a significant determinant of population health and health inequities and has complex public health consequences both for a given nation and internationally. Precarious employment is conceptualized as a multi-dimensional construct including but not limited to employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and lack of rights and protection in the employment relation, which could affect both informal and formal workers. The purpose of this review is to identify, appraise, and synthesize existing research on the effectiveness of initiatives aiming to or having the potential to eliminate, reduce, or mitigate workers’ exposure to precarious employment conditions and its effects on the health and well-being of workers and their families

COVID-19 and Precarious Employment: Consequences of the Evolving Crisis

The world of work is facing an ongoing pandemic and an economic downturn with severe effects worldwide. Workers trapped in precarious employment (PE), both formal and informal, are among those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we call attention to at least 5 critical ways that the consequences of the crisis among workers in PE will be felt globally: (a) PE will increase, (b) workers in PE will become more precarious, (c) workers in PE will face unemployment without being officially laid off, (d) workers in PE will be exposed to serious stressors and dramatic life changes that may lead to a rise in diseases of despair, and (e) PE might be a factor in deterring the control of or in generating new COVID-19 outbreaks. We conclude that what we really need is a new social contract, where the work of all workers is recognized and protected with adequate job contracts, employment security, and social protection in a new economy, both during and after the COVID-19 crisis

Social determinants of Health in Europe: precarious employment and new forms of work

Even though the health effects of precarious employment (PE) have been studied in the past recent years, data from years after the Great Recession has not yet been explored using a multidimensional approach in Europe. Further, digitalization of the labour market is happening, and new forms of work are appearing. But, its potential implications for the worker’s health are unknown. Given the similar characteristics of PE and gig work, the health impact of platform work could be huge. The main aim of this thesis is to describe the health status and occupational safety of precariously employed and gig workers, years after the Great Recession in Europe. The thesis was performed using two European surveys (Flash Eurobarometer 398 on Working Conditions and the Sixth European Working Conditions Survey) and occupational safety data obtained through direct observation in Barcelona (Spain). The results found in the thesis show that years after the Great Recession, PE is present in the European workforce. PE is more common among women, young workers and individuals with lower educational level. Moreover, as PE quartiles increase, so did the prevalence of declaring to suffer any health problem. The most precarious employees and unemployed individuals declare in similar magnitude health problems. In addition, to be precariously employed is not associated to exercise the right of sick leave shorter than 15 days. Instead, it is related to long sick leave (more than 15 days). Further, precariously employed workers are more exposed to violence and harassment, stress and repetitive movements or painful positions in the workplace than workers not precariously employed. Similarly, delivery gig workers do have an irregular use of personal protective equipment and frequently violate traffic regulations. Based on the results and conclusions obtained in the thesis, some recommendations from public health are pointed out. First of all, current labour market regulations should be reconsidered in order to achieve the 8th sustainable development goal of decent work and economic growth by 2030. Second, Public Health agencies should monitor precarious employment as another determinant of health. Third, it is necessary to solve the probable misclassification of gig workers as dependent self-employed in order to protect them from occupational risks. Finally, new approaches for addressing occupational safety at work in platform digital work should be carefully reviewed

Social determinants of Health in Europe: precarious employment and new forms of work

Even though the health effects of precarious employment (PE) have been studied in the past recent years, data from years after the Great Recession has not yet been explored using a multidimensional approach in Europe. Further, digitalization of the labour market is happening, and new forms of work are appearing. But, its potential implications for the worker’s health are unknown. Given the similar characteristics of PE and gig work, the health impact of platform work could be huge. The main aim of this thesis is to describe the health status and occupational safety of precariously employed and gig workers, years after the Great Recession in Europe. The thesis was performed using two European surveys (Flash Eurobarometer 398 on Working Conditions and the Sixth European Working Conditions Survey) and occupational safety data obtained through direct observation in Barcelona (Spain). The results found in the thesis show that years after the Great Recession, PE is present in the European workforce. PE is more common among women, young workers and individuals with lower educational level. Moreover, as PE quartiles increase, so did the prevalence of declaring to suffer any health problem. The most precarious employees and unemployed individuals declare in similar magnitude health problems. In addition, to be precariously employed is not associated to exercise the right of sick leave shorter than 15 days. Instead, it is related to long sick leave (more than 15 days). Further, precariously employed workers are more exposed to violence and harassment, stress and repetitive movements or painful positions in the workplace than workers not precariously employed. Similarly, delivery gig workers do have an irregular use of personal protective equipment and frequently violate traffic regulations. Based on the results and conclusions obtained in the thesis, some recommendations from public health are pointed out. First of all, current labour market regulations should be reconsidered in order to achieve the 8th sustainable development goal of decent work and economic growth by 2030. Second, Public Health agencies should monitor precarious employment as another determinant of health. Third, it is necessary to solve the probable misclassification of gig workers as dependent self-employed in order to protect them from occupational risks. Finally, new approaches for addressing occupational safety at work in platform digital work should be carefully reviewed