Workers in Texas and other states may be interested in the results of a study that analyzed how the work that people do and the way it is organized influence their wealth and health. Employment relationships are complex and determine opportunities for advancement, work schedules, salary and protection against dangerous or adverse working conditions.
In the study, individuals with dead-end jobs, like working in a manufacturing assembly line and having little room for new opportunities, and those with precarious jobs, like retail workers or janitors, were more likely to report poor mental and general health and workplace injury. Individuals in skilled positions with inflexible hours, like physicians, and gig workers had increased injuries and worse mental health when compared to those with standard employment.
One surprising finding was that individuals with “optimistic precarious” jobs, like those who worked as florists, had health that was similar to those in standard employment even though their jobs are characterized by low pay and insecurity. They reported that they had more opportunities to develop, could make their own decisions and had more control over the hours they worked.
While working relationships are complex, there is no doubt about the fact that a person’s health is directly related to their job, including their salary, schedule and ability to improve. Researchers are constantly working to show how improving an employee’s work environment has a direct impact on improving the bottom line of the company they work for.
Being injured on the job can completely change a person’s life. When an individual is the victim of a workplace accident, they may decide to speak with an attorney. The attorney may be able to provide advice on seeking help through workers’ compensation and the steps a person has to take in order to file a claim. If necessary, the attorney may represent their client in court.