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Understanding sickness presenteeism through the experience of immigrant workers in a context of economic crisis
Author(s) -
Galon Tanyse,
BrionesVozmediano Erica,
AgudeloSuárez Andrés A.,
Felt Emily B.,
Benavides Fernando G.,
Ronda Elena
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22346
Subject(s) - presenteeism , medicine , unemployment , context (archaeology) , recession , immigration , demographic economics , focus group , sick leave , qualitative research , absenteeism , environmental health , gerontology , economic growth , psychology , social psychology , physical therapy , political science , economics , sociology , social science , keynesian economics , law , paleontology , anthropology , biology
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.