Unhealthy Work: Causes, Consequences, Cures (Critical Approaches in the Health Social Sciences Series)

Product Description

Work, so fundamental to well-being, has its darker and more costly side. Work can adversely affect our health, well beyond the usual counts of injuries that we think of as ‘occupational health’. The ways in which work is organized – its pace and intensity, degree of control over the work process, sense of justice, and employment security, among other things – can be as toxic to the health of workers as the chemicals in the air. These work characteristics can be detrimental not only to mental well-being but to physical health. Scientists refer to these features of work as ‘hazards’ of the ‘psychosocial’ work environment. One key pathway from the work environment to illness is through the mechanism of stress; thus we speak of ‘stressors’ in the work environment, or ‘work stress’. This is in contrast to the popular psychological understandings of ‘stress’, which locate many of the problems with the individual rather than the environment. In this book we advance a social environmental understanding of the workplace and health. The book addresses this topic in three parts: the important changes taking place in the world of work in the context of the global economy (Part I); scientific findings on the effects of particular forms of work organization and work stressors on employees’ health, ‘unhealthy work’ as a major public health problem, and estimates of costs to employers and society (Part II); and, case studies and various approaches to improve working conditions, prevent disease, and improve health (Part III).

Review

We have a winner in our Best Labor Book of 2009 poll. By a huge majority it s Unhealthy Work: Causes, Consequences, Cures , edited by Peter L. Schnall, Marnie Dobson, and Ellen Rosskam. Why did this book gain a full 49% of the vote? We will have a full review in the next newsletter, but in the meantime here s a couple of quotes that might help you see where the authors are coming from: The ways in which work is organized… can be as toxic or benign to the health of workers over time as the chemicals they breathe in the workplace air. (quoting Erich Fromm, 50 years ago): …economy must become the servant for the development of man. Capital must serve labour; things must serve life. As work has changed, so have work-related health risks. There are not many unions or OHS reps who could claim to have kept up with this change. Reading this book can change all that, and help us rethink our model of safety culture for a globalized world. It s that good. –The New Unionism Network

If you are looking for a great Health and Safety gift for a union sister or brother, I recommend the book Unhealthy Work: Causes, Consequences, Cures edited by Peter L. Snall, Marnie Dobson and Ellen Rosskam. I have read the book and enjoyed it immensely. –Ed Watt, Director of Health & Safety for the Transport Workers’ Union of America

From the Inside Flap

Intended Audience: Employees, unions, and worker-oriented organizations; employers, management, and human resources; policymakers, including legislators; funding agencies, including government and foundations; occupational health professionals and public health leaders; and researchers and students in public health, occupational health, labor relations, sociology of work, business, and related academic disciplines.

From the Back Cover

ABOUT THE BOOK Work, so fundamental to well-being, has its darker and more costly side. Work can adversely affect our health, well beyond the usual counts of injuries that we think of as “occupational health.” The ways in which work is organized—its pace and intensity, degree of control over the work process, sense of justice, and employment security, among other things—can be as toxic to the health of workers as the chemicals in the air. These work characteristics can be detrimental not only to mental well-being but to physical health. Scientists refer to these features of work as “hazards” of the “psychosocial” work environm