American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Volume 57, Issue 8, 2014, Pages 950-959

Understanding sickness presenteeism through the experience of immigrant workers in a context of economic crisis (Article)

Galon T.* , Briones-Vozmediano E. , Agudelo-Suárez A.A. , Felt E.B. , Benavides F.G. , Ronda E.
  • a Department of General and Specialized Nursing, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
  • b Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
  • c Faculty of Dentistry, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
  • d Center for Research in Occupational Health, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
  • e Center for Research in Occupational Health, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain, CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Barcelona, Spain
  • f Preventive Medicine and Public Health Area, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain, CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Background: Previous economic recessions show that immigrant workers may experience longer periods of unemployment, a situation that may lead employees to presenteeism, the act of working in spite of a health problem. This study explored perceptions about the factors that lead to presenteeism in immigrant workers considering the context of economic crisis. Methods: Six focus group discussions were held (February 2012), with men and women from Colombia, Ecuador, and Morocco (n=44) living in Spain and selected by theoretical sample. A qualitative content analysis was performed. Results: Four categories were identified as factors that influence the occurrence of presenteeism in a context of economic crisis: poor employment conditions, fear of unemployment, employer/employee relationship, and difficulties in finding temporary replacement workers. Furthermore, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and mental problems were related to presenteeism. Conclusions: It is important to develop strategies to protect workers from negative working conditions that are associated with deterioration of health. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:950-959, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author Keywords

Immigration Spain occupational health economic recession Working conditions Employment conditions Presenteeism

Index Keywords

information processing Sick Leave perception unemployment Ecuador economics Economic Recession human middle aged statistics and numerical data Colombia ethnology qualitative research Humans migrant workplace psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants Spain female workload adult occupational health Fear Focus Groups Morocco medical leave
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904973260&doi=10.1002%2fajim.22346&partnerID=40&md5=b057907cd8e5d01c928dc64e21fe973a
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22346
ISSN: 02713586
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English